15 - C H A P T E R -

C H A P T E R 15

ECP 1284 Parallel Port Printer Test (ecpptest)

The ecpptest verifies the functionality of the ecpp(7) IEEE 1284 parallel printer port device.

The ecpp(7) device is an exclusive use device. Only one application can interface with it at a time.

This test is not scalable.

ecpptest Hardware and Software Requirements

The ecpp(7) driver is installed with the operating system if the system being tested supports the ecpp(7) device. To run the optional printer subtest, a Centronics or ECP-mode printer must be attached to the printer port. To run the optional external loopback test, a passive loopback connector must be installed on the printer port.

Note - The external loopback test is intended for Sun internal manufacturing use only. It requires a custom loopback connector not available to an external customer.

ecpptest Subtests

TABLE 15-1 `ecpptest` Subtests
Subtest	Description
Internal Test FIFO Loopback	Verifies DMA and PIO accesses to the `ecpp` device. It uses an Internal Test FIFO on the `ecpp` device. There are no printer or loopback connectors required. This test is always executed.
External Passive Loopback	This verifies the parallel port I/O connections to the back panel connector. This test requires a passive loopback connector (Sun part no. 270-2965-01). This test is disabled by default and must be manually enabled by the user. Note: The external loopback test is intended for Sun internal manufacturing use only. It requires a custom loopback connector that is not available to an external customer.
Printer test	This verifies the parallel port printer operation. It outputs a half page of ASCII character data. The output mode (for example, ECP and Centronics) is determined by which mode the printer and `ecpp` driver automatically negotiate. It will not change the current mode. The user must verify that data printed properly. This test is disabled by default and must be manually enabled by the user.

ecpptest Options

To reach the dialog box below, right-click on the test name in the System Map and select Test Parameter Options. If you do not see this test in the System Map, you might need to expand the collapsed groups, or your system may not include the device appropriate to this test. Refer to the SunVTS User's Guide for more details.

FIGURE 15-1 ecpptest Test Parameter Options Dialog Box

Screenshot of the ecpptest Test Parameter Options dialog box.

TABLE 15-2 `ecpptest` Options
`ecpptest` Options	Description
External Loopback	Enables or disables the external loopback test. This test requires a special loopback plug.
Printer	Enables or disables the printer test; this test requires a printer to be attached to the parallel port.
Printer_data_type	Choose whether ascii text or PostScript data is sent to the printer. The printer test must be enabled for this to be meaningful. A postscript printer must be attached to print postscript data.
Printer_delay _seconds	Allows the user to choose a delay between passes of the printer test. This prevents continuous printing of data that could quickly empty the paper supply. This is only meaningful if the printer test is enabled.
Interrnal_loop_ during_delay	Enables the Internal Test FIFO loopback test during the printer delay time. This is only meaningful if the printer test is enabled.

ecpptest Test Modes

TABLE 15-3 `ecpptest` Supported Test Modes
Test Mode	Description
Connection	Opens and closes the `ecpp`(7) device. No data is transferred. The test passes if the device can be open and closed successfully. The test also passes if the device cannot be opened because the device is busy with another process.
Functional (Offline)	Runs the internal loopback test and the user can optionally run the External loopback test and Printer test. The test will fail if the device is busy.

ecpptest Command-Line Syntax

/opt/SUNWvts/bin/ecpptest standard_arguments -o [dev=device_name] [ext_loop=Enable|Disable][printer=Enable|Disable][,data=ascii|postscript][, delay=0-86400][,dloop=Enable|Disable]

TABLE 15-4 `ecpptest` Command-Line Syntax
Argument Description
`dev=`device_name	Specifies the name of the device. This should be of the form `/dev/ecpp#,` where # is the minor number of the device. The default device is `/dev/ecpp0`.
`ext_loop=`Enable\|Disable	If enabled, the external loopback test is run. The external loopback plug must be attached to the printer port.
`printer=`Enable\|Disable	If enabled, the printer test is run. A Centronics or ECP mode parallel port printer must be attached
`data=`ascii\|postscript	Choose whether ASCII text or PostScript data is sent to the printer. A PostScript printer must be attached to print postscript data.
`delay=`0-86400	Allows the user to choose a delay between passes of the printer test. This prevents continuous printing of data that could quickly empty the paper supply.
`dloop=`Enable\|Disable	Enables the Internal Test FIFO loopback test during the printer delay time.

Note - 64-bit tests are located in the sparcv9 subdirectory: /opt/SUNWvts/bin/sparcv9/testname. If a test is not present in this directory, then it may only be available as a 32-bit test. For more information refer to 32-Bit and 64-Bit Tests.