Computing desk
< September 18	<< Aug \| September \| Oct >>	September 20 >

Welcome to the Wikipedia Computing Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is a transcluded archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

September 19

USB Data Flow

What tools (hardware or software) can be used to inspect the data flow on a USB cable link? I am interested in the control of printers for which the manufacturer has ceased to provide drivers. DroneB (talk) 13:30, 19 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

I've never used one, but the product you're looking for is called a USB sniffer. CodeTalker (talk) 13:55, 19 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

@DroneB: A Logic analyzer is a common tool for this purpose. RudolfRed (talk) 16:25, 19 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

I don't know what printers you are concerned with, but have you investigated whether any open-source drivers have been produced for them, such as those bundled with the Linux kernel? Elizium23 (talk) 16:58, 19 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

OP here. My specific interest is HP Photosmart D6160 printer. I expect it to respond to an early version of Printer Command Language but HP do not publish the whole USB protocol (printer type, ink levels, paper jam, align heads and test page commands) and cannot give me a driver for any version of Windows. DroneB (talk) 17:23, 19 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

@DroneB: Which Windows version do you have. On the HP site [1] it has drivers for Vista, XP. For other versions, it says there is a built-in driver to use. RudolfRed (talk) 18:50, 19 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

@RudolfRed: HP seems to have an impressive customer support for their enormous range of printers. But it turns out that neither they nor Microsoft can give a driver that works for my Photosmart D6160. I have tried both Vista and Windows 10 machines and followed advice from two HP employees at their HP Support Community forum. But the printer with its expensive inks is as useful as a boat anchor. DroneB (talk) 19:19, 19 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Does the self-test page print out OK ? SinisterLefty (talk) 19:33, 19 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

@SinisterLefty:Probably yes. Tell me what command to send to the USB port and I'll print the page just for you. DroneB (talk) 09:55, 20 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

You do the self-test by hitting some buttons on the panel directly. I can't find the directions for that model, but here they are for other models: [2]. I suggest trying the steps for the other "D" models, as those sound the closest to yours. SinisterLefty (talk) 12:39, 20 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

@SinisterLefty:I think not. The User Guide p.24 procedure to print a sample page requires clicking on a working Printer Toolbox software. DroneB (talk) 16:28, 21 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Too bad. They seem unclear on the concept. The self-test is supposed to test the printer itself, and not involve the network, PC, driver, etc. Thus, if the self-test fails, there's no need to waste your time on the rest. SinisterLefty (talk) 18:31, 21 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Have you tried this page: [3] ? It contains a diagnostic tool and an update. SinisterLefty (talk) 12:54, 20 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, tried without success. The updates are over 10 years old. DroneB (talk) 15:28, 20 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

You claim it'll be an "early version" of PCL, but even PCL 6 was released 24 years ago! Pray tell, what is your ultimate goal with this expedition? Do you wish to return the printer to active service under a specific Windows machine? Have you attempted booting a LiveUSB or virtual machine of, say, Ubuntu Linux to see if it will print from there? Either with, or without, the Open-Source HPLIP package? If you could get it running via Linux, would that be "good enough" for your purposes, or do you require functionality within Windows? If you were able to snoop the USB traffic and decode it, would that be beneficial to you? Are you capable and willing to write a hardware driver such as this, from scratch? Is someone willing to pay you for your time on that? Will HP allow it, even? If you do write a driver, will you re-submit it to the Open Source community? Inquiring minds want to know... Elizium23 (talk) 16:29, 20 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

@Elizium23: Your 9 Questions get a few answers. I glean from Printer Command Language that color Photosmart printers use PCL3c which is likely a subset of PCL5e that I have found documented. It is worth my effort to write code in my project to deliver printouts on the old printer rather than junking it. Low performance of high-level (C++) code on a Windows PC and only the few print functions that I actually need will both be acceptable. Snooping and decoding the USB traffic to a similar working HP printer would be helpful. I don't run Linux/Ubuntu but I see that HPLIP v. 1.6.7 may support my printer. DroneB (talk) 22:59, 20 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

See if this helps: https://www.openprinting.org/driver/hplip 67.164.113.165 (talk) 03:25, 26 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]