Setting Up A Network Printer - CentOS v6
 

I have a printer connected to my router. It has its own address on the network.

I have several Windows machines that use it.

How do I set up my CentOS v6 machine to use it?

I'm having trouble finding instructions aimed at noobs like myself...

Very simple to do, and the first hit in Google for "how to set up a network printer in centos 6" is:
http://www.centos.org/docs/5/html/De...-printing.html

...from the CentOS site, complete with pictures and step-by-step instructions. Basically, run the printer configuration utility, click "New Printer". Follow the instructions on that site for adding a Jetdirect printer....99.x% of printers use port 9100...and if you already know the address, then you just need to fill in the blanks.

Also, since you've been here since 2008....six years doesn't qualify as a 'noob'...

I think my skill level very much qualifies me!

Thanks for the link. That got me to a working printer...

It would help if you post the make / model of your printer. I agree that many printers support IPP or Jetdirect.

It's a Brother MFC-6490.

I think the first problem was I didn't have drivers for this particular model (though maybe drivers for a different Brother would have been fine). I found the correct drivers at the Brother web site. I prefer RPMs, and they had them.

I followed the advice above and selected JetDirect, plugged in the network IP for the printer, and voilà, working printer.

Yes, it seems so simple... now...

While I'm by far *not* particularly knowledgeable with Linux, I've never actually used Linux "on the desktop" as this machine is (I'm trying to follow the example of my father who gave up Windows for the desktop *years* ago), so mostly I know my way around with the command line, not the desktop GUI madness.

I wonder what it takes to do this at the command line vs GUI setup? Possible? It's got to be in some config file someplace...

Often times, printers in the same 'family', will use *nearly* the same drivers. Often times, the differences are in the paper handling (one tray? Multiples? Duplexer attached?), but the generic output will work.
Absolutely, but it's more difficult. Read the man pages on lpadmin, lpstat, accept, and cupsenable. It's also possible to configure printers in Windows from the command-line only, but the GUI makes the task easier.

I'm old-school, and for many tasks, I prefer the command line, since it's faster and easier to use. However, the same can be said for the GUI, for some tasks...this is one of them. A PPD file may have a HUGE long name...and you'll have to key it (and the path) in, to set up the printer and use it. Typo in the printer config file? Sorry...not printing ANYTHING until you fix it...the GUI eliminates those errors. The right tool always makes a job easier.