CUPS teminology
 

Anybody knowing the difference, CUPS, between "publishing" a printer and "sharing" one?
The server options include a "Share published printers connected to this system" which seem to mean that sharing is something "more" than publishing...

Let me see if I can simplify the difference for you. If I were to just 'share' my printer it would be available for use internally on a network. To 'publish' my shared printer means I could make it available for use from anywhere in the world, no matter where I am. You can only publish a printer that has been shared. That's it in simple terms.

Also, I think that by Publishing a shared printer allows machines on your network to "see" and automatically install your printer. This makes sharing the printer over the network easy - just install it on the server, publish the printer and your client's will automatically install it.

--Ian

Your answers (for which I thank you) seem to contradict what CUPS states in its dialogs.

The phrase CUPS shows in its server administration page textually reads: "Share published printers connected to this system". It talks about SHARING "published printers", as if publishing would be something that occurs (and must occur) BEFORE sharing. In other words, it seems that a printer CAN be "published" but NOT "shared".

Do you mean that the above mentioned CUPS' phrase is wrong? Or am I wrong in understanding it?

In the latter (most probable) case, WHERE exactly does my mistake lie?

Thanks again

The phrase "CUPS" is an acronym. Common Unix Printing System. Read all about CUPS here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_...rinting_System

Where did you read this? I don't seem to be able to find it looking at the Administration page.

To publish something you by definition 'share' it. The sharing of published printers goes something like this:

User A has access to a published printer but User B for unknown reasons does not. User B does however have access to User A via a network. User A creates a share on the network of the published printer that he/she has access to, which means that now User B can also used this published printer because he/she has access to User A via the network.