Simply using google to find a laplink parallel cable is quick, too.
http://www.nullmodem.com/LapLink.htm

Of course, even LapLink's "parallel" cable only transfers 4 bits
at a time vs. the 8-bits that are possible on an EPP port.

And LapLink does NOT run in the background (as does RIFS - Remote
Installable File Server, which, alas, uses a serial port and is
thus also much slower than a fully parallel port.)

I find it interesting: lots of people have suggested I do something
ELSE, but no one has answered the question itself. Obviously I
posted my question in the wrong newsgroups! Oh, well; nothing
ventured, nothing gained (and only a little time lost).

--
--Myron A. Calhoun.
Five boxes preserve our freedoms: soap, ballot, witness, jury, and cartridge
NRA Life Member and Rifle, Pistol, & Home Firearm Safety Certified Instructor
Certified Instructor for the Kansas Concealed-Carry Handgun license

wrote in message ...
I find it interesting: lots of people have suggested I do something
ELSE, but no one has answered the question itself.

You might be better off in one of the "historical" computer groups (maybe
alt.folklore.computers); what you're wanting to do requires knowledge that's
simply obsolete by current standards, so you won't find that many people who
still possess it.

wrote:

Simply using google to find a laplink parallel cable is quick, too.
http://www.nullmodem.com/LapLink.htm

Of course, even LapLink's "parallel" cable only transfers 4 bits
at a time vs. the 8-bits that are possible on an EPP port.

You asked how to connect tow parallel ports. The link gives two examples.
The examples are ones that worked with commercial software. (Hint: that
means they would probably work for you. It may also meet your criteria for
reliability.)


And LapLink does NOT run in the background (as does RIFS - Remote
Installable File Server, which, alas, uses a serial port and is
thus also much slower than a fully parallel port.)

Your original post made no mention of specific software being a restriction.
It did say this was a one-off job without out a speed requirement.


I find it interesting: lots of people have suggested I do something
ELSE, but no one has answered the question itself.

The link answered the question in the subject.

Obviously I
posted my question in the wrong newsgroups! Oh, well; nothing
ventured, nothing gained (and only a little time lost).


Your fault the time was lost. Simple google searches would have given you
what you wanted.

The search to find the earlier link was on "laplink parallel cable".

If you do a search on "connecting epp ports", one of the links will be this
page.

http://www.lvr.com/jansfaq.htm

Scroll down to the bottom to see a problem with connecting all data bits.
(You did say you wanted a reliable solution.)

Yes, this may have been the wrong newsgroup. That is not the fault of anyone
who replied to you.

wrote:

I find it interesting: lots of people have suggested I do something
ELSE, but no one has answered the question itself. Obviously I
posted my question in the wrong newsgroups! Oh, well; nothing
ventured, nothing gained (and only a little time lost).

Maybe it was the wrong *question*. Kindly refrain from
criticizing a forum like this for not being your personal
research staff.

As the discussion showed, what you really want to do
is transfer files. Fine. If you want to transfer files, a null
modem cable (an off the shelf item) and a couple of
copies of kermit (ditto) will transfer a lot of data. I
transferred a Windows 95 CD to a laptop once that way.

Laura Halliday VE7LDH "That's a totally illegal,
Grid: CN89mg madcap scheme. I like it!"
ICBM: 49 16.05 N 122 56.92 W - H. Pearce

As the discussion showed, what you really want to do is transfer files.
....[snip]....

That may be what the DISCUSSION showed, but that's NOT what my QUESTION
asked (which was how one might connect two EPP ports so they could "talk"
with each other bidirectionally).

Others "answered" the question by suggesting alternative solutions
(And there is/was nothing wrong with that!),
but only a very few actually addressed the original question,

And I hereby thank them.
--
--Myron A. Calhoun.
Five boxes preserve our freedoms: soap, ballot, witness, jury, and cartridge
NRA Life Member and Rifle, Pistol, & Home Firearm Safety Certified Instructor
Certified Instructor for the Kansas Concealed-Carry Handgun license