Printer not working with IBMi Emulator print Session

[scubastef]

Hello,

Several of our departments utilize an IBMi series server for their operations, using windows 10 pro PC's and an access client to connect to the server with emulator sessions. One department that serves the customers at a window has 3 workstations with HP Laserjet pro 400 M401dne printers USB attached to their Windows 10 Pro PC's. 

They utilize the print session configuration with HPT to form the print session from the Iseries. In the beginning of March one of the HP M401's fuser died and was causing streaking. We decided to replace the printer, but as the M401's are no longer manufactured we could only find refurbished models. I researched and determined that the M404dn was of the similar "class" and went with this model to replace the malfunctioning one (the cost to replace the fuser, was barely less than purchasing new printer). 

The printer was easily setup on windows and seemed to work fine. When it came to configuring the printer session to print jobs from the Iseries I have run into a host of issues. I installed the printer with the HP PCL 6 UPD as instructed by IBM. Couldnt get a job to print from Iseries. After multiple different configurations and changes (uninstalling and reinstalling) removing the printer device and recreating on Iseries, I didn't get anywhere. (If i plugged up the old "broken" printer it worked perfectly). I went through multiple IBM support levels and finally determined that I needed to install the UPD on it's own and have the IBMi print to that. That finally was able to print if I released jobs sitting in a queue. However, sending a new job would trigger the physical printer... it read "Printing" on the device but the job wouldn't print until 5-10 minutes later. 

Now IBM is telling me that there are driver compatibility issues with PCL5/PCL6. They claim it is not the first issue with HP printers and wonder if it is a firmware problem. I had gone and installed the latest firmware (released April 23rd but that didn't resolve issue). 

I am beyond frustrated as a simple printer install has ended up taking weeks to get resolved. Add on that it is during Covid-19 mayhem and I have dozens of other IT admin responsibilities and tasks piling up, of much higher importance, and I have been wasting time with a stupid printer.

At this point the only solution I can come up with is to return the printer and get a new one that does not have these compatibility issues. 

If there is a solution that you know of to resolve the problem I would greatly appreciate it. If not is there a similar printer model that will work with the IBMi series?

IBM has requested their developers to come up with some solution because it seems the issue is not being PCL 6 compatible.