I have the above mentioned USB printer. It requires the foo2zjs driver
which I've successfully compiled from the foo2zjs web site (following
the OpenBSD instructions). Unlike most printers, the HPLJ1018 does not
have "persistent" firmware. Instead, its firmware (the file
'sihp1018.dl') must be uploaded to it every time it is physically
powered on.
When I power up the HPLJ1018 and plug it in to one of my PC's USB ports,
dmesg shows:
ulpt0 at uhub0 port 2 configuration 1 interface 0 "Hewlett-Packard HP
LaserJet 1018" rev 2.00/1.00 addr 2
ulpt0: using bi-directional mode
However, when I try:
$ cat hp1018.dl > /dev/ulpt0
The terminal cursor just hangs. The same thing happens when I try it as
root. Eventually, things time out and I get the response:
ksh: cannot create /dev/ulpt0: Device busy
I've tried disabling ulpt0 at boot:
boot> -c
disable ulpt
quit
and then:
# sihp1018.dl > /dev/ugen0
but it still does not appear to load properly - the cursor just goes
back to # shortly thereafter and nothing happens. Anything I print
disappears into a black hole. When I try things in linux the printer
emits a few noises and the print head moves and subsequent printing
works without a hitch.
I fear I'm doing something wrong in uploading the firmware (am I missing
steps?). I'm quite new to OpenBSD and am having trouble finding
guidance on how to upload firmware to peripheral devices. Can anyone
help me out?
Kind regards
