[NTLUG:Discuss] modprobe ppa says that parport is busy

[greenglow484@juno.com]

On Thu, 18 May 2000 01:12:55 -0500 Neil Aggarwal
<neil at JAMMConsulting.com> writes:
> Hello:
> 
> I just installed a fresh copy of RedHat 6.1a
<snip>
> I am trying to get my parallel port ZIP drive to work. According to
> several messages that I read, I can type
>   /sbin/modprobe ppa
> to do it.
> 
> But, when I try it, I get an error message:
> /lib/modules/2.2.12-20/scsi/ppa.o: init_module: Device or resource 
> busy
> parport: Device or resource busy.

Neil--
This has been a chronic problem for me, under RH 6 and 6.1, and Mdk 7. 
In fact, I've never gotten my parport ZIP to work under any Linux distro,
despite numerous tries.

Probably, you have your printer and ZIP on the same single parport; I do
(HP LaserJet 6Lse).  One tip I've gotten in past is to add a 2nd parport,
with 1 item on each.  Never tried it, but seems hopeful.

Al's post on this mentioned typing "lsmod".  When I did it, it never said
that ppa was loaded.  IIRC, parport was loaded; my hunch was that, like
Al said, it was a conflict between printer and ZIP trying to use same
port.  The whammy is trying to type "insmod ppa":  When do that, it
refuses to load ppa, because something else's already there.

I just looked back at a couple of fine private emails I got from people
on this list last Winter, on this subject;  The bottom line seemed to be
putting the 2 devices on diff. parports.

My impression from somewhere was that newer kernel (2.2.14 or higher?)
had some features so that parport sharing was easier.  I've noticed the
printer config. and details got less easy, from RH 6.0 to 6.1 and Mdk 7,
so something's changed.  Printer was easy under RH 6.0; under 6.1, more
tricky.  Don't understand it at all.

The principal Net resources I found were that fellow's page with some
other drivers, which IIRC is listed in the mini-HowTo on ZIP
installation.  Unfortunately, I lost the minis in my last install of Mdk,
and can't find them on the CD's I have.  Check out the howtos, and you
should find the ZIP one, at:

ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO/

Ultimately, I decided the printer was worth more to me than the ZIP; when
need to use it, just have to go back over into Windoze.  So, I quit
spending time on it.  I'll follow any other posts on this with interest. 
Best to you.
--
  Douglas D. Darnold	Principal/ Attorney	
  LAW OFFICES OF DOUGLAS D. DARNOLD	<greenglow484 at juno.com>
  P. O. Box 12461	Dallas,  Texas 75225-0461	Voice: 214-368-0068
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