The standard communication settings of the printer work for most environments. To make sure the printer is set up to use the standard settings, check that the communication switch on the left side of the printer is in the Normal (in) position. The switch is located below the interface connectors.
You can view and change the standard communication settings for the printer with the Apple Printer Utility for Mac OS or Apple LaserWriter Utility for Windows .
You make changes to the communication settings with the printer's communication switch set in the Normal (in) position. This makes all communication settings available for changes.
1. Choose Configure Port from the Utilities menu.
2. Choose the port settings you want.
- You can set the Parallel interface to PostScript mode, TBCP, or No Change.
- You can set the LocalTalk interface to PostScript mode or turn it off.
- You can set the EtherTalk interface to PostScript mode or turn it off.
- You can set the NetWare interface to PostScript mode or turn it off.
- You can set the TCP/IP interface to PostScript mode or turn it off.
3. Click Set Port.
Resetting the communication settings
1. To restore the communication settings to the factory defaults:
- Set the communication switch on the printer to the Reset (out) position.
- Turn the printer off and back on again.
- Set the communication switch on the printer to the Normal (in) position.
Communication settings
The following table shows the default communication settings. For information about using the communication switch to adjust communication settings, see "LaserWriter 8500: How to Adjust Communication Settings." To change or view the current communication settings, use the Apple Printer Utility for Mac OS computers or the Apple LaserWriter Utility for Windows.
Normal (in) switch position
These settings can be changed to the following modes:
| Port | Protocol | Mode |
| LocalTalk | LocalTalk | PostScript, Off |
| Ethernet | EtherTalk
NetWare
TCP/IP | PostScript, Off |
| Parallel | TBCP | PostScript, Off |
When the communication switch is in the Reset (out) position, the following values are used:
| Port | Protocol | Mode |
| LocalTalk | LocalTalk | PostScript |
| Ethernet | EtherTalk
NetWare
TCP/IP | PostScript |
| Parallel | TBCP | PostScript |
Note: When the communication switch is in the Reset (out) position, a startup page is printed each time the printer is turned on and the Extended Job Status settings are removed.