How do I get my printer working with Linux?

M$ISBS · 05-04-2005, 08:43 PM

I have a laser printer and would like to know the steps in getting it working. I has usb and parrallel connections. I have Slack10, and kernel 2.6.10. Thanks.

Matir · 05-04-2005, 10:54 PM

Well, the first key point would be to tell us what kind of printer it is

Secondly, check out linuxprinting.org

M$ISBS · 05-04-2005, 11:03 PM

Its a samsung 1210. Do I need a driver or something? I went to that site and found something for this printer but I cannot figure how to install it.

uberNUT69 · 05-05-2005, 09:56 PM

You probably dont need to install anything from the site itself,
it just confirms that your printer can be used under linux.

Try installing cups (depending on your distro it may already be installed).
Follow the quick start at linux printing.
CUPS can be configured using a web browser at http://localhost:631/

I'm postive that your printer can be used as a 'locate gdi | grep ppd'
gives me a list which includes:
/usr/share/ppd/Samsung/Samsung-ML-1210-gdi.ppd.gz

qualude · 05-05-2005, 11:27 PM

I found that with my printer, I have to actually power cycle it after I plug it into my linux box. If it is plugged in from boot, it is fine, but if I plug in the USB cable to print a document after I have been running for awhile, the printer has to be powered off and back on before it will work.

M$ISBS · 05-07-2005, 10:16 AM

I downloaded the newest version of cups, When I try localhost:631 I get all these questions that I dont know the answer to? like Device uri, What is that? and in the list of make It does not have samsung just apple, canon, epson and a few others. What should I do? also KDE and the localhost:631 print setup will not accept my user password, I can only setup the printer as root, what good is that?

comprookie2000 · 05-07-2005, 11:35 AM

Very Good,you need to be root to write to the files that need to be configured.
Try the hpijs driver, just select one of the HP printers.
If you are using usb /dev/usb/lp0 and for parallel I think its /dev/lp0
You should see your printer when you are setting it up if it was recognized.How do you have it connected?Is that the stock kernel?See if this helps;
http://www.userlocal.com/articles/slackwarecups.php

Matir · 05-07-2005, 11:54 AM

Happy birthday, comprookie2000.

On another note: you definitely need to be root to configure devices. That is what root is for: system administration.

comprookie2000 · 05-07-2005, 11:59 AM

Thanks the big 50 O no not me!

M$ISBS · 05-07-2005, 12:25 PM

I was using the parallel port, I just disconnected it and hooked up the usb and tried that, after setting up a new printer now at least when i try to print something the printer starts up but nothing prints so I guess I am one step closer, before nothing would happne at all. What should I try next?

comprookie2000 · 05-07-2005, 12:35 PM

Just select parallel port #1 in the drop down menu just put /dev/lp0 in the location.
Make sure you have foomatic installed.

PerfectReign · 05-07-2005, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by qualude
I found that with my printer, I have to actually power cycle it after I plug it into my linux box. If it is plugged in from boot, it is fine, but if I plug in the USB cable to print a document after I have been running for awhile, the printer has to be powered off and back on before it will work.

I have teh same issue. First off, make sure you can see USB items via hotplug.

If you're runing something like KDE you'll have a printer manager. If not you should just be able to go into CUPS. Either way, you can just restart the daemon. On the rare case where my printer is turned off when I boot, I go into System/Print Manager. I then click on my pinter (which will have an icon next to it) and click "Start". This starts the printer.

M$ISBS · 05-07-2005, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by M$ISBS
I was using the parallel port, I just disconnected it and hooked up the usb and tried that, after setting up a new printer now at least when i try to print something the printer starts up but nothing prints so I guess I am one step closer, before nothing would happne at all. What should I try next?

Parallel port is not in the drop down box, only usb and some others thas why I ditched the parallel port attempt and switched over to try the usb. With the USB at least now when I try to print something the printer starts up, it doesnt print anything but it makes noise, LOL. With the Parallel port it did nothing. Do I actually have to install foomatic or just pick a driver with foomatic in the driver name?
Yes, I am using the correct cables for the USB and parallel connections.

comprookie2000 · 05-07-2005, 03:09 PM

cd or browse to;
/usr/share/foomatic/db/source/driver
do you see drivers in there?

M$ISBS · 05-07-2005, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by comprookie2000
cd or browse to;
/usr/share/foomatic/db/source/driver
do you see drivers in there?

NO! I dont even have the foomatic directory.

I found the link earlier to download it from, I think it was on Linuxprinting.org. I will try to get it installed but I thought that cups installs that with cups?