Re: [gentoo-user] cups configuration for "dummies"

[Mick]

On Tuesday 16 Aug 2011 12:50:55 Helmut Jarausch wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I've installed a GenToo system on the PC of a friend which doesn't know
> the internals of Linux (GenToo).
>
> At home he has a local network with a printer (probably managed by a
> Window system).
>
> Is there an easy means to configure CUPS on his system to find that
> printer?
>
> Many thanks for a hint,
> Helmut.

Without a topology of your friend's machines I can only suggest options:

1. He could use the MSWindows box as a server, with the printer connected to 
it via a parallel port or USB.  The Linux is a client.  Go to MSWindows 
Control Panel/Add-Remove Windows Components/"Other Network File and Print 
Services", then Details and select "Print Services for Unix".  Then go to 
Printers and Faxes and right click to share the printer, giving it a name.  
Thereafter configure your Linux CUPS printer and point it to 
lpd://<MSWindows_IP>.  Make sure that the MSWindows box allows connections 
through its firewall from your Linux box.  Things may be called differently on 
a Vista/W7 GUI, you'll need to follow your nose.

You could do this using Samba on the Linux machine, but it is not necessary 
and a time waste to set up and troubleshoot separately, without having to 
wonder why the printer does not work.


2. He could use the Linux box as a print server, and MSWindows as the client.  
Walk through the cups configuration to allow the MSWindows machine to access 
the Linux box and of course let it through the firewall (if one is running).  
Also you would need to set up cups mime configuration to accept Windows PCL 
drivers as detailed here:

www.gentoo.org/doc/en/printing-howto.xml#windows_pcl

You could also do this using samba, but the above caveats apply.  However, if 
he is going to use samba for file sharing between the two machines, then it 
follows using it for printing too.

HTH.
-- 
Regards,
Mick