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token ring to ethernet, how?

H

haragan

Member
I have a Xerox docuprint c55 printer with an token ring network card. I would like to add it to my home lan that is ethernet of course. I could buy the ethernet nic for the printer but it is around $600 and not worth it for me.

The printer's nic has an rj45 and a 9 pin serial connector but the pinout for token ring and ethernet is not the same, thus my router won't see the printer. I also think that they work at different ohms.

Any suggestions?

Thank you!

Ismar
 
There is no way to go directly from TR to Ethernet.

At the very least, you'll need a "Translational Bridge;" you may be able to find a bridge on Ebay .... but it must do TRANSLATIONAL bridging.

Your better choice would likely to be a router (like an old Cisco 2502 (?)) - something that has both token ring and ethernet interfaces. The "hook" with this setup is that the printer may rely on broadcasts or multicasts to announce its presence ... like for Windows, but Cisco IOS has "IP Helper" which will do the job for you.

The other hook, that applies to both, is that you'll need some sort of Token Ring central device (a "MAU," "CAU," or TR Switch). With token Ring you CANNOT (except for some very specific circumstances that don't apply here) connect peer-to-peer directly ... all the TR devices must go back to a central device that controls access to the ring.

Again, you can probably find a MAU, CAU, or TR switch on EBay for reasonable cost. If you use a MAU or CAU that needs "Type 1" cabling, or if it specifies a "Universal Data Connector" (a UDC) then you'll need special cables for the TR as well. A UDC is a little over an inch square, self-mating connector.

If your Xerox has an RJ45 jack, there are adapter cables for RJ45 to UDC conversion.

You may want to search and brush up on Token Ring, it has some very specific rule for connectivity that generally cannot be "stretched."

Good Luck

Scott
 
Looks like it is too much trouble to go with network connectivity and thank you to all who have helped me.

The printer also has a mini centronics parallel port (SCSI looking port). Would you guys know if any parallel to mini centronics cable will do it? I had one of those laying around but my XP computer didn't see it either, so I don't know if it is a special mini centronics cable.. I am beggining to think that I may just want to give up and thrash the thing.

Thank you!

Ismar
 
silly Q?

Why not just stick with Token Ring for the printer? I am going under the assumtion it works that way now.
 
Originally posted by: MedicBob
silly Q?

Why not just stick with Token Ring for the printer? I am going under the assumtion it works that way now.
Click to expand...

He'd need some way to attach the token ring the printer is on to his Ethernet so his comptuers can see it.

And don't be fooled there haragan, the fact that both Token Ring and Ethernet use RJ45 connectors does not mean they are in anyway compatible. There are a variety of connectors you can use for both ethernet and TR, RJ45 just happens to be available for both, but the protocl is diffferent.
 
Originally posted by: haragan

The printer also has a mini centronics parallel port (SCSI looking port). Would you guys know if any parallel to mini centronics cable will do it? I had one of those laying around but my XP computer didn't see it either, so I don't know if it is a special mini centronics cable.. I am beggining to think that I may just want to give up and thrash the thing.
Click to expand...

is this the kind of connector?

what do you mean when you say that windows XP didn't see the printer?
 
That is exactly the type of cable I used but my PC would not detect the printer. I ran a new hardware detection and installed manually since XP has drivers for the Xerox Docuprint C55 without any luck. This printer is starting to be a pain. Other than that, it works fine. It will print the menu map, settings, etc. It is a shame because it is a laser color printer that cost me nothing and all toners are even 95% full.

Thanks for your help!

Ismar
 
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