JetDirect EX Plus3 vs. 500X

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dan
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Dan

Trying to decide between these two and would appreciate any suggestions.
HP says the EX was discontinued 1999 and can't provide any deatils. Both
seem to be 3 port parallel print servers. Thanks. Dan
 
[This followup was posted to comp.periphs.printers and a copy was sent
to the cited author.]

Trying to decide between these two and would appreciate any suggestions.
HP says the EX was discontinued 1999 and can't provide any deatils. Both
seem to be 3 port parallel print servers. Thanks. Dan
Click to expand...

We have several EX's at work. Still work fine. I recently updated
their firmware, which supposedly fixes some vulnerabilities and similar.
 
I have a couple of JetDirect EX print servers (though only the dual-port
versions). They work fine, but one caveat: these devices don't work with
DHCP servers, and can only obtain their IP addresses from BOOTP servers.
There are a couple of public domain/shareware BOOTP servers available for
download if you look around. I have to run one whenever I unplug a
JetDirect EX server. It's easy to do, and not inconvenient, but it may be a
concern.
 
I have a couple of JetDirect EX print servers (though only the dual-port
versions). They work fine, but one caveat: these devices don't work with
DHCP servers, and can only obtain their IP addresses from BOOTP servers.
There are a couple of public domain/shareware BOOTP servers available for
download if you look around. I have to run one whenever I unplug a
JetDirect EX server. It's easy to do, and not inconvenient, but it may be a
concern.
Click to expand...

You can use either Telnet or HP software to get into them. The HP
software can use DLC/LLC or similar if it can't figure out the TCP/IP
address. Once in, you can force it to a particular IP address.
 
PTRAVEL said:
I have a couple of JetDirect EX print servers (though only the dual-port
versions). They work fine, but one caveat: these devices don't work with
DHCP servers, and can only obtain their IP addresses from BOOTP servers.
Click to expand...

Strange, I thought DHCP is supposed to be a superset of BOOTP and
compatible with it. It should work. But then, I don't see my EX listed
in my server's DHCP client list... But somehow the EX has a valid
setup.. Hmmm.

This isn't a problem for me since my place is all-Mac and we're using
the EX via AppleTalk.

There are a couple of public domain/shareware BOOTP servers available for
download if you look around. I have to run one whenever I unplug a
JetDirect EX server. It's easy to do, and not inconvenient, but it may be a
concern.
Click to expand...

I have yet to connect to a builtin web server on my EX. I'm thinking
you might want a more recent print server for that reason.



--
Walt Sellers
Macintosh Programming and Support in Central Florida
www.VirtualOutpost.com
(e-mail address removed) - include the keyPhrase "WhoYaGonnaCall?"
in the body or subject of the message to get past the spam filters.
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In theory there is no difference between practice and theory,
but in practice there is. -unknown
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Walt Sellers said:
Strange, I thought DHCP is supposed to be a superset of BOOTP and
compatible with it. It should work. But then, I don't see my EX listed
in my server's DHCP client list... But somehow the EX has a valid
setup.. Hmmm.
Click to expand...

The JetDirect EX was manufactured before the DHCP standard, I think.
Regardless, it can't obtain addresses via DHCP.

This isn't a problem for me since my place is all-Mac and we're using
the EX via AppleTalk.



I have yet to connect to a builtin web server on my EX. I'm thinking
you might want a more recent print server for that reason.
Click to expand...

Well, that's the whole point. JetDirect EX print servers are dirt
cheap -- they can be had on eBay for around $10 US. I certainly don't
see any reason to replace them with more expensive solutions just
because they require BOOTP. And they work just fine once their IP
address is set via BOOTP. Weird Solutions has a free BOOTP server
(limited to a single device at a time) for download which I use to set
my JetDirects if they lose power.
 
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