HP J3112A Jetdirect 600N Token Ring Printer Network Card RJ-45 DB9

HP J3112A Jetdirect 600N Token Ring Printer Network Card RJ-45 DB9

The HP J3112A is an internal JetDirect 600N Token Ring network card designed to add Token Ring network connectivity to compatible HP LaserJet printers equipped with an EIO expansion slot. The card installs directly into the printer's internal slot and exposes RJ-45 and DB9 connectors on a machined metal faceplate for network and optional serial connections. A Texas Instruments LAN controller chip is visible on the PCB.

Specifications & What's Included

• Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard (HP)
• Model / MPN: J3112A
• Product Line: JetDirect 600N
• Network Technology: Token Ring
• Connector 1: RJ-45 (Token Ring network)
• Connector 2: DB9 (serial)
• Form Factor: Internal EIO card / module
• Main Network Chipset: Texas Instruments LAN controller (markings partially legible in photos)
• Edge Connector: EIO (Enhanced I/O) for HP LaserJet internal slot
• Compatible with HP LaserJet printers with an EIO expansion slot
• Card only — no cables, documentation, or accessories included

Applications

HP JetDirect internal print server cards like the J3112A were used to connect HP LaserJet printers directly to a local area network without requiring a dedicated print server host machine. The 600N Token Ring variant was specifically designed for Token Ring network infrastructures, which were common in IBM-centric corporate environments during the late 1980s through the 1990s. Token Ring was an IEEE 802.5 network standard that competed with Ethernet and was widely deployed in enterprises running IBM AS/400, RS/6000, and mainframe systems. As Ethernet became dominant through the late 1990s and Token Ring installations declined, these cards became less common; they are now primarily sought for maintaining legacy Token Ring printer installations or for parts.