Topic: Printer Sharing

[Agent86]

Hi all

Can anyone help me install a printer on SME, connected to USB port on the SME box directly.

Would like the linux clients on home network to print to that printer.

Seems like it should be simple and I know my printer is linux compatible it's a HP5740 USB and works perfect when connected directly to the clients, but really want to plug into the SME box directly and share that printer

Please advise
Thanks

[henry44]

Connect you printer to the SME box and open the printer dialog in the server-manager panel. Add the printer on the SME box and then install the printer on each workstation as you would with a shared printer.
I assume the printer will work through the USB connection on version 7.

I have used e-smith/SME since version 4 as a print server and it works well.

Good luck.

[Agent86]

Hi and thanks

I'm not sure why but I've had not luck with this option

I've added the usb printer as the first usb, and gave it a name in lower case and description as listed in the SME manager

But when trying to ad this printer on the client machines

I have the option list for adding local(usb), remote ldp queue,smb,network tcp,remote cups,network ipp.

I've tried variations of this but not successful printing.

I must be doing something wrong.

Anyhow mainly would like a starting point of which option to use.

Please advise of a typical proceedure for this

[henry44]

I think that the option you want is the smb server.

[chris burnat]

I think that the option you want is the smb server.

If installled correctly on the server, the new printer will show as a shared resources in windows.  Double click on this resource and take it from there, it should install on your client's machine, you may need the drivers etc if the printer is not supported by Windows - some are, some are not.

[Agent86]

Thanks for the help that helps to clear things with any windows system I might use

What about the linux clients?

I'm not sure I understand what selection to make for printing from my linux client machines

Thanks for all the help

[Tib]

Agent86

You use the smb feature again ... should ask you for the server ip ... the printer name etc .... if you have problems I can re check my Suse setup.

Regards,

Tib

[Agent86]

Well it does not really ask for IP address with that selection

It gives me an option to select either anonymous,guest,normal
I've tried anonymous, then I've tried guest
After that screen there are three fields that say

Workgroup
Server
Printer

Once I put the workgroup in I can scan and browse to the printer and the fields fill themself in.

Then the screen comes up to select a brand, / driver
I make my selection
Then the test page comes up

I've tried variations of the selections and no test print will work

I can however plug the printer into any of the client machines and it will use this selections and works perfect, however if that machine is off then the other client has no access to the printer

Which is why I want to plugin the printer to the SME box

This is very annoying

I don't understand why it won't work like any other print share on any other computer?

Is there some other driver I must install/configure in order for the SME box to print to it's local printer, before adding the printer in the server-manager ?

[Agent86]

Hi all

I'm just considering trying this again, and was curious about anything or drivers that might need to be loaded on the SME box if any ?

Or simply plug it in and use the server-manager to add the printer, and should work ?

I've not been able to successfully use the server for printing at all.

I can plug into local machines and share from there, but not the SME box.

Please start from the beginning on this subject thanks
Steve

P.S also can you share a scanner in the same fashion on the SME box or NO ?

[CharlieBrady]

I'm just considering trying this again, and was curious about anything or drivers that might need to be loaded on the SME box if any ?

No drivers will be needed on the server.

Or simply plug it in and use the server-manager to add the printer, and should work ?

Correct. If you follow the instructions in the User Guide and it does not work then open a bug report.

P.S also can you share a scanner in the same fashion on the SME box or NO ?

No.

[Agent86]

Thanks I'll try some more and post back

I'm using a HP 5740 USB deskjet, but may try a laser jet perhaps if this won't work.

Thanks for the help

[Agent86]

Do I have to login on the client machines using the same user and pass as one of the users on the SME server ? in order to print ?

I'm not convinced there is any bug here, It is more likely that I'm doing something wrong, but I want to exhaust all options.


Please advise
Thanks

[CharlieBrady]

Do I have to login on the client machines using the same user and pass as one of the users on the SME server ? in order to print ?

If you are printing via SMB (windows file/print sharing), yes. If printing via LPR, no.

[Agent86]

Do I have to login on the client machines using the same user and pass as one of the users on the SME server ? in order to print ?

If you are printing via SMB (windows file/print sharing), yes. If printing via LPR, no.

Thanks for the replies.

Well, I don't know why exactly, but something has started working

I plugged in the printer to the SME box, then restarted the SME box, then restarted the client into Windows XP, and browsed to the printer and added the printer etc. It now seems to work and print from the windows client

Here is the screen I get when adding a printer from the linux client
http://www.iclbiz.com/11.jpg

Tried several options, but I appear only to be able to use the SMB option and I have to select Normal login and put in a user and pass that is from the SME user list. Guest or Anonymous login for the printing did not seem to work.

No other selection other then the SMB appears to work, but anyhow I'm happily printing from both windows and linux clients.

I'm not sure if this is the correct method or best option for linux clients, but at least I got it working.

If this should be printing from Network TCP or using and IP address and port number or something ? please advise? or if the  Remote Cups selection is better or more suited for my needs ?
Please advise which is proper.

Thanks

[CharlieBrady]

No other selection other then the SMB appears to work, but anyhow I'm happily printing from both windows and linux clients.

If LPR doesn't work then you should open a bug report.

If this should be printing from Network TCP or using and IP address and port number or something ? please advise? or if the  Remote Cups selection is better or more suited for my needs ?
Please advise which is proper.

I've already told you that SME support SMB printing and LPR printing. It also supports appletalk printing, but that's very unlikely to be relevant for a linux client.