Does Linux have a way to setup a wifi printer that is not connected to the network, by using a usb cable? I have to keep using windows and the printer cd to setup the wifi SSID & Password on the printer via the USB cable and software from the printer install disc. Then I can use my Linux machines to find the printer and print or scan items.

It would be nice to have a printer utility in CUPS that can do this same job so I don't need a windows PC to do this setup.

What Printer?
What have you tried, etc. Nobody pays people like me to answer your questions. I'm as willing as the next guy to share what I know, but I need basic info. How_To_Ask_a_Question

The printer was a canon Mg3220, which has nor manual interface for entering ssid and password for wifi setup. It relies on wps feature to find and connect to a router. However this printer had already been connected to a differ router and still had stored SSID & PW and would not give it up to connect to a Hot spot wifi. I had to use the setup CD and my laptop with windows and the printer usb cable to do the connection to the hot spot. Then we could print from the linux laptop and iphones etc.

I don't think linux CUPS program offers a way to setup wifi printers using the USB cable to talk to the printer or at least I didn't see any way to use CUPS.

Such a configuration utility is proprietary. It is down to Canon that such a utility doesn't exist for Linux environments.

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With wifi printers, getting them to use wifi involves giving them your details (ssid, wpa key, etc). Then they're 'network printers' and no special magic is needed unless you lose the ability to address them

The issue I had is only for thos cheaper wifi printers that have no way to enter the ssid, or password, only rely on wps working and that is only if they have not been connected to another wifi router which was my issue.
Any way it is always nice to have a windows machine handy in these cases and the printer setup cd to do the job. It would have been nice however to have a software utility in CUPS to do this job. Thanks every one for your responses, this issue is not something to lose sleep over. I was just wondering if there was another way other then using a windows pc.

Not unless the printer has a web (or telnet/ssh) interface, or a front panel for configuration.

An extra box sounds like a waste of resources. I eventually set up a Windows VM with Virtualbox, and all you need for that is a bit of disk space, and a bit of time. Then you can have a windows box if you want one. You needn't even put your real name in there. When I open windows 10, It says "Hello, Tight Ass."

I have dual boot on laptop so it still has windows 7 option at boot up, not a extra laptop.