Printing to Linux

[chanmy8]

Hi,
I am trying to print test page from winxp to linux printer. I am able to see the shared printer, window show the printer is ready, and the printer work fine in linux box. However, I get no response from printer / nothing printed out. I saw "something" sent from winxp to linux thru network but printer doesn't print.

Any ideas?

Thank you

[mrBen]

What does the Linux box have to say? Does it give any indication of the file being received? Does the Samba log show anything useful?

[chanmy8]

Hi,
There is nothing in my var/spool/samba directory. I have set
[myprinter]
path = /var/spool/samba
printer name = /etc/printcap
writable = yes
printable = yes
load printer = yes
public = yes
print command = lpr-cups -P %p -o raw %s -r

I don't have CUPS installed in my linux box by the way.

Pls correct me for any mistakes make.

Thank you

[cowanrl]

There is a problem with what you have shown from your smb.conf file.

The biggest problem is with the line that says:

printer name = /etc/printcap

If you are actually trying to designate the location of the printcap file, the proper command should be:

printcap name = /etc/printcap

unless you've changed the location of the printcap file. If you are just using a default LPD printing configuration on your Linux box, you don't need a printcap name = line. Just remove it.

If you are actually trying to designate the name of your printer with the printer name = line, then /etc/printcap is definitely wrong. The line should read:

printer name = <name of printer>

You need to substitute the name you actually gave to the printer on your Linux box, not the name you are using for the share name({myprinter] in your case).

Normally you wan't to use the same name for the Samba share as the name you gave the printer in Linux. If the printer is called myprinter in Linux, then name the share myprinter. However, if you named the printer something like HPDJ995C in Linux, then that's what you should use as the share name in Samba. In this case if you still wanted to call the Samba share [myprinter], then use the line:

printer name = hpdj995c

to designate that the [myprinter] share refers to the hpdj995c printer.

Unless you are absolutely certain you need the line:

print command = lpr-cups -P %p -o raw %s -r

then remove it. More often than not if you're not sure of the command, it will only cause problems.

If you only have one printer on your Linux box and you just want to share it out in Samba by the simplest means possible, use the default [printers] Samba share. Remove the lines you have for the [myprinter] share and add these:

[printers]
comment = All Printers
path = /var/spool/samba
browseable = yes
public = yes
writable = no
printable = yes


This will share out all printers on your Linux box using the Linux printer name as the Samba share name. It's very easy and it works.
My experience in sharing printers with Samba is that KISS definitely applies.

[chanmy8]

yes, it work.. thank you very much...

[cowanrl]

You're welcome.