Configure parallel PCI card to EPP 1

[techbunnie]

I have a Compaq Proliant 800 server that I am using as a workstation for an x-ray imaging device. I need to configure the parallel port to EPP. I was told by Compaq that these servers cannot be configured that way, so I installed a PCI card with a new parallel port. I am running Win XP Pro and the card was recognized, the drivers were installed (although they are not approved drivers) and the card is listed appropriately in Device Manager. The card makers (IO/FLEX) imply that the address for the parallel port should be changed to the usual LPT1 settings for some devices. I can access the BIOS with SysConfigUtil but cannot get to the I/O address to do any mods. I may have missed something here. After I install the drivers for my imaging device and proceed to access it, the device cannot be found.

Is this a hopeless cause? Is it really impossible to get any parallel port configured to EPP on a Compaq Proliant? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Jean

 

[heyvern]

Hi Jean,
I am assuming that the parallel card you installed is a PCI version. If that is the case then it may not work with your imaging hardware. Since the PCI card acts as a simple-com controller it basically imulates the printer port which is fine for most printers but not so fine for other parallel devices like Zip drives etc. See if the parallel card installed a configuration utility on the start menu or in control panel. If it did then tell it to use a a specific LPT Port (ie LPT2 278) and make it available for DOS use if there is a place to do so. Also check device manager for the properties of the newly installed card and see whether there are any configuration changes there that it will allow you to make.
Lastly, I am not familiar with the Proliant 800 board but if it does happen to have an ISA slot available then by all means call some local shops and get an old ISE EPP board and set the jumpers to LPT2 and you should be golden. Hope it helps.

 

[sandav92]

Jean you have two things going against you. First you are using a 3rd party card in a Compaq server. Second you are using Windows XP. I worked with Compaq for 4 years and one thing they do is make their BIOS very specific on what works and does not work with the server. They are made this way for one purpose Only and that is profit. This may not worked and the server is design that way.

 

[techbunnie]

Just to update (though a year later), I got the parallel port configured after all. Through external tech help, he tried the old ISA card approach and the imaging machine is up and running with no problems. Thanks for the help!

I do appreciate what is said about Compaq; that's why I now build my own personal machines. I get what I want that way and I can usually fix it when there are problems.