Printer sharing with Samba

Questions about Wi-Fi and other network devices, file sharing, firewalls, connection sharing etc
Forum rules
Before you post read how to get help. Topics in this forum are automatically closed 6 months after creation.
Locked
mikeglaz

Printer sharing with Samba

Post by mikeglaz »

Can someone help me set up a Linux/Windows Vista printer sharing network? The Samba documentation is outdated as it refers to Windows 95/98 and Windows NT. Plus it's constantly assuming things it's referring to that I understand them.

I have a wireless router through which I access the internet with my Linux Mint box and a Windows Vista laptop. I have a printer connected to my Linux machine. I would like to be able to print from the Vista machine. I have Samba installed on my Linux machine.

When I go into the Network and Sharing Center on my Windows laptop and click on the wireless network I can see my Linux machine on there. But when I try to access it it says, "Windows cannot access \\DESKTOP".

I tried adding a printer and pointing to the IP/printer name of my Linux box but no luck.

thanks,
mike
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
altair4
Level 20
Level 20
Posts: 11425
Joined: Tue Feb 03, 2009 10:27 am

Re: Printer sharing with Samba

Post by altair4 »

You seem to have 2 distinct problems but the most serious is not being able to access by ip address.

I would go though this checklist first: Samba Browsing Problems Checklist: http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.p ... 46&start=0

You might also find this some help: Network Printer Sharing: http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=28397

If those 2 don't resolve the issue please post the output of the following commands:

Code: Select all

testparm -s
smbtree
BTW, there's a bug that cups / samba have apparently no intention of fixing that prevents access to a cups printer by name. I have a work around ( and a rather complicated one ) in the Printer HowTo above. But the easiest way is to access it by ip address:

Code: Select all

http://192.168.0.100:631/printers/printer-name
Please add a [SOLVED] at the end of your original subject header if your question has been answered and solved.
mikeglaz

Re: Printer sharing with Samba

Post by mikeglaz »

Ok, I'm able to access my Linux Desktop from my Windows Laptop. But when I try to access the printer connected to the desktop via the laptop I get the following error:
"Windows cannot connect to the printer."

My smb.conf looks like this:

Code: Select all

# Global parameters
[global]
        workgroup = WORKGROUP

[printers]
comment = All Printers
browseable = No
path = /var/spool/samba
printable = yes
guest ok = yes
read only = yes
create mask = 0700

########## Printing ##########

# If you want to automatically load your printer list rather
# than setting them up individually then you'll need this
   load printers = yes

# lpr(ng) printing. You may wish to override the location of the
# printcap file
   printing = bsd
   printcap name = /etc/printcap

# CUPS printing.  See also the cupsaddsmb(8) manpage in the
# cupsys-client package.
   printing = cups
   printcap name = cups
testparm -s

Code: Select all

Load smb config files from /etc/samba/smb.conf
rlimit_max: increasing rlimit_max (1024) to minimum Windows limit (16384)
Processing section "[printers]"
Global parameter load printers found in service section!
Global parameter printcap name found in service section!
Loaded services file OK.
Server role: ROLE_STANDALONE
[global]
	idmap config * : backend = tdb

[printers]
	comment = All Printers
	path = /var/spool/samba
	create mask = 0700
	guest ok = Yes
	printable = Yes
	print ok = Yes
	browseable = No
smbtree

Code: Select all

WORKGROUP
	\\MOTHER-PC      		
	\\DESKTOP        		Samba 3.6.3
		\\DESKTOP\ML-2010        	Samsung ML-2010
		\\DESKTOP\IPC$           	IPC Service (Samba 3.6.3)
pdc_2
Level 10
Level 10
Posts: 3019
Joined: Mon May 11, 2009 1:21 am

Re: Printer sharing with Samba

Post by pdc_2 »

you might like to do a bit of homework ....... and read this thread

http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=198&t=99564

where a couple of experts offer advice on samba issues ............ :D
altair4
Level 20
Level 20
Posts: 11425
Joined: Tue Feb 03, 2009 10:27 am

Re: Printer sharing with Samba

Post by altair4 »

[[1]] All of the things that you spent so much time removing from smb.conf were put there for a reason. For example, you can not access any resources on your machine as a guest from Windows because you removed a line that enables it. My recommendation is to rebuild samba on your machine:

(1) Make sure the following file exists:
/usr/share/samba/smb.conf
(2) Make a backup of your current smb.conf

Code: Select all

sudo cp /etc/samba/smb.conf /etc/samba/smb.conf.bak
(3) Copy the default:

Code: Select all

sudo cp -a /usr/share/samba/smb.conf /etc/samba/
(4) Correct one mistake in the newly copied smb.conf:
Find the line:
encrypt passwords = false
Could also be listed as "no"

and change it to:

Code: Select all

encrypt passwords = true
(5) Restart samba

Code: Select all

sudo service smbd restart
[[2]] Now you have a choice.

** Access the printer by name using the Mint machines ip address as I describe in the Howto I linked to above. Using Windows Add Printer utility:

Code: Select all

http://192.168.0.100:631/printers/printer-name
** If you happen to have iTunes installed on that Windows machine you can also access it by a qualified hostname:

Code: Select all

http://mint-host-name.local:631/printers/printer-name
** If you still want to browse to the printer by name then you will have to implement a rather nasty work around since cups / samba / Ubuntu have no intention of fixing a bug preventing it. That workaround can be found here: http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.p ... 40#p618065

There is one other option now that your smb.conf has been returned to the factory settings and that is to connect to the printer the way a Mac would by installing a utility on your Windows box: Bonjour Print Services for Windows: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL999
Please add a [SOLVED] at the end of your original subject header if your question has been answered and solved.
Arkon55

Re: Printer sharing with Samba

Post by Arkon55 »

Altair-4 you are a STAR =!!

That Apple Bonjour Windows Util, is a joy !

I was looking a complete idiot 8) Not difficult. I'd played with the whole Samba .conf , the CUPS. I could see the Linux Mint machine, but Windows wouldn't play.

Brilliant. MANY THANKS.

Arkon_The_<_Invincible
Locked

Return to “Networking”