Application Note

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Enabling Keep Alive Functionality on Star Ethernet Printers (Linux/Mac)

Introduction This application note shows how to enable Keep Alive functionality on Star Micronics Ethernet Printers. While this document was written using a TSP700II, these instructions apply to the printer models listed below. Star’s innovative TCP Keep Alive feature ensures maximum uptime for Star printers. Ethernet printers are commonly installed with distance from their host terminals. Consider kitchen printers in a restaurant, for example. If a network error occurred resulting in the connection between the terminal and printer being terminated, the problem would not be immediately apparent to the kitchen staff. With TCP Keep Alive and its messaging system enabled, the Star printer outputs a customizable notice informing the printer-side staff that communication with the host terminal was lost. Immediately understanding that a problem occurred, action can be taken to quickly rectify the situation to ensure customers are kept satisfied. Supported Printers: FVP10, TSP650, TSP700II, TSP800II, SP700, SP500, HSP7000, TUP500, TSP100LAN Supported Interfaces: Ethernet Required Ethernet Interface: IFBD-HE0708 (TSP650, TSP700II, TSP800II, SP700, SP500, HSP7000, TUP500) IFBD-BE07 (FVP10) Feature automatically enabled on the TSP100LAN Supported Environments: Linux, Mac OS X Table of Contents I. Ethernet Printer Installation ……………………………………………… Page 1 II. Browser Configuration …………………………………………………….. Page 2 III. Terminal Configuration …………………………………………………... Page 5

I. Ethernet Printer Installation Before configuring Keep Alive, it is necessary to have the printer on the network with an IP Address. Follow the below links to view instructions from Star Micronics’ FAQ Site for adding the printer. Linux - Assigning an IP Address with Terminal Mac OS X - Assigning an IP Address with Terminal With the printer added to the network, continue on to the next step using the desired method: Section II. Browser Configuration or Section III. Terminal Configuration.

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II. Browser Configuration

1. Open a browser like Safari or Firefox and type the printer’s IP address into the address bar.

2. Click “Login” in the left menu bar.

3. Login. Factory Default User Name: root Factory Default Password: public

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4. Click “System Configuration” in the left menu bar.

5. Set “TCP Keep-Alive” to Enable. 6. Set “Disconnect Message” to Enable. 7. If desired, modify the message highlighted in the orange box. The printer will automatically print this message should connection be lost. 8. Click “Submit”.

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9. This page confirms the information set. Click “Save” in the left menu bar.

10. Click “Save Configuration printing Restart device” to save settings and print a test page.

11. It will take about ten seconds for the printer to restart with the new configuration settings. At this point, close the browser window. Congratulations! You have successfully enabled Keep Alive for your Star Ethernet Printer. The printer will now print a message indicating a network issue within ten seconds of losing connection with its host.

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III. Terminal Configuration 1. Open Terminal.

2. Type “telnet Printer_IP_Address” as shown above.

3. Login. Factory Default User Name: root Factory Default Password: public

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4. Enter 2 for System Configuration.

5. Enter 4 for TCP Keep-Alive.

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6. Enter 1 for Enable.

7. Enter 6 for Disconnect Message.

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8. Enter 1 for Enable.

9. Enter 99 for Back to Main Menu.

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10. Enter 98 for Save & Restart.

11. Enter 1 for Save & Configure & Restart. It will take about ten seconds for the printer to restart with the new configuration settings. At this point, close the browser window. Congratulations! You have successfully enabled Keep Alive for your Star Ethernet Printer. The printer will now print a message indicating a network issue within ten seconds of losing connection with its host.

Star Micronics Worldwide

Star Micronics Co., Ltd. 536 Nanatsushinya Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka 424-0066 Japan +81-54-347-2163 http://www.star-m.jp/eng/index.htm Star Micronics America, Inc. 1150 King Georges Post Road Edison, NJ 08837 USA 1-800-782-7636 +1-732-623-5500 http://www.starmicronics.com Star Micronics EMEA Star House Peregrine Business Park, Gomm Road High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire HP13 7DL UK +44-(0)-1494-471111 http://www.star-emea.com Star Micronics Southeast Asia Co., Ltd. Room 2902C. 29th Fl. United Center Bldg. 323 Silom Road, Silom Bangrak, Bangkok 10500 Thailand +66-2-631-1161 x 2 http://www.starmicronics.co.th/

Star Micronics is a global leader in the manufacturing of small printers. We apply over 50 years of knowhow and innovation to provide elite printing solutions that are rich in stellar reliability and industry-respected features. Offering a diverse line of Thermal, Hybrid, Mobile, Kiosk and Impact Dot Matrix printers, we are obsessed with exceeding the demands of our valued customers every day. We have a long history of implementations into Retail, Point of Sale, Hospitality, Restaurants and Kitchens, Kiosks and Digital Signage, Gaming and Lottery, ATMs, Ticketing, Labeling, Salons and Spas, Banking and Credit Unions, Medical, Law Enforcement, Payment Processing, and more! High Quality POS Receipts, Interactive Coupons with Triggers, Logo Printing for Branding, Advanced Drivers for Windows, Mac and Linux, Complete SDK Packages, Android, iOS, Blackberry Printing Support, OPOS, JavaPOS, POS for .NET, Eco-Friendly Paper and Power Savings with Reporting Utility, ENERGY STAR, MSR Reading, futurePRNT, StarPRNT… How can Star help you fulfill the needs of your application? Don’t just settle on hardware that won’t work as hard as you do. Demand everything from your printer. Demand a Star!