How do I set up printers on the server?

In order to set up the network printers used on the server side, they must be added and set up using a browser.

Note

A PDF printer is automatically set up on the server. The PDF printer can be printed from any application. The “printed” PDF file is stored in the PDF’s folder in the user’s home directory. If this is set later as a standard printer, accidental printing on an undesired printer is prevented.

Start a browser on a computer to access the so-called CUPS web interface for further configuration of the printers. To do so, insert the following URL in the URL of your browser.

https://server:631

Since usually only a self-signed certificate is installed on the server, it is certainly necessary to allow the browser to use secure communication exceptionally (accept SSL certificate).

Add printer

First, open the Administration tab. The following screen appears:

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Warning

Do not change any configuration on this page, which remains to the linuxmuster.net scripts and a manual configuration in the text files on the server.

Click on PrinterAdd printer. The following screen appears:

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In this dialog, you must specify how the printer is connected to the server. Network printers may be detected (in the example, “HP Officejet”).

The “AppSocket / HP JetDirect” option is normally correct for unrecognized network printers. If you are unsure, refer to the printer / printer server manual, which option applies to your printer.

Click Next to go to the next dialog. If an option under “Other network printers” is selected, the exact connection must be specified manually and the following dialog box is displayed, otherwise the following dialog is skipped:

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In the case of a network printer, you must specify the IP address or the host name, and also specify the queue when using a print server that has multiple ports. For example:

socket://10.16.203.101/lpt1

In case of doubt, the printer operator’s manual should also help. Click Next to go to the next dialog.

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A name must be assigned for the printer in this form (for example, r203-pr01 or h109 printer). The name given here also applies as a shared name for Linux and Windows clients. The rest of the information is optional, but should be entered to keep the assignment comprehensible.

Click Next to go to the selection of the printer model.

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Select your printer model from the list. With Next, drivers are offered for selection. If there are several drivers available for your model, select the recommended driver. If your model does not appear in the list, use the Browse button to upload the PPD file for your printer. The PPD file contains a driver for the printer for Linux. These drivers are available on your printer manufacturer’s page. Download them locally. Then you can upload the PPD file on the linuxmuster.net server with Upload Dialog.

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Your printer may also print with the “Generic” brand and a corresponding driver (for example, “Generic PCL 5e … (recommended)”).

Click Add Printer to close the printer installation. For this, the CUPS Web Interface requires authentication as administrator.

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Then you reach the setting page of the printer.

Configure the printer

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Here, depending on the printer model, you can set various settings for the default behavior of the printer driver (for example, set the page size to A4, duplex printing, if this is not standard).

In the default settings dialog, click the Policy menu item to set the behavior of the printer in the event of an error.

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Under “Troubleshooting”, specify abort-job to ensure that CUPS deletes the print job in the event of an error.

With the Set default settings button, you are finally redirected to the administration page of the newly set up printer:

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Here you can

  • print a test page,
  • stop and restart the printer (and the execution of print jobs)
  • block the receipt of print jobs and re-enable them,
  • repeat the printer setup to change the IP address or printer driver,
  • adjust the printer settings or
  • setup allowed users.

Now your network printer is ready for operation and can be set up on the workstations.

The above printer is addressed via the URL:

http://server:631/printers/r203-pr01

Enable PDF printer

The default PDF printer is accessible via the URL

http://server:631/printers/PDF-Printer

Now it is also possible to print to a PDF file via the PDF printer, which is stored on the server in the home directory of the user in the subdirectory PDF.