As400 / os400 compatible copier

[Guest]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone knows if there is a particular make and model of copier that is compatible with IBM AS/400 servers (I'm guessing the OS is OS/400)...

These IBM type of systems go beyond the scope of my knowledge so I'm hoping someone on this forum can clarify this for me or at least point me in the right direction.

Thanks

Stephen

[rthonpm]

Re: As400 / os400 compatible copier

Most Ricoh machines should be compatible with OS-400, though I think there's some additional middleware involved.

[deutschauto]

Re: As400 / os400 compatible copier

Great!

Thanks Rthonpm!

[mojorolla]

Re: As400 / os400 compatible copier

Sharp is also compatible.

[KenB]

Re: As400 / os400 compatible copier

You need to ask the customer if they are using HPT or IPDS to print from their AS400.

IPDS is "Intelligent Print Data Stream", and is AS400 native output. It is EBCEDIC, and no Ricoh machine will understand it without an IPDS option, which coverts the EBCEDIC to ASCII, which the printer will understand. The IPDS option currently offered is an SD card that goes in the printer. (The previous "RA2K" kit was software that installed on the MFP hard drive.)

The alternative is HPT, or "Host Print Transform", where the data is converted to ASCII at the AS400, and no further conversion is needed.

IPDS is actually far more predictable, accurate, and efficient than HPT (you can even do color graphics with it), but is usually not used in favor of the HPT route, which normally means a less expensive printer.

Keep in mind that the IPDS option is not cheap, but then again, neither is anything even remotely associated with AS400. The good news is that it costs way less than the "RA2K" option I mentioned.

[rthonpm]

Re: As400 / os400 compatible copier

Thanks for the more detailed information Ken: I learned something myself. Granted it's been years since I heard the term EBCEDIC used. Gotta love mainframes!

[KenB]

Re: As400 / os400 compatible copier

Glad to shed some light.

I'm the lucky duck in our marketplace who gets to work with AS400, SAP, MCE, etc... on quite a regular basis.

Fun, fun, fun...

[Peter Sim]

Re: As400 / os400 compatible copier

Glad to shed some light.

I'm the lucky duck in our marketplace who gets to work with AS400, SAP, MCE, etc... on quite a regular basis.

Fun, fun, fun...

Hi KenB ,
Can canon image runner supported this IBM AS400 server?
As i know Panasonic workio MFP can support but need the PCL kit.
Thank you.

[deutschauto]

Re: As400 / os400 compatible copier

Thanks to everyone who responded to this thread

[MFPTech]

Re: As400 / os400 compatible copier

some of the Middleware you can use is PlanetPress, Reform 12 from Fabsoft, DataWorks, etc.

[Peter Sim]

Re: As400 / os400 compatible copier

Need help and info,
As one of our client,logistic company,they need to print thru IMB AS400 ,as our panasonic workio MFP copier a bit hard to find PCL kit,so we are thinking of replacing panasonic with canon image runner complete with U-send and N bootrom,for them to print,wheather the canon image runner supported?

Thank you in advance.

[ddude]

Re: As400 / os400 compatible copier

There are different ways to solve this, either using an XP based print server box to interpret/convert, or using middleware, as MFPtech had suggested, or writing/using your own command code. The best solution is the solution that the customer's AS400 engineer will agree on. I would have a conversation with the AS400 support at the site, see what they have used in the past, or what they might have considered using- chances are very good that this user has had thought of changing in the past. The last thing you want to do is to disrupt or anger their support team.

[KenB]

Re: As400 / os400 compatible copier

Keep in mind that, as I mentioned earlier, most customers usually use HPT, meaning that all a printer needs the ability to print PCL5. (The AS400 will put out ASCII text in this case.)

The number of machines I set up where IPDS is being used are actually a very small minority.

[Peter Sim]

Re: As400 / os400 compatible copier

Hi ,
Hope some one will shed some light on this topic again.
We have send canon ir2870 with N boot rom to the customer place.
The iT engineer call us to set ready the network and custom paper size and i ask the iT engineer what type of custom paper size for as400,and she say that she don't know and was configure by her counterpart in US and she just ready the copier for them.Can i know what type of custom paper size that as400 using for printing ?And also what other thing that we need to look into?
Thank you in advance.

[morgacb]

Re: As400 / os400 compatible copier

Please find the below link for devices with valid AS/400 drivers. IBM - Information on Printers from Various Manufacturers