solved:printing to a debian printer from windows xp home
 

i find this quite embarrassing but i must set up a windows xp home computer to tie into my debian network.....

here is the current setup..

router =192.168.1.1 (linksys wired)
debian6 = 192.168.1.6
xp3 = 192.168.1.3
other debians as well
all static ip with nfs working fine...
name resolve via /etc/host in linux and hosts in xp
workgroup in linuxhome
i can ping between all machines fine

linux box debian6 has samba and smbclient
also it has a colour printer configured locally with cups writing fo parallel port.

please help with proper smb.conf so that the xp box can see linux files and print to the
debian printer....

i have tired everything i could find thru google and nthing seems to work...

:):):)

Let the fun begin!
 

1)Make sure smb.conf file looks like this:

[global]
load printers = yes
printing = cups
printcap name = cups

[printers]
comment = All Printers
path = /var/spool/samba
browseable = no
public = yes
guest ok = yes
writable = no
printable = yes
printer admin = root

[print$]
comment = Printer Drivers
path = /etc/samba/drivers
browseable = yes
guest ok = no
read only = yes
write list = root

2) Get the following files from Windows machine, send to CUPS:

ps5ui.dll
pscript.hlp
pscript.ntf
pscript5.dll

3) Create a drivers directory for above files:

mkdir /usr/share/cups

Copy 2)'s files to this directory

4) Make sure you have this directory, if you don't create it:

mkdir /etc/samba/drivers

5) Create a Samba password to transfer CUPS printer


smbpasswd -a root

You will be prompted to enter your password twice.

6) Run the cupsaddsmb command to export the printer drivers:

cupsaddsmb -U root yourprintersname

7) FROM WINDOWS MACHINE add the printer on the Network

You should be all set up.

thanks for the reply....i will try it later tonite when i get back from a flight...:)

still does not work......but i have to be away for a few days on a flight.so i try to get back to this thread with my laptop while away....:)

What exactly is happening?

when i run
# cupsaddsmb -U root lp

i get this
cupsaddsmb -U root lp
Password for root required to access localhost via SAMBA:
cupsaddsmb: Unable to set Windows printer driver (256)!

i did net a password with
# smbpasswd -a root

thanks....just get in from a long flight...but i wanted to give you the answer..:)

Save your old smb.confg and use the default smb.confg. Make sure you setup an smbpasswd and user that has the same login user and pass as the XP login. Go to Win XP and select add a new printer. Go to install a network printer and type in \\LINUXIP\ and you should see the Linux printer in the pull down. Select it and it'll prompt you to select the correct Windows drivers. Select the one and continue. Then your Linux printer will be listed in Windows.

use webmin with a samba module to configure samba - all from a browser and much simpler than editing the smb.conf directly.

Your configured printer will appear in the list of sharable printers and then you just set it as accessible for all users.

Easiest if webmin server running on machine with printer locally attached & accessed via browser on client machine.

i will try webmin......and report back to this thread...:)

finally got it working.....seems like i probably make a typo......:)
thanks for all the help