Puppy Linux Discussion Forum

gerry · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 986 Location: England

I have two computers, one running XP, the other Puppy 301. I have one printer. At present, I move the printer USB cable from one to the other. Enquiring at my friendly local computer shop about a switch, I was told that it's expensive and clunky- use networking! Does this mean SAMBA on the Puppy machine? Seems a bit heavy- is there anything lighter and easier?

Gerry

HairyWill · Joined: 26 May 2006 Posts: 2946 Location: Southampton, UK

You could use windows printer sharing and smbspool to direct the print jobs from puppy to the XP machine

find smbspool on your system
which smbspool

Now ensure there is a symbolic link in /usr/lib/cups/backend that points to smbspool the link might need to be called smb, I can't remember.
ln -s PATH-TO-SMBSPOOL /usr/lib/cups/backend/smb

Now go into cups and samba printer will now be available as a connection type

if problems
post again or search the forum and wiki for smbspool

Sage · Joined: 04 Oct 2005 Posts: 5501 Location: GB

Any chance of getting a dual input printer with USB & LPT? Not so many about now, but some recent mono lasers and my EpsonC84 and HP 640C all have them. I've got a spare printer switch I can send you for LPT. These old printers are fine for office work, letters and drafting, but useless for photos.

gerry · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 986 Location: England

Sage, you're a genius! It has two USB inputs- USB 2.0 Hi-speed, only works on Windows XP+, and USB 2.0 Full Speed, plug your Mac or ancient MS m/c in here.

So I'll obtain another cable, and how it likes having both plugged in.

Gerry

gerry · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 986 Location: England

Using both USB sockets does not work: the (Canon i965) printer has to be configured at installation time to use one or the other.

And I've tried the smb idea: the symlink is there, but I'm having difficulty providing cups with an address (URL) for the printer. Out of my depth again. Hey ho...

Gerry

gerry · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 986 Location: England

After a bit of googling, I reckon I got the URL right, but all I get when I try to print is:

/usr/lib/cups/backend/smb failed

More study...

Gerry

DC · Posted: Wed 19 Dec 2007, 18:06 Post subject:

Hi have a look at this post

http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=12196

most important the reply from "JB4x4"

and the note at the bottom

gerry · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 986 Location: England

DC- smbspool is present- all 830k of it. It's in Puppy 3.01

I suspect I have a problem with the printer name on the XP machine. It has a space in it. I'll change it tomorrow- it's past my bedtime now!

Gerry

EDIT: I need to review the hardware connections to make sure that the two machines really are connected. After Christmas.