User's Manual

CHAPTER 7: Twinax/Coax Configuration

7. Twinax/Coax Configuration

The Ethernet to Twinax/Coax Print Server connects 5250-type twinax or 3270-type

coax printers to their respective IBM host (such as an AS/400 or 3270-type

mainframe) using Ethernet wiring in lieu of twinax or 3270-coax cables. The print

server provides connection to the IBM host by way of SNA, AnyNet, or TCP/IP

(TN5250e or TN3270e) for SCS printers. For IPDS printers, the print server

communicates to the IBM host using TCP/IP (PPR/PPD). The print server then

converts the incoming Ethernet protocol to either IBM twinax or 3270-coax

protocols and sends the data on to the printer. Printer messages are passed back to

the IBM host through the same process.

The Ethernet to Twinax/Coax Print Server also has the capability of accepting

ASCII text data from Windows, DOS, or UNIX and converting it to print on the

attached SCS twinax or SCS/DSC coax printer. Communication with these ASCII

hosts is done using IPX/SPX or TCP/IP. Black Box’s TCP/IP DirectPort print

driver may also be used for Windows 95/98 printing. Only ASCII text data can be

converted from ASCII to EBCDIC and passed on to a SCS twinax or SCS/DSC coax

printer. It is important to note that Windows print drivers generally output

rasterized data which cannot be processed by IBM SCS printers. Therefore, for

Windows printing, choose the “generic” print driver, and set the spool settings to

pass on “raw” data. The print server will also accept non-rasterized Epson FX or

IBM Proprinter (PPDS) dot-matrix data streams, which it converts into the

appropriate twinax or 3270-coax printer data streams.

The table on the next page shows the association of the various connectivity

protocols and data streams supported: