Sun Java Desktop Printing Support

Sun Java Desktop Sun Microsystems recently launched release 2 of their Java Desktop System in the U.S. JDS is essentially a product that is designed to compete with Microsoft’s XP operating system and Microsoft Office applications.

JDS uses SuSe Linux as its core operating system. Desktop components are based on open source code and include common items to the linux environment such as the GNOME desktop environment, StarOffice productivity suite, Mozilla browser, Evolution mail and calendar client, and Java 2 Platform Standard Edition.

Java Desktop System, is available in a single and multi user product package. The single user package includes the following desktop and developer software. The multi user package includes desktop, developer and system management software.

Major components of the software are:

Desktop Software
GNOME 2.2 Desktop
StarOffice 7 Productivity Suite
Mozilla 1.4 Web browser
Java System Update Services for on-line patch retrieval and installation
Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition, 1.4.2 (with support for GNOME look & feel)
Linux OS (based on SuSE SLD 1.0)

Developer Tools provided as a BONUS with purchase:
Sun Java Studio Standard 5 update 1 Technology Preview
NetBeans IDE 3.6
Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition (J2SE)1.4.2_04 which includes the SDK

System Management Tools (available only with the multi-user products):
Sun Control Station 2.1 for centralized desktop deployment and management.
Java Desktop System Configuration Manager, Release 1 for policy-based desktop administration
Remote Desktop Takeover

JDS and Printing
JDS uses CUPS as its default printing system, therefore an Oki printer must support PostScript to in order use a CUPS PPD. PostScript printers can be used in CUPS with only a PPD, however, non postscript printers such as raster printers can be used in conjunction with CUPS supplied filters.

CUPS provides a portable printing layer for UNIX®-based operating systems. It has been developed by Easy Software Products to promote a standard printing solution for all UNIX vendors and users. CUPS provides the System V and Berkeley command-line interfaces. CUPS uses the Internet Printing Protocol ("IPP") as the basis for managing print jobs and queues. The Line Printer Daemon ("LPD") Server Message Block ("SMB"), and AppSocket (a.k.a. JetDirect) protocols are also supported with reduced functionality.

CUPS adds network printer browsing and PostScript Printer Description ("PPD") based printing options to support real-world printing under UNIX. CUPS includes an image file RIP that supports printing of image files to non-PostScript printers. Cups includes other filters for performing conversions such as raster to hp (rastertohp), pdf to postscript (pdftops) among others. A customized version of GNU Ghostscript 7.05 for CUPS called ESP Ghostscript is available separately to support printing of non-PostScript files within the CUPS driver framework. Sample drivers for Dymo, EPSON, HP, and OKIDATA printers are included that use these filters.

The Oki Connection to JDS

In release 2 of JDS, there are several Oki printers supported with PPD’s, filters and Gimp drivers. The CUPS PPD’s were developed by the Oki LINUX / UNIX development group in Japan.

All of the drivers listed below can be used via Cups. The drivers marked as CUPS use PPDs only (for postscript printers). The other drivers use a PPD and filter combination.

Foomatic is a database driven system used to integrate printer drivers with common spoolers such as CUPS, LPRng and LPD under Unix based operating systems. The foomatic database engine produces the required PPD files and makes use of the foomatic-rip filter.

Oki4w is a driver developed by Marcin Dalecki, with cooperation with OKI. It is a filter which allows printing to OKI Hiper-w printers.

Gimp-print is a driver distribution that provides native CUPS filters and accompanying PPDs for hundreds of printer models.

Printer	Driver / PPD
OP14i	CUPS
B4300	CUPS
C5300	CUPS
C7100	CUPS
C7200	CUPS
C7300	CUPS
C7400	CUPS
C7500	CUPS
C9200	CUPS
C9300	CUPS
C9400	CUPS
C9500	CUPS
Legacy
24 Pin Series CUPS v1.1	CUPS
9 Pin Series CUPS v1.1	CUPS
DP5000	Foomatic + md50Eco
ML 182	Foomatic + oki182
ML 192+	Foomatic + ibmpro
ML 620CL	Foomatic + ML600
ML IBM Compat. 9 Pin	Foomatic + okiibm
ML 320	Foomatic + okiibm
ML 321	Foomatic + okiibm
ML 380	Foomatic + Epson
OP10e/10ex	Foomatic + gimp
OP12i	Foomatic + PostScript
OP14ex	Foomatic + gimp
OP20DXn	Foomatic + PostScript
OP4w / 4w+	Foomatic + oki4w
OP6e / 6ex	Foomatic + gimp
OP6w	Foomatic + oki4w
Okicolor 8c	Foomatic + PostScript
OP8p	Foomatic + gimp
OP8w / 8w Lite / 8z	Foomatic + oki4w
OL 400 / 400e / 400ex	Foomatic + gimp
OL 400w	Foomatic + oki4w
OL410e	Foomatic + gimp
OL 600e	Foomatic + gimp
OL 610e/ps	Foomatic + PostScript
OL 610 e/s	Foomatic + gimp
OL 800	Foomatic + gimp
OL 810 e/ps	Foomatic + PostScript
OL 810ex	Foomatic + gimp
OL 830 plus	Foomatic + PostScript
Super 6e	Foomatic + gimp

©2005 Oki Data Americas, Inc.