This is a long running issue that we have had since HP-UX 11i and one which we attributed to being an HP-UX issue, but we have since moved to RHEL 5/6 and the issue still haunts us.
In as much of a nutshell as possible, here is the issue. Using command line arguments, we cannot duplex print postscript files to any HP printers, without processing them through a postscript to pdf conversion of some sort. All of the printers we have tested against are network printers and it does not matter what driver we use or whether the printer is attached to the server via ip address or attached via a windows print server.
We have tried HP Laserjet, 2000, 4000, 5000 and 9000 series printers, same results.
Oddly enough, we can duplex print postscript files from the command line to Canon multi-function device printers using a universal post script print driver, and it doesn't matter whether the printer is attached to the server via ip address or attached via a windows print server.
lp -d <printer id> -o Duplex=DuplexNoTumble
lpr -P <printer id> -o Duplex=DuplexNoTumble
Has anyone else seen this issue and/or does anyone know of a way to resolve the issue without using a ps to pdf conversion?