Re: hplip and use of the "driver plugin"
On Sat 19 Nov 2016 at 20:09:10 +0000, Brian wrote:
> On Sat 19 Nov 2016 at 13:21:23 -0500, Jape Person wrote:
>
> > On 11/19/2016 11:31 AM, Henrique de Moraes Holschuh wrote:
> > >On Sat, 19 Nov 2016, Brian wrote:
> > >>>I'd like to know that, too. I need a new home color printer, my
> > >>>10-year-old HP PhotoSmart (blobless) MFP has finally broken down and
> > >>>good second-hand parts are not easy to find in Brazil :-(
> > >>
> > >>Why is it important for the printer to be blobless? Look at it this way:
> > >
> > >Are we talking about printer firmware, or host-cpu device drivers?
> > >
> > >All of your reply is only relevant for device firmware (runs in the
> > >device). But I thought this was about a binary-only driver blob that
> > >runs in the host OS ? Or did I misunderstand?
> > >
> > I'm pretty sure it's a host-cpu device driver.
> >
> > http://hplipopensource.com/node/309
>
> Sorry to be awkward, but what does "it's" refer to?
>
> The plugin contains *.fw files and libraries. A firmware file is uploaded to
> the printer when it is switched on. Quite what the libraries do I do not
> know but my assumption is they are involved in this and the host-based
> management of the printer. Enlightenment would be appreciated.
Enlightenment came from thinking about it. :) I concentrated too much
on the firmware aspect. I suspect firmware may only be needed with older
printers. Maybe the newer printers have a Host Based Printer Language
Interpreter.
Henrique de Moraes Holschuh and you are correct. If the printing side of
the MFP requires the plugin it is a host-based printer and the hbpl1
library would be used. Sorry for the misleading up a blind alley.
Even if a colour laserjet MFP can get by for printing without the plugin
it probably requires it for scanning.
http://hplipopensource.com/hplip-web/plugin.html
--
Brian.
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