NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
HP printers firmware uploader
Someone suggested to re-post this here as a request for community add-on.
Several inexpensive (=very common) laser printers from HP do not have firmware on board, these include HP LaserJet 1000, 1005, 1018, 1020, P1005, P1006, P1007, P1008 and P1505. These printers are correctly recognised by ReadyNAS software, so, in principle, it is possible to share on the Windows network a printer connected to a ReadyNAS unit. The Windows computer can use standard HP drivers and send the information in raw mode, so this is not an issue. However, nothing can be printed before firmware has been uploaded to the printer itself. This needs to be done every time the printer is switched on.
This situation can be demonstrated by a simple experiment:
(Step 1) A printer is connected to ReadyNas unit and switched on. My LaserJet 1020 printer is recognised at x.x.x.x:631/printers as HP_LaserJet_. The printer can be added as a network printer on my Windows computer, but sending documents to it results in nothing being printed out. The only indicator that printer jobs are being sent is the message at x.x.x.x:631/printers saying "Sending print file, 71356 bytes...", the file size changing depending on what particular job was sent to the printer.
(Step 2) The printer usb cable is disconnected from ReadyNas unit and connected to a Windows box with the appropriate drivers installed. The printer is successfully recognised by Windows. A test page can be successfully printed. The firmware was uploaded to the printer somewhere in the process of this operation.
(Step 3) The printer usb cable is disconnected from Windows computer and connected to a ReadyNAS unit. It is important to keep the printer switched on in the process of doing this. All of the earlier created network shares become alive. Windows computers can now successfully print documents on the printer connected to ReadyNAS for as long as printer stays switched on.
Obviously, this is not a reasonable solution for using these printers. Fortunately, there is a linux driver that is capable of automatically uploading the firmware to the printer: http://foo2zjs.rkkda.com/ . Hence, on the surface at least, it appears that a port of this driver to ReadyNAS unit would enable compatibility with several fairly common HP printers. Unfortunately, I know nothing about either linux or ReadyNAS programming. Would it be possible for anyone with these skills to assess the complexity of such a port? This could become a very useful plugin for many ReadyNAS users.
I had a look at foo2zjs distribution. As far as my limited understanding goes, bin/sh script "hplj1000" is responsible for firmware uploading (does "hotplug script" mean anything to you?). Of course, this also requires having ready all relevant printer firmware files. I cannot see anything else really necessary for the printers to be initialised in raw mode. I do not think the actual driver even needs compiling!
Several inexpensive (=very common) laser printers from HP do not have firmware on board, these include HP LaserJet 1000, 1005, 1018, 1020, P1005, P1006, P1007, P1008 and P1505. These printers are correctly recognised by ReadyNAS software, so, in principle, it is possible to share on the Windows network a printer connected to a ReadyNAS unit. The Windows computer can use standard HP drivers and send the information in raw mode, so this is not an issue. However, nothing can be printed before firmware has been uploaded to the printer itself. This needs to be done every time the printer is switched on.
This situation can be demonstrated by a simple experiment:
(Step 1) A printer is connected to ReadyNas unit and switched on. My LaserJet 1020 printer is recognised at x.x.x.x:631/printers as HP_LaserJet_. The printer can be added as a network printer on my Windows computer, but sending documents to it results in nothing being printed out. The only indicator that printer jobs are being sent is the message at x.x.x.x:631/printers saying "Sending print file, 71356 bytes...", the file size changing depending on what particular job was sent to the printer.
(Step 2) The printer usb cable is disconnected from ReadyNas unit and connected to a Windows box with the appropriate drivers installed. The printer is successfully recognised by Windows. A test page can be successfully printed. The firmware was uploaded to the printer somewhere in the process of this operation.
(Step 3) The printer usb cable is disconnected from Windows computer and connected to a ReadyNAS unit. It is important to keep the printer switched on in the process of doing this. All of the earlier created network shares become alive. Windows computers can now successfully print documents on the printer connected to ReadyNAS for as long as printer stays switched on.
Obviously, this is not a reasonable solution for using these printers. Fortunately, there is a linux driver that is capable of automatically uploading the firmware to the printer: http://foo2zjs.rkkda.com/ . Hence, on the surface at least, it appears that a port of this driver to ReadyNAS unit would enable compatibility with several fairly common HP printers. Unfortunately, I know nothing about either linux or ReadyNAS programming. Would it be possible for anyone with these skills to assess the complexity of such a port? This could become a very useful plugin for many ReadyNAS users.
I had a look at foo2zjs distribution. As far as my limited understanding goes, bin/sh script "hplj1000" is responsible for firmware uploading (does "hotplug script" mean anything to you?). Of course, this also requires having ready all relevant printer firmware files. I cannot see anything else really necessary for the printers to be initialised in raw mode. I do not think the actual driver even needs compiling!
35 Replies
Replies have been turned off for this discussion
- crizz,
i think you have to go through the all process explained (very well) by Smask,
but don't be afraid, it appears more difficult than it really is.
I was able to follow each step, without knowing anything about linux ;) - Ok, I did exactly as stated (without any knowledge of linux) in the guide by Smask, and everything just worked perfectly. It took about 5 min and then my HP 1020 was up and running, printing wireless on Vista and 7 machines. I really appreciate what you did guys. Thank you.
From what I understand its not possible to uninstall EnableRootSSH, so I just used ToggleSSH to turn it off. But is it possible to uninstall APT? And if it was possible, would that in some way disable the printer again?
thanks again
/C - Hi,
I am trying to get my P1005 working with the ReadyNas Duo.
I have problem when I reach the following :
Step 8:
./hpljP1005
There is no such file in the folder /etc/hotplug/usb .
Or to be more specified, there isn't any hpljXXXX file in the folder.
Did I miss out on any steps?
Thanks - Slok,
it sounds like you didn't download the firmware for the printer. Have you completed the Step 7?
"Jump to the root and download my tarball with updated firmwares: You must stand in the root, because the files are stored with full path...." - Ok, I think the step that I missed is this post from 'WhoCares?'
I whipped together an addon that *should* do what you need: foo2zjs_readynas-0.0.1.bin
After downloading the above file , and uploading it to ReadyNAS... I am able to see the files in /etc/hotplug/usb
Thanks. Everything is working now. - Hi all,
Just wanted to say a big thank you to all who contributed to this fix and for saving what little remains of my sanity!
It was driving me nuts that the HP Photosmart worked fine but the Laserjet 1018 would only work after I'd plugged it into the PC's USB port then back into the ReadyNAS. Thanks to you I now have a fully working, networking, hotplugging HP Laserjet 1018.
Being a complete noob to ReadyNAS and knowing even less about Linux I found smask's guide a doddle to follow, once I'd figured out how to install the updates and where to get them from :roll:, perhaps some links to the EnableRootSSH and Apt add-ons would help others like me get there a little quicker?
Again, many thanks.
Moomin - Hi I did the steps from smasks and it stops on step 4?? I run putty use my log in settings, and it stops after I hit enter. Could you help me?
Thank You. - interesting thread - is there any possibility of an addon to be created - firmware image could be uploaded via the addon page, or maybe a specific folder?
i'd be able to get rid of my HP2200n and go for a smaller lj1xxx model... - I seem to be getting stuck with installing the f002zjs add-on.
I have:
a) downloaded foo2zjs_raedynas-0.0.1.bin
b) In Frontview: System>Update>Local and browsed for the above .bin file
c) When I click on "Upload and verify image" I get the error: "Invalid image".
This is the first time I have attempted to install an add-on. Any idea what my problem is??
ReadyNAS NVX running RAIDiator 4.2.11 Tradewind25 wrote: This is the first time I have attempted to install an add-on. Any idea what my problem is??
ReadyNAS NVX running RAIDiator 4.2.11
There's your problem. The NVX uses Intel CPUs, Duo and NV+ uses Sparc.
Maybe you can SSH and install foo2zjs from Debian. Check with WhoCares about the procedure to install Debian foo2zjs on your ReadyNAS.
If the foo2zjs package is complete, there will be a tool called "getweb" that will dl the Windows driver and extract the firmware.getweb <your laserjet model>
You may have to go thru the steps in my long post.
NETGEAR Academy
Boost your skills with the Netgear Academy - Get trained, certified and stay ahead with the latest Netgear technology!
Join Us!
