Setup printer in RedHat 6.2 linux

[Neo Gigs]

Hello everyone,

I need to setup my RH6.2 with a LasetJet 4050 over the shared network. The server that hosts the shared printer is running on Windows 2000 Server. How should I install the shared printer?

TQ

Neo

[Kodjo Agbenu]

Hello,

Your setup will depend whether the printer has a JetDirect network interface or not.

If you have JetDirect, that means you can directly reach the laserjet on the network from your Linux box. Therefore, you can use "printtool" which should (as far as I can remember) be able to interface with JetDirect network printers.

If you don't have a JetDirect interface, you need to use the W2k box as a print server. Therefore, you need the Samba common and client packages on your Linux box, and use smbprint. I guess "printtool" is able to use a Samba printer, but I'm not sure.
As an alternate method you can install the LPD/LPR print service package on W2k and configure the printer on your Linux box as "remote" LPD/LPR printer.

If you need a V-E-R-Y G-O-O-D printer/spooler utility, use "CUPS" (http://www.cups.org).

You can download some specific print drivers on http://www.linuxprinting.org.

At last, you may know that HP has released the technical information for all printers, so you can access many OpenSource drivers for HP printers :

http://hp.sourceforge.net
http://hpinkjet.sourceforge.net
http://hpoj.sourceforge.net

Good luck.

Kodjo

[Mark Fenton]

Absent a jet direct, or the ability to turn on LPR printing under windows, I think you will have a lot of trouble getting the printer set up for your Linux box.

I was only able to get mine to work attached to the Linux box directly, attaching via win2k didn't work at all. (even with CUPS).

Good luck.
Mark

[Neo Gigs]

Thanks guys, thanks alot.

I will try to go for the few methods here and see what is the outcome.

[Craig Kelley]

I can't remember if RedHat 6.2's printconf supported SMB printers, but if it does then all you need to do is run 'printconf' as the root user and add a new SMB (Windows) network printer. It's pretty easy.

[Neo Gigs]

I have tried to use printtool and add SMB or Win95/NT as described in the installation guide and administration guide from RedHat 6.2 documentation. Yet no help, anywhere I had printed the solution proposed by your until I can sort things out then I will post a reply here soon.

Thank you gentlemen.

Neo