How do I install CUPS on Centos 5?
 

Hi, I am trying to get a printer hooked up to my server and am told i need CUPS installed. I have networking set up and the Centos 5 is a host to a Windows XP guest using VMware. I am trying to get the server to act as a print server and know next to nothing about Linux. Can anyone walk me through the process please? I have downloaded CUPS-1.4.1-source.tar.bz2 and CUPS-1.4.1-source.tar.gz but do not know how to install things on Centos (or anything but Windows). Any help will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I would look for an RPM to install rather than build from source.

Although, you should be able to install it using a package manager like 'yum'

http://wiki.centos.org/PackageManagement/Yum

hope this helps

I would first check if it is already installed. It might just be installed by default.

check with rpm -qa | grep cups

Thanks guys for your help.

Unfortunately i am not at all familiar with this. Perhaps i should have mentioned i have the Graphical form of Centos and do not understand the abbreviations or technical terms used yet, bit of a Centos dummy i'm afraid and really don't know where to start as this was all set up for me by someone who i cannot contact anymore. If you can offer step by step info i would be very grateful.

How do i check if CUPS is on the system as you have suggested?

If i need to, how do i use an RPM (whats an RPM?)where do i find it and how do i use it?

No probs :)

In basic terms RPM is a package management system used for managing software on your machine
YUM is similar and works with what are called software repositories for downloading and installing software packages and updates on your linux machine

1. Start a terminal window
2. you will receive a prompt like [root@hostname ~]#
3. this is where you can type in : - 'rpm -qa | grep cups'

Use the Add/Remove software option from the menus; its easier.
If you really want to get into the cmd line, here's a list of useful yum cmds

http://kbase.redhat.com/faq/docs/DOC-2531

Thank you all for your help on this especially Maspry for walking me through things.

I'm not quite out of the woods yet but i am some way there and now know enough to really mess things up big time!

Will update when i get further forward. Thanks again all, Best wishes, Richard