Install Printer In Linux or Macos

QUICKSTART Linux printing

Use smb printing protocol to print from linux:

• from a terminal window execute as normal user the command: system-config-printer
  On Fedora linux you will automatically be asked for the root password.
  On Ubuntu linux you are allowed to continu if you are an admin user, otherwise you have to supply in a popup window the credentials for a valid admin user.
• in the started gui choose add new printer.
• in the upcoming dialog window choose:
  • Device: Network Printer - Windows printer via Samba
  • SMB Printer: smb://printsmb/<printername>
    IMPORTANT: don't use smb://printsmb.science.ru.nl/<printername> because that can sometimes not work.
  • Authenthication: you have choice from two options :
    • user + password
    • 'Prompt user if authentication required' : user must supply password when printing (can be stored in keychain for next prints)
    • TIP: in case of problems with authentication look at the terminal from which you started system-config-printer if there are any errors printed. Sometimes this can give an indication why the communication fails. E.g. on fedora I got once the error "'pysmb' is not defined", after googling I found out that I needed to install the package 'python-smbc' which was needed for the communication with the printer. Problem solved!
• use as driver "generic postscript"

Note: you can limit the access of a printer. Eg. you can install a printer which uses credentials from user X and only lets user X use it.

Linux printing

There are several ways to install a printer in linux.
Described below are the two most common used ones :

• smb printing (preferred method)
  
  • uses central printer server to send jobs to printer
  • user needs to authenticate to central printer server
  • user needs to be registered to be allowed  to print on the printer
  • works also for laptops on wireless networks
  • the printing queue can be seen with the command : lpq -P<printername> [-Sprintsmb]
    Note: -S argument not needed on C&CZ linux machines (lilo1,lilo2)
  • removing a job from the printing queue can be done with the command : lprm -P<printername> <jobid>
    Note: lprm only works on C&CZ linux machines (lilo1,lilo2)
  • URL: smb://printsmb/<printername>
    IMPORTANT: don't use smb://printsmb.science.ru.nl/<printername> because that can sometimes not work.
• jetdirect printing (alternative for pc's within same local network as printer, not for laptops!)
  • only department printers : mbsd-prt, tibn, laserop
  • sends printing jobs directly to printer, so there is no central server with a printing queue
  • no user authentication needed
  • only works for local network. 
    Means : laptops on wireless network cannot print to printer, because the wireless network is a separate network!
  • URL: socket://<printername>.science.ru.nl:9100

SMB printing is preferred because it gives the best support. However setting up jetdirect printing to unauthorized printers for  pc's on the same local network is much easier.

For printing instructions from C&CZ see here

Below installations are tested for Ubuntu and Fedora.

Linux SMB printing

• from a terminal window execute as normal user the command: system-config-printer
  On Fedora linux you will automatically be asked for the root password.
  On Ubuntu linux you are allowed to continu if you are an admin user, otherwise you have to supply in a popup window the credentials for a valid admin user.
• in the started gui choose add new printer.
• in the upcoming dialog window choose:
  • Device: Network Printer - Windows printer via Samba
  • SMB Printer: smb://printsmb/<printername>
    IMPORTANT: don't use smb://printsmb.science.ru.nl/<printername> because that can sometimes not work.
  • Authenthication: you have choice from two options :
    • user + password
    • 'Prompt user if authentication required' : user must supply password when printing (can be stored in keychain for next prints)
    • TIP: in case of problems with authentication look at the terminal from which you started system-config-printer if there are any errors printed. Sometimes this can give an indication why the communication fails. E.g. on fedora I got once the error "'pysmb' is not defined", after googling I found out that I needed to install the package 'python-smbc' which was needed for the communication with the printer. Problem solved!
• use as driver "generic postscript"

Note: you can limit the access of a printer. Eg. you can install a printer which uses credentials from user X and only lets user X use it.

Linux JetDirect printing

• execute as normal user the command: system-config-printer
  On Fedora linux you will automatically be asked for the root password.
  On Ubuntu linux you are allowed to continu if you are an admin user, otherwise you have to supply in a popup window the credentials for a valid admin user.
• in the started gui choose add new printer.
• in the upcoming dialog window choose:
  • Device: Network Printer - AppSocket/HP JetDirect
  • Host: <printername>.science.ru.nl
  • Port Number: 9100
• then it automatically recognizes the printer and lets you configure it