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.

[Agent86]

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.

I'm sorry, I know you told me that, however it was not working so the method of utilizing the SMB was the additional questioning.

apparently the printing from a windows client will not work unless I  go to a network resource such as an ibay and windows asks for a login to that resource, then the printer will work, but I've not been able to print from a windows client no other way.

Linux is similar except I have to select Normal login and enter the user and pass, of a user on the SME box in order for the printer to work as well.

Thanks for all the help all is working well I just wanted to be sure that that I've selected the most common solution for this.

Thanks again.

[cheezeweeze]

You need to add your windows user credentials to the SME box to avoid being prompted when accessing Ibays or denied access to printer shares.

[Agent86]

Yep Thanks

[cheezeweeze]

Update

There is a way to allow printing without adding user accounts:
http://forums.contribs.org/index.php?topic=36232.0

[Agent86]

This is great help, all hail SME server

Thanks again.

Update

There is a way to allow printing without adding user accounts:
http://forums.contribs.org/index.php?topic=36232.0

[Lang]

I am replying here even though its been inactive since you have reported success using the SME with the HP Deskjet 5740 connected to the SMEs USB port. I was about to give up trying to get it working. I am using a windows xp client, and trying to install the driver from HP whose file name is "5700_enu_win2k_xp".

I am logged into the SME with the same user name & password on the client. I had created the printer name on the server using server manager, and plugged the printer into a usb port on the server. I can see the server and my document files and the printer in windows explorer.

However when I execute the driver install file and browse or search for the printer it doesn't see the printer so doesn't complete the driver installation. I can use the printer fine connected to the client's local usb port, but I assume I have to run the install program again and use the option to add a network printer. Thats when it won't complete the install.

Any suggestions?

Lang

[cheezeweeze]

The driver is looking for the printer on the local USB port.

Have you tried the steps outlined in reply #4?

Go to Start->Run and type \\server_name and click OK.

Now double click the printer share to start the install.

[Lang]

Yes I have tried those steps. When I double click on the shared printer icon it leads me into the Windows driver install wizard. The driver is not in its internal list so I browsed it to the HP supplied driver file. However the windows wizard wants to see a *.inf file but the HP file is an exe type which contains its own wizard.

If instead I run the HP file it can't find or browse to the printer share icon.

[zatnikatel]

with the windows install try and extract the drivers files first and put them into a directory
when you add the printer instaed of adding by the automatic option in windows try \\ipaddress\printername then install it that way when it ask for the drivers point it do the directory were you extracted the driver to that if you can extract them try winrar to do that

[cheezeweeze]

Run the file "5700_enu_win2k_xp.exe" to extract the drivers to:
C:\Documents and Settings\USER_NAME\Local Settings\Temp\5700\5700

Cancel out of the HP Setup Wizard.

In order to locate the extracted drivers you need to change Windows Explorer view settings:
Goto "My Computer"
"Tools" drop down menu then "Folder Options..."
"View" tab and select "Show hidden files and folders" then "OK"

To manually add a network printer on XP Pro:
Goto "Printers and Faxes"
"Add a printer"
Select "Local printer attached to this computer" and uncheck "Automatically detect and install my Plug and Play printer" then "Next"
Select "Create a new port:" and choose "Standard TCP/IP Port" from drop down then "Next"
In the Printer Port Wizard type in the IP address of the SME server then "Next" and "Finish"
Now back in the Add Printer Wizard click "Have Disk..."
Browse to C:\Documents and Settings\USER_NAME\Local Settings\Temp\5700\5700
Select "hpf5700p.inf" and click "Open" then "OK"
In the "Printers" list select "HP Deskjet 5700 Series" then "Next"
If prompted select "Replace existing driver" then "Next" through all then "Finish"