The printserver and client software on a windows system works fine, but I don't want to go round and install client software on every PC.
Has anone managed to get anything like this to work at all via a samba printer configuration? Pointers and setup information if possible. All points go to a complete solution. Samba is currently v2 on a Redhat 6.2 system, but I can test on other systems if required. Any help appreciated.
Many thanks
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The Netgear supports UNIX, so that probably means you can use an LPR port from the RH server, and share it from there.
The LJ2100 is in the windows builtin printer list, so if you connect to the share on Samba, it will let you select the printer driver and install it locally(on 2k and XP you will not need a disk)
Linux servers CAN propagate drivers to the workstations, by using the printer$ share (samba).
The aim was to set up this printer as a shared printer using samba, so that I have the printer browsable from the network, and don't have to go around each workstation to install the drivers.
I've now managed to get this working using CUPS, but I'll leave the question open to see if anyone can come up with a solution for configuring Samba, /etc/printcap to get this to work.
I`m not sure exactly what the problem is that you`re trying to solve!
I am not sure what you mean by "client software" The print driver, or the Netgear IP printing utility (both are actually client software).
The Netgear supports Unix, so if you set up a print queue to point to it ( using LPR or Port9100), and select the print driver on the RH server, (Using CUPS or LPRNG etc), and enable Samba print sharing.
Then link to the share from the Windows network browser, the most you have to do is select the printer model in the network printer wizard.
I do this sort of thing all the time, and all I do is use the RedHat printer tool (or the tools for whatever distro is in use).
I usually use SWAT or Webmin for managing Samba shares, and have very few problems.
We have a RH7.3 server which shares printers using SAMBA v2, and it was pretty simple to set up.
Some newer distros like Suse and Mandrake will scan the network for available printers (shared or connected directly to the Network ), and install them for you. I am pretty sure that Fedora or RH9+ will also do this, but I dumped Redhat at 7.3, so can`t be sure.
My home Suse 9.2 install setup my printers (USB inkjet and OKI network laser) with hardly any input at all, as did my wife`s Mandrake 10 install. (She prefers Mandrake because it`s "cute".........Hmmm.
To be fair, I probably asked the question very badly. Normally, I have no problem at all when doing this type of thing. For some strange reason, I was unable to get this particular setup to work at all. The printer didn't appear to be receiving any information (flashing light normally indicating that data is being received). No output or activity seen whatsoever.
Part of the issue was the Redhat 6.2 being anti-social and refusing to recognise the existance of the print server. Exactly the same command lines work on Redhat 8.0, that didn't work on the RH6.2 system. As a result, I ended up setting up a new PC with RH9.0, and using CUPs. I still haven't a clue why I couldn't get this Netgear Printserver to work with the older system.
Overall, I guess that as it obviously works with RH9.0 and CUPS, the question now becomes 'Is there any known problem with new printservers with older versions of Linux?........or was it me?'
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by: hdhondtPosted on 2004-11-21 at 19:33:39ID: 12641274
As far as I'm aware, Linux servers do not propagate drivers to the workstations, so you will need to install the printer on each PC. This can be done by installing off the server, but cannot be fully automated, similar to installing from a Windows server. The best you could do would be to use a script to do the job.