I setup Samba with Swat. That didn't work so I used the smb-sample.conf file and read instructions all over the place but I just can't get Windows to see the printer connected to my Linux box.

When I try to add a printer from Windows I can see:

+MSHOME
+MYGROUP
+LINUX

I cannot see the printer "Lex".

Here is my smb.conf file:

[global]
workgroup = MYGROUP
server string = Samba Server
security = user
log file = /var/log/samba.%m
max log size = 50
socket options = TCP_NODELAY
dns proxy = no
[homes]
comment = Home Directories
browseable = no
writable = yes
[printers]
comment = All Printers
path = /var/spool/samba
browseable = yes
guest ok = no
writable = no
printable = yes

/usr/doc/samba-<version>/docs/htmldocs/howto/printing.html

Thanks, I had no idea all that documentation was there. I'll check it out.

Followed the directions int the documentation. No change. Went back to WebMin and now Windows can't see the Linux box at all. Here is my smb.conf file:

# Samba config file created using SWAT
# from 0.0.0.0 (0.0.0.0)
# Date: 2004/12/10 08:52:20

# Global parameters
[global]
dns proxy = No
log file = /var/log/samba.%m
load printers = yes
server string = Samba Server
printer name = Lex
path = /var/spool
default service = printers
workgroup = MYGROUP
os level = 65
preferred master = Yes
max log size = 50
wins support = Yes

[homes]
comment = Home Directories
read only = No
browseable = No

[printers]
min print space = 2000
printable = Yes
print command = /usr/bin/lpr -P%p -r %s
browseable = No

I got this to work once with Mandrake, but it did it for me. I have no idea what I'm missing. I have read everything I can find, it just won't work.

Okay, never mind. I have been trying for years to get Samba to work. I'm glad others have made it work. I'm just going to buy another printer and stick this Lexmark piece of crap in the kid's room and buy me a laser printer.

Later.

I'll tell you a good way to do it. Given it's not a samba problem which I doubt, this should work.

For XP you need to use the command prompt.

net use lpt2: \\ipaddressofserver\printersharename /PERSISTENT:YES

This assumes you do not already have lpt2, if so use lpt3 or lpt4

Hopefully you will get a username and password prompt, use the username you added to smb.

You did add a user didn't you?

smbadduser user:user

smbpasswd user




Install the printer as a local printer on lpt2

In the earlier versions of Windows you have a capture printer port option you can use.



Some newer printers require the software to be loaded, and on a few USB printers in particular the printer must be there for it to load. If this was the case then plug it into the usb port and install it. After that you can get to the printer properties and change the port.



I have seen this so many times and it's not just on samba. Some windows machines just will not work any other way.


I just setup XP for my internet printer and I was pulling my hair out for a while there rebuilding the ms loopback interface time and time again. Changing my stunnel setup over and over, accessing shares ok, and seeing a printer and not being able to print to it. I finally decided to get into the command line and after that it all came together.

I've had excellent luck with cups and samba. Let me know if you choose that route.

Thanks, I just gave up on it. The Lexmark will be attached to the computer running Windows and the Brother HL-1440 is attached and working on the Linux box.

That's one thing I hate about Samba. All the instructions make it look so easy, but it doesn't work. Then somebody comes along with some cryptic code and proceedure you have to follow to get things working. Either someone needs to write a comprehensive guide to Samba printer sharing or there needs to be an easier way to set it up.

In the future, if I need to share printers in a mixed network, I will just buy a print server and be done with it.

The funny thing is the other computers here work fine with the shared printer. It seems there is always the odd one that does not work as expected. It really seems that it is a windows problem more than a samba problem. It seems that windows is not always that good at windows networking.

I did nothing at all to my Linux box to fix my problem. Just the windows box needed to be worked on. We got a new computer at work recently and it did not want to network with windows 98 at all.

Yeah, Windows is a pain.

Thanks everyone.