Topic: Printing from Linux

[Andy]

Hi

Can anyone advise me on how to use a printer connected to an SME server 5.6 box from a Linux client?

I have a LAN with a mix of Windows (several versions) and Linux (Mandrake 9.1) boxes, and previously had the printer (HP DeskJet 850C) connected to a Win98SE machine. In that configuration I was able to print from other Windows boxes and from the Mandrake boxes.

I recently added a machine with SME server 5.6 as a shared file store, and decided it would make sense to connect the printer to it. The Windows 98 machine finds and uses it fine, but I can't get the Mandrake boxes to print. If I let Mandrake auto-detect it recognises that there is a printer there, but it seems a bit vague about what it is and the distinction between the server IP address and host name (it keeps putting the IP address in the host name box). However, I can't get it to print at all, no matter what combination of IP address, host name and driver details I fill in.

BTW, the server is not acting as a domain controller, and DHCP is not enabled - I'm using fixed IP addresses. WOuld that make a difference?

Any suggestions? As you may be able to tell, I'm something of a Linux newbie so I'm feeling a bit lost with all this.

Regards

Andy

[Laurence Griffiths]

I have set up the Mandrake 9.1 machines in the "Mandrake Control Center" to see the printer on the SME 5.6 box as SMB (Windows) shared printers. - Everything works OK!

We are also running a few RedHat boxes. - I just adopted the same approach and everything worked.

[Andy]

Well at least I know it can be done then! I wonder what's going wrong in my case. Laurence  - are you using DHCP? What sort of printer are you using?

I'll keep trying now I know it can be done, but if anyone else has any suggestions I'd be grateful as I'm running out of ideas.

[Laurence Griffiths]

We are using DHCP on some machines..... The Windows ones! All the Linux computers have fixed IP addresses.

The printer we are using is a Hewlett Packard LaserJet 6MP.

[Andy]

Thanks for the reply, Laurence

If it's not DHCP I'm not too sure what to try next. I'm using an HP DeskJet 850C, but I do have another printer I could try - though I'm not sure why that would make a diference.

If this doesn't work I think I'm going to have to try it on a fresh clean install of SME server and Mandrake I've got a couple of spare hard disks so I can do fresh installs without losing my current ones, but it's still a lot of hassle.

I might have a go with Red Hat as well - which version of Red hat are you using, Laurence?

Cheers

Andy

[Laurence Griffiths]

We are using a slightly modified version of Red Hat 8. - One of our programmers fiddled with the lernel to provide better firewire support.

I don't know too much about HP DeskJets, but is there any chance that your printer is one of the notorious "WinPrinters"? If so, then a bit of "fiddling" MIGHT be required to get it working with SME. Bur if it is working with Windows machines, I doubt this is the case.

From the operating system point of view, I wouldn't suggest changing from Mandrake 9.1 to Red Hat. I found it a LOT easier getting Mandrake 9.1 to "talk" nicely to SME 5.6 than getting Red Hat 8 to do so.

[Andy Bovett]

Thanks again for the info, Laurence.

No, the DeskJet 850C is not a "WinPrinter" as far as I know - seems to work with just about anything, anyway, so I assume not. Also, LinuxPrinting.org seems to say it's fine with Linux.

I'll persist with Mandrake for a while - my general impression of it is it's the most friendly of the Linux distro's I've looked at and as a relative newbie that suits me. I've still got a few things I haven't tried - up to and including fresh installs of Mandrake and SME server (I have some spare hard disks so it's not that drastic a step). If I get it working I'll post my results here.

Thanks again

Andy

[Andy Bovett]

Hi

I can now successfully print from my Mandrake 9.1 boxes to my SME server

It seems that for me at least the solution was to ignore the dire warnings that PrinterDrake gives and fill in a name and password for a valid account on the server. Thought I'd tried that before but I must have had something else wrong that time. I created an account on the server specifically for printing as this seemed the most secure way to do it, and filled in these details in the relevant boxes in PrinterDrake. I had also turned off automatic printer detection so I could fill in the details I knew to be correct.

Laurence - thanks for all your help. Your comments kept me on the right track and knowing that you had it working persuaded me not to give up.

Cheers

Andy Bovett

[Laurence Griffiths]

It was a pleasure.

Thanks for letting us know what got you working.