CUPS issue; error with network printer "/usr/lib/cups/backend/hp failed" on client
 

my printer server raspberry PI (raspian "Wheezy") dont work = it dont print (anymore; probably after an update?). the /var/log/cups/error_log on the server is continuously filling and growing to several megabytes. I try to print from the client (a notebook) but I get the error "/usr/lib/cups/backend/hp failed"
"Resume printer" dont work.
Any advice is welcome.

.....

If you can get to the CUPS web interface, then try resuming the printer concerned, or check/edit its status directly in /etc/cups/printers.conf. You can also re-enable a printer (assuming that is the problem) using the 'cupsenable' command.

Get status and printer name from
then

lpstat -p
printer Deskjet_2540 disabled since Di 07 Mär 2017 18:46:46 CET -
Processing page 1...
cupsenable Deskjet_2540 (no reaction)

in the client CUPS web interface, I see ("Resume printer" has no effect)
Deskjet_2540-817 Unknown Withheld 1k Unknown pending since
Mon Mar 6 19:43:03 2017
"/usr/lib/cups/backend/hp failed"

Deskjet_2540-818 Unknown Withheld 21k Unknown pending since
Mon Mar 6 20:09:11 2017

Deskjet_2540-819 Unknown Withheld 21k Unknown pending since
Mon Mar 6 21:37:24 2017

Deskjet_2540-820 Unknown Withheld 21k Unknown pending since
Tue Mar 7 19:45:40 2017

Deskjet_2540-821 Unknown Withheld 21k Unknown pending since
Tue Mar 7 19:50:48 2017

/etc/cups/printers.conf
# Printer configuration file for CUPS v1.5.3
# Written by cupsd
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE WHEN CUPSD IS RUNNING
<Printer Deskjet_2540>
UUID urn:uuid:9fdaaaca-a671-321b-6493-607072915f93
Info Deskjet_2540
Location waschkueche
MakeModel HP Deskjet 2540 Series, hpcups 3.15.4
DeviceURI hp:/usb/Deskjet_2540_series?serial=CN49Q4F4KH0604
State Stopped
StateMessage Processing page 1...
StateTime 1488912703
Reason paused
Type 36876
Accepting Yes
Shared Yes
JobSheets none none
QuotaPeriod 0
PageLimit 0
KLimit 0
OpPolicy default
ErrorPolicy stop-printer
</Printer>


Any idea is very welcome.

searching error messages in /var/log/cups/error_log show
I found few messages. Any explanation is welcome (I will further search).
Thanks.

This printer status output is telling...
and reflected in printers.conf as well....
Cancel any stale print jobs with
and remove the above entries from printers.conf (as root). Once done, restart CUPS. Wait a few seconds then confirm that the printer is ready/idle. For reference I get
and printers.conf (for each printer) shows
Try sending another print job.

Done.
Result->

I deleted from printers.conf
sudo service cups restart
[ ok ] Restarting Common Unix Printing System: cupsd.
lpstat -p
printer Deskjet_2540 is idle. enabled since Do 09 Mär 2017 08:29:45 CET
I sent a print; then a new job is seen
Deskjet_2540-826 Unknown Withheld 11k Unknown pending since
Thu Mar 9 08:32:41 2017
"/usr/lib/cups/backend/hp failed"
I "Resume printer"
then it shows (again)
lpstat -p
printer Deskjet_2540 disabled since Do 09 Mär 2017 08:36:11 CET -
Processing page 1...
and (again)
Deskjet_2540-826 Unknown Withheld 11k Unknown pending since
Thu Mar 9 08:32:41 2017
"/usr/lib/cups/backend/hp failed"

Any advice is welcome.

You're going to have to be a bit more systematic to get more useful diagnostic information.. Get the printer status restored as explained already. Cancel any stale print jobs.

Increase CUPS logging verbosity
then send a print job.

Examine the CUPS error_log. Hopefully this will throw some light on what is wrong.

Since you're using HPLIP, you might also try using 'hp-doctor' to see if it can pick up any problems.

here is the new log file.

This is telling....
However, a little earlier than this, the pdftopdf filter stops and might be closer to the root cause perhaps...
This might require a bug report to help resolve. Maybe there is a problem with particular documents?

Have you tried restoring the printer (back to idle status) and then trying to print a testpage?
FWIW, this Fedora CUPS debugging guide has an excellent section on running the filter chain by hand...
https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/How_t...ilters_by_hand

Hey floppy_stuttgart,

In my experience, these "job withheld" and "backend errors" with CUPS usually had something to do with the communication protocol chosen (i.e. ipp, http, JetDirect, socket ...). My HP printer, connected directly to a network switch via ethernet, works best with:

socket://<printer's IP address>:9100.

... You can check this via the CUPS interface on the client you are trying to print from.

Cheers - hope this helps.

to#9:
lpr -P Deskjet_2540 /usr/share/cups/data/default-testpage.pdf
is not working (see the log file).
I further search.

to#10:
I will have a look.

THANKS.

WONDER:
a) I de-installed the printer
b) I installed the printer again
c) I print.. it works
So, thanks to everybody here. I dont know why it works.. but it works.
THANKS.

Thanks for the update.

Good news - Cheers !