LaserWriter 12/640 & 16/600: Telneting Problem

Telneting from Macintosh to some Apple Laserwriter's fails if a password has been set.

Models affected
---------------
Laserwriter 16/600 w/ 3.0 ROMs
Laserwriter 12/640

When trying to logon to a new printer, you are prompted to enter a password. Once you enter one, you get the following:

"Verify your password by entering it again.
Password:
Your passwords do not match. Try again."

When you enter the password again, the session immediately exits.

If a password has already been recorded (through a earlier Telnet 2.7x session for example), the session immediately exits as soon as you enter the password.
Customers maybe unable to telnet from a Macintosh to certain model Apple Laserwriters.

The problem affects:

1- Mac OS systems with Open Transport using NSCA Telent 2.5 or 2.6. Mac OS systems with MacTCP (Classic Networking) or other versions of NCSA Telnet should not be affected. Telnet from other operating systems should be unaffected as well.

2- Connections only to Laserwriter 16/600 w/ 3.0 ROMs or Laserwriter 12/640. All other Laserwriters configurable with telnet (Laserwriter 810 w/ 1.0 or 1.2 ROMs, Laserwriter 16/600 with 1.0 or 2.x ROMs) remain unaffected.

3- The password facility is the cause of the problem.

If the printer is being configured for the first time, attempts to set a new password will fail. If accssing a configured printer, password entry will fail.

Workaround
----------
Customers should upgrade to the current version of NCSA telnet, or use a different OS to telnet to the printer.

If you cannot resolve the problem, please contact your local Apple Technical Support specialist.


This article was published in the 8 May 1997 "Information Alley".
Published Date: Feb 18, 2012