1. Computer problem? Tech Support Guy is completely free -- paid for by advertisers and donations. Click here to join today! If you're new to Tech Support Guy, we highly recommend that you visit our Guide for New Members.

Solved: Ubuntu printing

Discussion in 'Linux and Unix' started by 4plus2, Nov 5, 2005.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
Advertisement
  1. 4plus2

    4plus2 Thread Starter

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2004
    Messages:
    372
    Hello,
    Im very new to Linux (was having fun until now) and as a challenge I thought I would try and print from my Ubuntu Breezy GNOME laptop to my HP PSC 1210 USB printer attached to my WinXp Home desktop but its not easy!
    I can ping the desktop from the laptop and have setup a Windows SMB printer using the IP of the desktop as the Host and the WinXP printer share name as the printer name. The username and password I assumed was for the desktop. But this spools the job to XP but nothing ever prints. I have to turn the printer off and remove the spool entry.
    Ive tried various things since. Like installing HPlip (includes HPijs), Samba and the PPD driver file. Ive even tried removing Foomatic and installing the Linux printing service onto WinXP but unless Ive done something in doing so these methods did not work.
    Does anyone have a proven method of getting this printing to work??

    Thanks.
     
  2. Sponsor

  3. 4plus2

    4plus2 Thread Starter

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2004
    Messages:
    372
    Im using HPijs and Samba (which seems to work as I can see the XP shares) but I dont think the "Add Printer" dialog is building the correct DeviceURI in /etc/cups/printers.conf ie. smb://Guest:p[email protected]/Printer
    What should the string be if I want to use XP login username "Guest" within the workgroup "WORKGROUP" with no password on a host Ive called DESKTOP (or should I use its IP) with an XP printer share name of "Printer"?
    At present I can see the job being added to the Linux print queue then it appears in the XP print queue as "Remote downlevel document" but never prints. Documents print okay if I attach the printer directly to the Linux USB.
     
  4. inspire

    inspire

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2005
    Messages:
    14
    go to google and search for

    "debian linux to windows printing"

    and it's the fourth link down "Debian and Windows Shared Printing mini-HOWTO"

    give that a shot and report back if it doesnt work (y)
     
  5. 4plus2

    4plus2 Thread Starter

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2004
    Messages:
    372
    What a procedure! I went through all these instructions but still get a windows print job called "Remote downlevel document" which says printing and the printer makes some noises but nothing prints. I have to turn the printer off and remove the job.
     
  6. inspire

    inspire

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2005
    Messages:
    14
    On the Win XP machine, open printers and faxes, right click the icon for the
    shared printer, select properties. On the ports tab of the properties dialogue
    , select the port with the shared printer and deselect "Enable bi-directional
    support". That should fix it.
     
  7. 4plus2

    4plus2 Thread Starter

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2004
    Messages:
    372
    I too were thinking it may be a Windows XP issue as Ubuntu spools and prints okay when the printer is connected directly.
    I already have "bi-directional" enabled and the port it uses is USB001 - Virtual printer port for USB. I also have a DOT4-001 port.
    Ive seen Windows linux printing support perhaps I need that?
     
  8. inspire

    inspire

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2005
    Messages:
    14
    "I already have "bi-directional" enabled " disable it and see what happens.

    insted of linux > windows printing how about using linux as a print server?
     
  9. 4plus2

    4plus2 Thread Starter

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2004
    Messages:
    372
  10. 4plus2

    4plus2 Thread Starter

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2004
    Messages:
    372
    That did the trick!! Thanks inspire!
    Oh well, guess I learnt a lot in trying to fix it, so time not wasted.
     
  11. inspire

    inspire

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2005
    Messages:
    14
    good to hear you got this fixed :D (y)
     
  12. 4plus2

    4plus2 Thread Starter

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2004
    Messages:
    372
    A friend has the same problem but uses the print server "NetGear PS110" how would he do the equivalent bi-directional fix?
     
  13. Sponsor

As Seen On
As Seen On...

Welcome to Tech Support Guy!

Are you looking for the solution to your computer problem? Join our site today to ask your question. This site is completely free -- paid for by advertisers and donations.

If you're not already familiar with forums, watch our Welcome Guide to get started.

Join over 733,556 other people just like you!

Loading...
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.

Short URL to this thread: https://techguy.org/414003