From: W. Trevor King <wking@drexel.edu>
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 2010 19:55:09 +0000 (-0500)
Subject: Add network printer with lpadmin post.
X-Git-Url: http://git.tremily.us/?a=commitdiff_plain;h=6e568f8401f38c56b92640cfec2d62a58ef4b25d;p=mw2txt.git

Add network printer with lpadmin post.
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+Configuring [CUPS][] printers can be a bit of a pain, due to
+differences in URIs and drivers depending on the printers make and
+model.  Many distributions have administrative GUIs that make printer
+management easier, and you can usually interact with CUPS through your
+browser at `http://localhost:631/admin`, but I prefer using the
+command line to get a better feel for the underlying system.
+
+CUPS has excellent [documentation][].  I found the sections on
+[command line and printing options][options] and [configuring network
+printers][network] particularly informative.  Combined with some
+additional browsing and trial and error, here is the procedure to add
+a new default network printer, in this case an HP LaserJet 4240 at
+123.45.67.89 with [lpadmin][].
+
+The basic template for adding and enabling a new printer is
+
+    lpadmin -p printer-name -v device-uri -m model -L location -E
+
+For `printer-name` and `location`, just pick something that makes
+sense to you.  `device-uri` will include some extra fluff around your
+printer's IP address.  Consult the [table][] in the CUPS docs for
+ideas or search the net for ideas.  For my LaserJet, the URI is
+`socket://123.45.67.89`.  You can list all device types that CUPS
+knows about with [lpinfo][]:
+
+    $ lpinfo -v
+    …
+    network socket
+    …
+
+Finally, you'll need to figure out which `model` (driver) to use.
+`lpinfo` leys you search through available drivers by make and model:
+
+    $ lpinfo --make-and-model 'LaserJet 4042' -m
+    gutenprint.5.2://hp-lj_4240/expert HP LaserJet 4240 - CUPS+Gutenprint v5.2.5
+    gutenprint.5.2://hp-lj_4240/simple HP LaserJet 4240 - CUPS+Gutenprint v5.2.5 Simplified
+    foomatic:HP-LaserJet_4240-Postscript.ppd HP LaserJet 4240 Foomatic/Postscript
+    drv:///hpijs.drv/hp-laserjet_4240-hpijs-pcl3.ppd HP LaserJet 4240 hpijs pcl3, 3.10.2
+    lsb/usr/hplip/HP/hp-laserjet_4240-ps.ppd HP LaserJet 4240 Postscript (recommended)
+
+Choices, choices… I've heard good things about [Gutenprint][], so
+we'll use that.  Not that I ask a lot of a print driver, so perhaps it
+would be better to use the recommended ppd file.  Just pick something.
+If it doesn't work, you can reconfigure with a better driver later.
+
+Putting it all together, add and enable the new printer:
+
+    $ lpadmin -E -p afmlab -v socket://123.45.67.89 -m gutenprint.5.2://hp-lj_4240/expert -L "LaserJet 4042, Disque 927" -E
+
+You'll probably also want to make the new printer the default:
+
+    $ lpadmin -d afmlab
+
+The CUPS daemon will eventually (i.e. after a few seconds) flush these
+configuration changes into `/etc/cups/printers.conf` if you prefer
+editing text files to the command line or GUI tools ;).
+
+[CUPS]: http://www.cups.org/
+[documentation]: http://www.cups.org/documentation.php
+[options]: http://www.cups.org/documentation.php/doc-1.4/options.html
+[network]: http://www.cups.org/documentation.php/doc-1.4/network.html
+[lpadmin]: http://www.cups.org/documentation.php/doc-1.4/man-lpadmin.html
+[table]: http://www.cups.org/documentation.php/doc-1.4/network.html#TABLE1
+[lpadmin]: http://www.cups.org/documentation.php/doc-1.4/man-lpadmin.html
+[lpinfo]: http://www.cups.org/documentation.php/doc-1.4/man-lpinfo.html
+[Gutenprint]: http://gimp-print.sourceforge.net/