Can't print to LPT1 from old DOS pgm running DOSBox SVM on Mac 10.x. Downloaded what appears to be MAC version of DOSBox SVM,

[MrMagg]

Printer connectivity for DOS emulator running on MAC OS

 

[MrMagg]

Sorry, question was cut off. Trying to use DOSBox SVM version for MAC OS, to allow old dos program to run on MAC oS and be able to write to LPT1, mapping it to a network printer. Have edited the config file per instructions found in threads here, but still fails. Solution says to use NET USE command . However, simply trying to enter this at the DOSBox command prompt, returns "Illegal command: NET." If anyone has been able to get this to work, can you type in the NET USE command from the command prompt? Maybe my config file is not getting invoked correctly? How do you start DOSBox and pass it the name/location of your modified config file? Thanks.

 

[Alabalcho]

"NET" command in "standard" MS-DOS is part of "MS Net" package, it is not standard DOS command. If installed, it usually goes to C:\NET directory, check whether it exist, and whether there is NET.EXE there.

YOu might have better chances if you install Win3.11 (Windows for Workgroups) or Win95 inside that virtual machine, all of them install that NET layer.

Post your config.sys and autoexec.bat files here.

 

[MrMagg]

"NET" command in "standard" MS-DOS is part of "MS Net" package, it is not standard DOS command. If installed, it usually goes to C:\NET directory, check whether it exist, and whether there is NET.EXE there.

YOu might have better chances if you install Win3.11 (Windows for Workgroups) or Win95 inside that virtual machine, all of them install that NET layer.

Post your config.sys and autoexec.bat files here.

Sorry - I'm trying to emulate this on a MAC O/S. I understand basic DOS and DOSBox does not have NET USE support. However, the thread here for DOSBox and LPT1 seems to state that modified SVM version, with config changes, works. They say specifically to use the NET USE command to assign the printer port LPT1 to the network printer. So, question is basically, for anyone who has used DOSBox SVM successfully... once configured correctly, does the NET USE command function correctly from the Z: prompt of DOSBox? If it does, then something in my config is either wrong, or not getting passed correctly at startup. Since MAC is Unix based, I suspect my edited config file is not getting passed at startup. It's a bit more difficult to pass the name of the config file when starting DOSBox.
Thanks though for your help!

 

[Alabalcho]

Neither Google nor Bing know anything about "DOSbox SVM".
Out of curiosity, I installed DOSbox on my Linux laptop (version 0.74), and there is no "NET command", as you have discovered. The config file installed with it does not mention LPT port emulation, only sound / serial.

OTOH: DOSbox is marketed as "game" emulation, not line-of-business product. If running that DOS application is important for you, do the proper thing: obtain real MS-DOS and MS-NET floppy disk images, install them withing a real virtual machine, supported under your OS of choice. MS-NET works pretty well on real x86 hardware (including printer redirection), so I see no reason for it not to work inside VM.

 

[MrMagg]

Neither Google nor Bing know anything about "DOSbox SVM".
Out of curiosity, I installed DOSbox on my Linux laptop (version 0.74), and there is no "NET command", as you have discovered. The config file installed with it does not mention LPT port emulation, only sound / serial.

OTOH: DOSbox is marketed as "game" emulation, not line-of-business product. If running that DOS application is important for you, do the proper thing: obtain real MS-DOS and MS-NET floppy disk images, install them withing a real virtual machine, supported under your OS of choice. MS-NET works pretty well on real x86 hardware (including printer redirection), so I see no reason for it not to work inside VM.

Perhaps it would help if I spelled it correctly for you? Sorry! It's DOSBox SVN, not SVM. I found another thread which explains a bit more on how it works and is configured, which I posted below. I'll try working through again.

I realize DOSBox is primarily for games, and can try going the VM route if I can't get this to work. It appeared to be the simplest solution, had a number of posts stating it worked, thus my continued efforts down this path. Thnaks for your suggestions and efforts! Belated Merry Christmas!

Thread with LPT1 discussion:
http://superuser.com/questions/96812/using-a-printer-in-dosbox

 

[Alabalcho]

@MrMagg,

I failed to make that alternative DosBox run (for one, I don't speak Korean, and I am not up to breaking my x64 Linux install so I can compile it from sources).

However - I was able to install FreeDOS inside VirtualBox under Linux, and with double redirection (LPT1 to COM1 inside FreeDOS, COM1 to a file from VirtualBox) I made "DIR >LPT1" to appear into a file on my Linux. YOu should be able to do that on OS/S as well.