Running Debian 5, fairly new install. I have CUPS 1.38 installed. After much work, I got a PPD file for a Dell printer working - albeit not the exact one I need (5330dn), but close enough to work (3100cn).

Question: when I look at the list of printers in CUPS, I see a bunch of extra printers that are on the network, but that I didn't add. How do I remove them (ie. I don't want them to be listed)?
Going to Administration | Manage Printers shows me a black button named "Delete Printer", but clicking on it gives me an error message of:

Ok, while I'm here, I'll ask 2 other simpler questions:
(2) anyone have the .ppd file for the Dell M5330dn printer? I've spent 90 minutes on the phone w/ the Dell tech support, and those guys are clueless....

(3) I have 4 printers of the same model. the first is working - is there an easy (command line) way of adding the other printers? Ie. can I just copy the /etc/cups/ppd file 3 times, renaming it to my other printer names (and ip addresses)?

Did you try deleting directly in CUPS or were you using your distro's printer manager feature?

In your browser open http://localhost:631 and going to Manage Printers. If you already knew that, I apologize for wasting your time.

My go-to site for ppd files has always been Linux Printing dot org, but the Dell M5330 does not seem to be listed. Indeed, very few Dells seem to be listed. If you can find out who made the printer for Dell, maybe that would help.

Wish I could have helped more, but I have found that some manufacturers just don't work and play well with Linux. That's not Linux's fault, but knowing that doesn't make life easier.

I was using the CUPS (web) interface.


The sad thing is that Dell puts out a .tar.gz file - but it's WAY more than just the driver -it looks like it is a complete installer that wants to run from some kind of GUI. I'm not using a gui (well, I can open xterm, but that's not a gui). The .ppd file has to be in there somewhere, but finding out where (even when on the phone w/ their tech support) is worse than pulling teeth.

My system (cups 1.4.3 + gutenprint 5.2.5) lists a Dell M5200, which **might** work.

Regardless, to find the ppd file in the tar.gz archive, simply unpack the archive and then use "find"---eg, in the folder created by un-tarring, "find . -name "*ppd"

BINGO! I don't know why I didn't just use find

It was in ~noarch/at_opt/share/ppd/dp5330.ppd


Also - the "deleting printers issue": turns out I was displaying printers from other CUPS servers. Once I turned that off, those printers disappeared....

Thanks for a great hint.

OP, I'm glad you figured it out.

"Also - the "deleting printers issue": turns out I was displaying printers from other CUPS servers. Once I turned that off, those printers disappeared"

How did you turn off displaying printers from other CUPS servers?