HP JetDirect was first introduced in March 1991 (code named QuickSilver) with the LaserJet IIIsi network printer (code named Eli). JetDirect is based on HP's MIO (Modular Input/Output) interface, which was designed from the ground up with the IIIsi to create a mainstream full function high performance networked printer. The initial MIO interface card had Ethernet and Token Ring physical layer variants and used various networking protocols over an AUI/BNC connection. Initially, a printer needed a separate card for each protocol, such as TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, AppleTalk, or DLC/LLC. The following year, the team applied the technology to the legacy accessory slot on the LaserJetIIs and IIIs XIO (Extended Input/Output). MIO type JetDirect cards were also used for network connectivity on some HP/Agilent laboratory equipment, such as the 6890A and 6890 Plus series of gas chromatographs. These included unusual network connection types such as HPs I-Net, which was used as an interconnect between various pieces of hardware that controlled the 58xx and 68xx series gas chromatographs. Not until 1994 would MIO interface cards be released that could support more than one protocol per card.
The next development releases added connection interfaces. In 1992, a card with both 8P8C modular telephone and BNC connectors for Ethernet was released, and in 1993, the first external JetDirects were introduced with a parallel interface. This enabled JetDirect cards to connect to almost any printer, making that printer network-capable. In 1995, the Ex plus 3 was released, with 3 parallel ports on one network interface, allowing 3 printers to share 1 network address.
1997 saw the new numbering format for both internal and external JetDirect servers. Internals began the 6xx series with the release of the 600n, multiprotocol card that supported TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, DLC/LLC, and AppleTalk over a Token Ring network; along with the 1760x series external print server - also multiprotocol. An Ethernet version of the 600n was released in 1998. In 1999, the JetDirect autoswitch was introduced.
1998 also saw the release of 170x, the first value-line print server aimed at smaller companies that did not necessarily need full networking - only TCP/IP or IPX/SPX support. This was followed in 2000 by the JetDirect 70x home print server.
More advanced versions of JetDirect supported a number of network printing protocols. However, the protocol that ended up being associated with it, the JetDirect protocol,2 is its raw TCP/IP protocol sometimes referred to as Socket API or RAW. It is an extremely simple network printing protocol.3 Submitting a print job can be done by netcating a file containing the page description language (e.g. PostScript, PCL) to the appropriate TCP port on the printer (default port is 9100). Information about the printer and job is simply sent to the client while the TCP connection is active. The port would reject connections if the printer is busy.4
AppSocket is a very similar implementation by Tektronix for Phaser printers, later sold to Xerox.5 This protocol adds support for querying for printer status by non-printing users via a separate UDP port.6
Most JetDirect devices also came with, JetDirect Interface, a telnet interface for configuring the device or printer.7
MIO (Modular Input/Output) was the first technology developed by HP for its laser printers to enable the addition of peripheral cards such as JetDirect.
LIO (Low-end I/O) interfaces were developed by HP as a corporate response to the strictly internal MIO and EIO development path. The LIO interface differs from MIO/EIO in that the card is wrapped in an external plastic casing and is hot-swappable. The LIO backplane technology is based on a low power/low-voltage (< 1-volt) differential signaling technology.
EIO (Enhanced Input/Output) is a modular interface developed by HP for its printers to expand their capabilities. EIO does not just serve JetDirect cards, but EIO hard drives and the EIO Connectivity card for adding communication ports to the printers as well. EIO utilizes the 3.3V signaling technology of the Conventional PCI bus and is significantly more energy-efficient than MIO technology. EIO print servers will not work in LIO slots, nor will the LIO print servers work in EIO slots.
In 2002 HP released the 615n series of Internal EIO print server. This model featured a new chipset manufactured in Singapore that had a problem related to either overheating or data overload. Otherwise known as the ASIC issue, this meant the 615n card could fail without warning, and when it failed, would completely shut down, appearing to vanish from the printer entirely.
Soon afterwards, HP began to do a per-item replacement policy that has ended as of October 31, 2008, when all known 615n cards were at least 4 years old and at such time HP felt it had taken appropriate corporate responsibility for a defect in manufacturing.
The 615n cards most often affected were the units installed in the Laserjet 2300, 4200 and Color 4600 series. Those cards appear to be most prone to failure.
Any 615n series card can fail, but it is up to HP to determine if the failure is due to the chipset or some other factor. HP recommended to call them or contact them through the Web site and they will proceed to do some simple troubleshooting steps to determine if the failure is due to the chipset or some other cause.12 If it is proven to be the chipset, HP would be able to replace the card under warranty with an as-new card (nominally a 620n).
The BT1300 is a Bluetooth compliant network adapter for network-ready parallel or USB printers. (Discontinued)
The Print Server Appliance 4250 is perhaps the most ambitious of the JetDirect products - being a complete printing facility in a box. The system comes ready to go with a pre-loaded and configured Print Server running on a Linux core with an Apache Web Server. Once connected to the network, the device is able to manage up to 50 print shares with any supported network-ready printer, not just HP products. (Discontinued)
The JetDirect EIO connectivity card allows for the expansion of any EIO printer to gain a USB 1.0, Serial, and Localtalk interface. This card has all three interface connectors and on-board electronics to give the printer the ability to use these interfaces. (Discontinued)
Craig Hunt (2002), TCP/IP network administration, p. 255, ISBN 978-0-596-00297-8 978-0-596-00297-8 ↩
"Using Network Printers". cups.org. Retrieved 2017-09-06. https://www.cups.org/doc/network.html ↩
Powell, Patrick A (26 Nov 2010). "Socket API". LPRng Reference Manual. 3.8.35. Retrieved 7 December 2019. The Socket API is a very flexible job transfer protocol. It is widely support by most Print Server manufacturers, with the Hewlett Packard JetDirect setting the de facto standard. The Socket API is extremely simple. http://www.lprng.com/LPRng-Reference-Multipart/socketapi.html ↩
"Printing to a Xerox Multifunction Device Using Port 9100" (PDF). Xerox Multifunction Devices - Customer Tips. September 26, 2003. Retrieved 7 December 2019. http://www.office.xerox.com/support/dctips/dc00cc0104.pdf ↩
Powell, Patrick A (26 Nov 2010). "AppSocket TCP/IP Protocol". LPRng Reference Manual. Archived from the original on 2015-10-24. Retrieved 2017-09-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20151024170106/http://lprng.com/LPRng-HOWTO-Multipart/appsocket.html ↩
Powell, Patrick A (26 Nov 2010). "HP JetDirect Interface". LPRng Reference Manual. 3.8.35. Retrieved 7 December 2019. http://www.lprng.com/LPRng-Reference-Multipart/x5171.html ↩
"HP 1284B Parallel Card". Retrieved February 27, 2016. http://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/accessories-88342--1/hp-1284b-parallel-card-j7972g ↩
"HP Jetdirect 640n Print Server". Retrieved February 27, 2016. http://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/accessories-88342--1/hp-jetdirect-640n-print-server-j8025a-aba ↩
"HP Jetdirect 690n IPv6/IPSec 802.11g Wireless Print Server - overview and features". Archived from the original on December 28, 2008. Retrieved September 18, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081228045553/http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF05a/18972-18972-236253-34210-396578-3662193.html ↩
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"HP J6057A 615n EIO 10/100 Information". Archived from the original on June 9, 2011. Retrieved February 2, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20110609014450/http://www.hp.com/pond/jetdirect/j6057a.html ↩