*** I'm in the process or rearranging things in this HowTo so don't be surprised if things change between views ***
Note1: This HowTo is focused on sharing Printers attached to PC's not stand alone networked printers although the same principals and procedures would be applicable.
Note2: There are 2 graphical utilities that you can use to configure and access printers in Mint:
[1] By running the following command:
system-config-printer
[2] Or by entering the following location in any Internet browser and accessing the CUPS Web interface directly:
localhost:631
I'm going to use system-config-printer in this HowTo but localhost:631 is always available and you can also configure printers on another Linux machine on your network from your own replacing localhost with it's ip address like this: 192.168.0.100:631
Note3: Linux Mint Debian needs some additions and adjustments to be done first:
http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.p ... 18#p315218
[A] SHARING A PRINTER ATTACHED TO A MINT MACHINE
Run the following command to open the printer configuration utility:
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system-config-printer
Server > Settings > Select the following:
Publish Shared Printers connected to this system
Allow printing from the Internet
** Enable Sharing of the Attached Printer
Right Click the attached printer > Properties > Policies
Check Enabled, Accepting Jobs, and Shared
** To allow guest access through Samba:
Edit smb.conf as root:
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gksu gedit /etc/samba/smb.conf
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[printers]
comment = All Printers
browseable = No
path = /var/spool/samba
printable = yes
guest ok = yes
read only = yes
create mask = 0700
In Mint:
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sudo service smbd restart
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sudo service samba restart
Run
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system-config-printer
You are presented with many different options to connect to the network printer
** via Samba
Select "Windows Printer via Samba" > Browse
You should get a list of printers. If not you can specify it's location manually by selecting "Enter URI" and enter the location of the printer in any of the following formats:
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smb://WORKGROUP_NAME/MACHINE_NAME/PRINTER_NAME
smb://MACHINE_NAME/PRINTER_NAME
smb://MACHINE_NAME.local/PRINTER_NAME
smb://192.168.0.100/PRINTER_NAME
** via Internet Printing Protocol
Select Enter URI and specify the location in any of these possible formats:
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ipp://WORKGROUP_NAME/MACHINE_NAME:631/printers/PRINTER_NAME
ipp://MACHINE_NAME:631/printers/PRINTER_NAME
ipp://MACHINE_NAME.local:631/printers/PRINTER_NAME
ipp://192.168.0.100:631/printers/PRINTER_NAME
There is another ipp option that allows you to use a version of cups earlier than the current one in case there are compatibility issues with your specific printer: ipp14 ( for ipp cups version 1.4 ). It's the same as the ipp locations above just substitute ipp14 for ipp like this:
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ipp14://192.168.0.100:631/printers/PRINTER_NAME
If you're both running current versions of mint you should see at the very top of the list under "Network Printer" the host name of the server that has the printer attached. Selecting that should bring up: Remote CUPS printer via DNS-SD.
You will then have to right click the printer in the main utility > Properties > Settings > and change Make and Model to install the driver
** When all else fails:
system-config-printer > Server > Settings > Show Printers Shared by other Systems
[ C] CONNECTING TO A MINT PRINTER FROM WINDOWS XP ( Win7 really isn't all that different ).
Use the "Add Printer Wizard".
Start > Control Panel > Printers and Faxes > Add Printer > The Add Printer Wizard opens
Check "A network printer, or a printer attached to another computer"
Check "Connect to a printer on the internet or on a home or office network"
You can either browse for it or enter it directly. Examples:
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URL: \\WORKGROUP_NAME\MACHINE_NAME\PRINTER_NAME
URL: \\MACHINE_NAME\PRINTER_NAME
URL: \\192.168.0.100\PRINTER_NAME
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URL: http://WORKGROUP_NAME/MACHINE_NAME:631/printers/PRINTER_NAME
URL: http://MACHINE_NAME:631/printers/PRINTER_NAME
URL: http://192.168.0.100:631/printers/PRINTER_NAME
WORKGROUP_NAME is the workgroup associated with the server that has the printer, MACHINE_NAME is the host name of the server, and 192.168.0.100 is the ip address of the server.
[D] CONNECTING TO A WINDOWS PRINTER FROM LINUX
On WinXP: Make sure the printer is "shared"
Start > Control Panel > Printers and Faxes > right click on your printer > Sharing
[If you have already shared a folder or a drive, printer sharing is already activated. If not
then a new window appears and you must first enable remote access. To do so click the
security warning message ( not the Network Setup Wizard - please not the Network
Setup Wizard) , then the "Just enable printer sharing" button on the following screen]
check "Share this Printer"
Share Name: WinPrinter or whatever you choose
On Linux:
system-config-printer > + Add > Network Printer > Windows Printer via Samba > Browse.
It should find it automatically after it does a network scan.
If it can't find anything you may have to fill in the dialog box, examples:
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smb://WORKGROUP_NAME/MACHINE_NAME/WinPrinter
smb://MACHINE_NAME/WinPrinter
smb://192.168.0.100/WinPrinter
On Mac OSX :
1. Apple menu > Print & Fax
2. Click the + button under the printers list to add a printer.
3. Press the Control key while clicking the "Default" icon then choose Customize Toolbar from the menu.
4. Drag the Advanced (gear) icon to the toolbar and then click Done.
5. Click the Advanced icon that was added to the toolbar.
6. Choose "Internet Printing Protocol" from the Type pop-up menu.
7. In the URL field, type the printer's address in one of the following formats:
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ipp://WORKGROUP_NAME/MACHINE_NAME:631/printers/Linux-Printer-Name
ipp://MACHINE_NAME:631/printers/Linux-Printer-Name
ipp://192.168.0.100:631/printers/Linux-Printer-Name
If the printer name contains spaces, replace each space with "%20" (without quotation marks).
In the Name field, type the name you would like to use for this printer in Mac OS X.
Choose the appropriate PPD or printer driver from the "Print Using" menu.
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Error Workarounds
############
[1] WinXP printer start to print and then stalls:
http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.p ... 97#p180860
[2] WinXP printer that is set to allow guest access gives you an "Access Denied":
http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.p ... 43#p180862
[3] Windows can see the Mint printer but gives you a "Windows cannot connect to the printer" error when you try to configure it:
http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.p ... 40#p618065
[4] Followed all the steps in part [A] above and is set to allow guest access but you are forever being asked for a password to access:
http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.p ... 40#p618065
[5] CUPS starting after Samba starts prevents sharing a printers through Samba - Mint Main Edition:
http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.p ... 60#p626582
[6] AirPrint and iOS6
http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=114904