SheepShaver, print LPD from Mac OS 9 - macOS Tahoe host

[Pastmeister]

I'd like to use the option to print directly to an old PostScript printer on my home LAN. But I'm struggling with attempting to access the print server using SheepShaver.

I know the IP address of the print server, but don't know how to get an IP address that SheepShaver Mac OS 9 can use. I can access the Web using a browser in Mac OS 9 and I can successfully ping the router using WhatRoute.

Any suggestions would be appreciated, even a recommendation to not attempt it,

[Ronald P. Regensburg]

This manual is last updated in 2015 and I have not tried the setup for years, but it may still work on latest macOS hosts:
https://www.emaculation.com/doku.php/sh ... ur_network

[Pastmeister]

I need to restate the problem. My router has a fixed IP address, 192.168.12.1. My print server also has a fixed IP address, 192.168.12.10. But when I open the TCP/IP control panel in my Mac OS 9 SheepShaver guest, I’m told that my router is 10.0.2.2. And I can successfully ping 10.0.2.2, or google.com, etc. But I was hoping that someone on this forum could help me with any ideas for locating the IP address of my print server within the topsy turvy SheepShaver world. I’ve tried pinging 192.168.12.1 - my router’s real address and 192.168.12.10 - my print server, and not surprisingly, no response. Obviously I can easily reach the router at 10.0.2.2. But I have no idea how locate the SheepShaver address for my printer. And I can’t move forward without it.

[Cat_7]

I have almost the same configuration as you, also running SheepShaver on Tahoe. Only the IP addresses of the local network differ. I can print to my Color LaserJet M255dw.

I don't know what a SheepShaver address for a printer would be. Please don't get confused by the SheepShaver IP address or the inability to ping through the slirp network connection SheepShaver uses. And please don't assume your printer might be located at a different IP address inside SheepShaver.
If your printer is a postscript printer, you can add it with the desktop printer utility.

Follow option 7 from the printing guide Ronald pointer to.
-Open the desktop printer utility, see whether at With it says Laserwriter 8 at the top.
-Then select Printer (LPR) (or other name as mentioned in the guide).
-At PostScript Printer Description file click Change and click Generic (unless your actually have one of the printers in the list)
-At LPR printer Selection click Change. Then at Printer Address type 192.168.12.10. Leave the queue empty and click Verify.
If it says: The printer is located at: 192.168.12.10 you can click OK and save the desktop printer with some name.
-Done

If your printer cannot be found with Verify then either the printer is not set up for LPR printing or is no PostScript printer.
You would then need to use one the other printing options.

Best,
Cat_7

[Pastmeister]

Many thanks for your explanation. Clearly, I was overthinking the problem.

Adding my printer was routine, verification of the true IP address worked, and printing works fine. I had a Mac OS 9 PPD for it (HP LaserJet 5 MP).