Any recommendations for a full size PCI Printer Card that works out of the box

Currently have a PCI printer card and lspci-v just says it's a serial card. I have a disk with a lot of drivers for various chipsets. I am looking for a more practical solution. I am UK based.

Without seeing the output of lspci -v it's hard to say whether its a goer or not, some parallel cards use a driver that has serial in the name.

This topic comes up at least once a month so a search of the forum should give some advice.

The problem is that the cards are so generic now that it's hard to say "buy this card from here" as the store could be selling a similar card from a different source.

Just to get things straight, you are after a PCI card and not a PCIe card.

wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?Parallel_Port_Cards

wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?Startech

wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?SIIG

It seems a little strange that a MB with PCI slots doesn't have an on board print port.

I know some Lenovo machines need a special cable for the motherboard connector to get the BIOS to recognise the on board print port.

I have been looking a resources prior to posting, some successes has been achieved using AX99100 chip, it depends on the implementation.

Below is output from lspci -vvv
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 2nd Generation Core Processor Family DRAM Controller (rev 09)
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company 2nd Generation Core Processor Family DRAM Controller
Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B- DisINTx-
Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort+ >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
Latency: 0
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: snb_uncore

00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Xeon E3-1200/2nd Generation Core Processor Family PCI Express Root Port (rev 09) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Xeon E3-1200/2nd Generation Core Processor Family PCI Express Root Port
Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B- DisINTx+
Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
Latency: 0, Cache Line Size: 64 bytes
Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 24
Bus: primary=00, secondary=01, subordinate=01, sec-latency=0
I/O behind bridge: f000-0fff [disabled] [16-bit]
Memory behind bridge: fff00000-000fffff [disabled] [32-bit]
Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 00000000fff00000-00000000000fffff [disabled] [64-bit]
Secondary status: 66MHz- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- <SERR- <PERR-
BridgeCtl: Parity- SERR+ NoISA- VGA- VGA16+ MAbort- >Reset- FastB2B-
PriDiscTmr- SecDiscTmr- DiscTmrStat- DiscTmrSERREn-
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: pcieport

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 09) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
DeviceName: Onboard IGD
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics Controller
Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx+
Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
Latency: 0
Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 27
Region 0: Memory at f7800000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4M]
Region 2: Memory at e0000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
Region 4: I/O ports at f000
Expansion ROM at 000c0000 [virtual] [disabled] [size=128K]
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: i915
Kernel modules: i915

00:16.0 Communication controller: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family MEI Controller #1 (rev 04)
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family MEI Controller
Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx+
Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
Latency: 0
Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 28
Region 0: Memory at f7e0a000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable)
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: mei_me
Kernel modules: mei_me

00:1a.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family USB Enhanced Host Controller #2 (rev 05) (prog-if 20 [EHCI])
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family USB Enhanced Host Controller
Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B- DisINTx-
Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
Latency: 0
Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 16
Region 0: Memory at f7e08000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K]
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: ehci-pci
Kernel modules: ehci_pci

00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family High Definition Audio Controller (rev 05)
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company HP Pavilion p6-2100 Desktop PC Series
Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B- DisINTx+
Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
Latency: 0, Cache Line Size: 64 bytes
Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 29
Region 0: Memory at f7e00000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel
Kernel modules: snd_hda_intel

00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 1 (rev b5) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 1
Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B- DisINTx-
Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
Latency: 0, Cache Line Size: 64 bytes
Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 16
Bus: primary=00, secondary=02, subordinate=02, sec-latency=0
I/O behind bridge: f000-0fff [disabled] [16-bit]
Memory behind bridge: fff00000-000fffff [disabled] [32-bit]
Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 00000000fff00000-00000000000fffff [disabled] [64-bit]
Secondary status: 66MHz- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort+ <SERR- <PERR-
BridgeCtl: Parity- SERR+ NoISA- VGA- VGA16+ MAbort- >Reset- FastB2B-
PriDiscTmr- SecDiscTmr- DiscTmrStat- DiscTmrSERREn-
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: pcieport

00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 4 (rev b5) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 4
Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B- DisINTx-
Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
Latency: 0, Cache Line Size: 64 bytes
Interrupt: pin D routed to IRQ 19
Bus: primary=00, secondary=03, subordinate=03, sec-latency=0
I/O behind bridge: e000-efff [size=4K] [16-bit]
Memory behind bridge: f7d00000-f7dfffff [size=1M] [32-bit]
Prefetchable memory behind bridge: f0000000-f00fffff [size=1M] [32-bit]
Secondary status: 66MHz- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- <SERR- <PERR-
BridgeCtl: Parity- SERR+ NoISA- VGA- VGA16+ MAbort- >Reset- FastB2B-
PriDiscTmr- SecDiscTmr- DiscTmrStat- DiscTmrSERREn-
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: pcieport

00:1c.5 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 6 (rev b5) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 6
Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B- DisINTx-
Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
Latency: 0, Cache Line Size: 64 bytes
Interrupt: pin B routed to IRQ 17
Bus: primary=00, secondary=04, subordinate=04, sec-latency=0
I/O behind bridge: d000-dfff [size=4K] [16-bit]
Memory behind bridge: f7c00000-f7cfffff [size=1M] [32-bit]
Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 00000000fff00000-00000000000fffff [disabled] [64-bit]
Secondary status: 66MHz- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- <SERR- <PERR-
BridgeCtl: Parity- SERR+ NoISA- VGA- VGA16+ MAbort- >Reset- FastB2B-
PriDiscTmr- SecDiscTmr- DiscTmrStat- DiscTmrSERREn-
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: pcieport

00:1d.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family USB Enhanced Host Controller #1 (rev 05) (prog-if 20 [EHCI])
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family USB Enhanced Host Controller
Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B- DisINTx-
Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
Latency: 0
Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 23
Region 0: Memory at f7e07000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K]
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: ehci-pci
Kernel modules: ehci_pci

00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation H61 Express Chipset LPC Controller (rev 05)
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company H61 Express Chipset LPC Controller
Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B- DisINTx-
Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
Latency: 0
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: lpc_ich
Kernel modules: lpc_ich

00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family 6 port Desktop SATA AHCI Controller (rev 05) (prog-if 01 [AHCI 1.0])
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family 6 port Desktop SATA AHCI Controller
Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx+
Status: Cap+ 66MHz+ UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
Latency: 0
Interrupt: pin B routed to IRQ 26
Region 0: I/O ports at f0b0
Region 1: I/O ports at f0a0
Region 2: I/O ports at f090
Region 3: I/O ports at f080
Region 4: I/O ports at f060
Region 5: Memory at f7e06000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=2K]
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: ahci
Kernel modules: ahci

00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family SMBus Controller (rev 05)
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family SMBus Controller
Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B- DisINTx-
Status: Cap- 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
Interrupt: pin C routed to IRQ 18
Region 0: Memory at f7e05000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable)
Region 4: I/O ports at f040
Kernel driver in use: i801_smbus
Kernel modules: i2c_i801

03:00.0 Serial controller: Nanjing Qinheng Microelectronics Co., Ltd. Device 3050 (rev 10) (prog-if 05 [16850])
Subsystem: Nanjing Qinheng Microelectronics Co., Ltd. Device 3050
Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B- DisINTx-
Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 19
Region 0: I/O ports at e000
Region 1: Memory at f0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=32K]
Region 2: I/O ports at e100
Expansion ROM at f7d00000 [disabled] [size=32K]
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: parport_pc
Kernel modules: parport_pc, parport_serial

04:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev 06)
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller
Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B- DisINTx+
Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
Latency: 0, Cache Line Size: 64 bytes
Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 17
Region 0: I/O ports at d000
Region 2: Memory at f7c04000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
Region 4: Memory at f7c00000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=16K]
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: r8169
Kernel modules: r8169

Made the change to the hal file you suggested.

All works well again.

Thanks for your time & help.