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Printing from Windows

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by computer geek

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I'm trying to set up a linux print server without using CUPS. I have a local printer setup and working from the server itself, but when I attempt to set up the printer in on a windows box there's no communication. I'm not that familiar with Linux so I'm not sure what steps I've missed. Do I need to use CUPS or SAMBA (will use CUPS if need be)? Any step by step help will be appreciated.

10 replies

by w2ktechman

If the printer is on the network, you can bypass the print server for Windows clients by having them map to the IP address.
Install as local printer (no detection) -- choose a tcpip port
setup tcpip port (add IP and name)
download drivers for the printer onto the unit, install drivers, finish setting up the printer.

by computer geek

We can't use IP Printing. It needs to be a Linux Print Server. We don't want to use CUPS or SAMBA, just need step by step on how to set up a printer connected via parallel cable to a CENT OS Linux system to print LPD or LPDng from other systesm on the network (Linux and Windows).

by hal 9000

What is the reason that you don't want to use Samba? It's a communication program that allows different platforms to communicate easily so why are you making your life harder?

Saying that you don't want to use Samba is like saying that you don't want to use HTTP when browsing the Web, sure it's possible but not the easiest thing to do and not many people would be willing to put up with the problems that are brought up as a result of doing things this way.

If you where to install Samba you would have been up & running a long time ago without a single problem.

Col

by jaqui

linux printing REQUIRES CUPS
you can't print without it.

windows printing from linux printer requires both samba and cups
windows won't talk with linux without samba, linux won't print without cups.

if you don't want cups and samba, then put windows server software on the hardware instead of linux.

by pahosler1

Linux printing DOES NOT require cups, you can also use lprng. I have servers that use CUPS and servers that use lprng. A lot of people prefer lprng, but honestly if you take just a little time to configure CUPS it can make life a LOT easier.

I am sure there are other ways, but I use samba to share Linux printers with Windows. You can also share files, or create a fileserver with samba ( a nice bonus).

If you aren't going to use cups, you may need to edit your /etc/printcap manually, some distros include scripts that help you configure your printer for lprng. With CUPS, you get a nice web interface to configure your printer, (localhost:631). This is not enough to share your printer, you really need to configure the cups server config files. CUPS has a lot of good admin documentation to help get you going.

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