How to obtain and install a printer driver for a Brother HL-2240 in Ubuntu 16.04. I downloaded an "installer" from the Brother website, but there are no instructions on how to actually run it in Ubuntu.

You need the deb package.

apt-get install <driver-package>.

Just curious here, have you tried going through settings and add printer? I am not sure it would work but if it is a supported printer it would take care of it for you.

Thanks, I think.
I'll try the sudo apt-get on the downloaded file and see how that works out. Either way, I'll get back to you.

Hi, thanks for your post.
Yes, Ubuntu shows the driver for the printer on the install list. After installing the driver, however, it does not print.
The print command results in entering the doc in the printer's list of printed docs, but there is no printer output. The printer prints a test page, so it works, just not with Ubuntu. The printer is on the list, correctly named, and is the default.
What I'm trying to do is download another driver to replace the "default" in Ubuntu 16.04 to see if that brings any joy.
I'd be grateful for any guidance you'd care to offer,
peter

Do you have a 64-bit OS install? If so, have you fulfilled this? From http://support.brother.com/g/s/id/linux/en/before.html
For instructions, see http://support.brother.com/g/s/id/linux/en/index.html

Hi jkirchner,
Thanks for your reply. The computer in question has a 32bit processor, so the Ubuntu version installed identifies as 32 bit. I'm going to follow your advice and go to the Brother driver download website and see what can be done to try to download and install appropriate software.
Thanks again. As this post shows, I'm a newbie to Linux, since my twenty years of messing with this machinery have been devoted to Wintel devices. The Ubuntu installation with which we're dealing I installed for a friend who had a WinXP OS that was crashed by a scammer. The Ubuntu-Linux process is a learning experience for me, and I'm very grateful for this forum, since you Linux devotees seem to be a friendly and helpful bunch!
peter

I don't know for HL-2240 but for HL-2070N, I had better success with footmatic driver than with the Brother driver, I run 64bits system though

Thanks for the heads-up about foomatic. If the Brother driver provides no joy, I'll try foomatic. The project will have to wait a day or two, since I don't have access to the computer until then.
I'll get back to you with the outcome when I give it a try.
pete

psokolow,

This step-by-step guide should help you:

http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic...in-ubuntu-1204

Thank you, beachboy2!
I'm a faithful reader of HTG, but did not find this instructional article. It's really excellent, and answers all of my questions. As I previously posted, I'll have to wait a day or two to follow the directions and see if they solve the printing problem, but with all the great guidance from you all I don't see how even a newbie can go wrong.
pete

As far as I know the 2070N uses PCL6, IBM Proprinter and Epson FX printing emulations which are old and what used to be a "standard" for many printers. I also use it instead of the Brother drivers. However, the HL-2240 uses GDI which means it is all handled by the OS now and so I think the OP has to use the Brother software.

Yes, I see that
http://support.brother.com/g/b/faqen...aq00000180_005

But on openprinting.org, some users report it working with PCL driver...
http://www.openprinting.org/printer/...rother-HL-2240

Bah whatever, I hope Brother driver will work (don't know why it wouldn't on a compatible Ubuntu 32 bits system)

Welcome to the forum, pete.
Try installing your drivers using the instructions here.
https://sites.google.com/site/easylinuxtipsproject/15
I have a brother printer and have used this method many times.
Take particular attention to this part of the instruction.
" Note: don't use the installation how-to on the Brother website, but use the installation how-to on my website instead (see below)!

1 members found this post helpful.

Thank you!
The excellent information that was posted on this forum resulted in in successfully installing the HL-2240 Brother printer for my neighbor. As a newbie to Linux/Ubuntu the support offered here is going to make using Ubuntu instead of replacing the many Windows XP's that are currently in operation in my retirement community with another Windows install possible. Most of the residents here use PCs for very limited purposes (email, photos and Skype with grandchildren, occasional forays to Amazon) and I've found that they readily adapt to the Ubuntu GUI. As an octogenarian myself, I really enjoy the little challenges that a change of scene offers.
Thanks, "offgridguy" and the rest of the folks who gave me great guidance solving this problem!
pete