Linux Scanner 101?

[Frank616]

I have used an old HP scanner for an embarrassing number of years (hey, it still works). However, I don't use it often, so I've left it connected to an ancient Pentium machine running XP that I leave in a deserted corner of the basement, just for compatibility. I've never tried to run a scanner in Linux.

I just bought a Canon Pixma 722 multifunction printer / scanner / fax. Canon produces Linux drivers for the printer, and apparently for the scanner as well.

What do I need to do to get the scanner working? I am guessing that I will need the SANE packages and the Canon scanner driver. What else do I need? Anybody installed a scanner in Linux that could walk me through it?

Thanks.

Frank.

[Rod J]

Just install the necessary drivers and you should be good to go. For my Brother MFC I use Skanlite which handles scanning fine. At some time I installed Digikam for better photo manipulation. KIPI plugins (which is another package you might find useful) seems to be part of Digikam.

Basically (AFAIK), with the drivers installed you should have the option to acquire images from your scanner in apps like Gwenview, etc without needing to do anything else.

[claydoh]

usually, one installs sane (and a scanner app - skanlite is there in Kubuntu already), then either It Just Works, or you go off into into a corner and cry. More often it is the former, these days.

But seriously (, sometimes some scanners actually need a config file edited or some other> Very new models sometimes lag behind, even if they use an existing driver, until support is added to it.

First I get the USB id of the scanner (lsusb command) but that is difficult if the scanner is wireless.
I then look here:
http://www.sane-project.org/sane-mfgs.html
or here
http://www.sane-project.org/cgi-bin/driver.pl


http://www.sane-project.org/man/sane-pixma.5.html
Which you will see that the series of device you have is not well tested yet. I am guessing that network scanning makes things more interesting

However, there is canon supplied tools for linux, Scan Gear MP, that might help if sane does not work.

[Rog132]

Alternative KDE scanner - Kooka

:~$ apt-cache show kooka
Package: kooka
Priority: extra
Section: kde
Installed-Size: 1456
...
Version: 0.61~git20140318~trusty~ppa1
Depends: kde-runtime, libc6 (>= 2.14), libkdecore5 (>= 4:4.7.1), libkdeui5 (>= 4:4.4.0), libkfile4 (>= 4:4.4.95), libkio5 (>= 4:4.3.4), libpaper1, libqt4-qt3support (>= 4:4.5.3), libqtcore4 (>= 4:4.7.0~beta1), libqtgui4 (>= 4:4.8.0), libsane (>= 1.0.11-3), libstdc++6 (>= 4.1.1), libtiff5 (>= 4.0.3)
Filename: pool/main/k/kooka/kooka_0.61~git20140318~trusty~ppa1_amd64.deb
...
Description: a raster image scan program for the KDE system
Kooka uses the SANE-lib (http://www.sane-project.org/) and the
KScan-library which is a KDE module for scanner access.
.
KScan and Kooka are under construction.
.
Note the warnings etc in the /usr/share/doc/kooka/
.
http://techbase.kde.org/Projects/Kooka
.
This is a snapshot of the Kooka development version.
.
https://projects.kde.org/projects/pl...oka/repository

After the installation - K Menu:



The Kooka will tell:



If the scanner is not detected:



At here the Kooka seems to work:




PPA search:

- https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+ppas?name_filter=kooka
- https://www.google.com/search?q=kook...launchpad.net/

[oshunluvr]

I run my scanner from a server so I use the "net" driver on my clients. Works great for my HP.

[mr_raider]

HP uses the HPLIP driver for their multifunction printers. Unfortunately it's borked on 14.04. If you run hp-setup from the command line it will throw a fit. You can fix it by running hp-doctor. Sometimes the default print modeule in KDE has issues identifying printers.You can directly access teh print server with teh address:http://127.0.0.1:631

[Frank616]

mr_raider:

HP uses the HPLIP driver for their multifunction printers. Unfortunately it's borked on 14.04.

I never found it worked that well at the best of times. I have an old HP Laserjet 1020 that I use when traveling. It sort of works, but I gave up on it when I upgraded to 14.04 on this laptop. I applaud the fact that HP gives Linux support, but I have found the support to be limited. Same is true of Canon with this new Pixma MX722. They give Linux support, and the driver does work, but a novice would have some issues getting it to work in Windows, let alone Linux.

I am going to be up to my ears in other matters for the next few weeks, so I'll get back to this sometime toward early August, I hope. I don't NEED the scanner on the Canon. I DO need it to print, and that part is working. In fact, I have it installed in my trailer now, using my Android phone as the network router. Works fine!

Thanks.

Frank.

[oshunluvr]

I've had the opposite results. My last 3 printers (10 year span) have been HP All-in-ones. A 6600, a 7210, and currently an 8600. With all of them - once setup and installed properly - never had to mess with them until they died. Only thing I didn't really use much was the PC-to-fax since I didn't really need it. Printing, scanning - no problems.

[claydoh]

I have to agree. Never having had HP printers before, now I have an old all-in-one and a new-ish wireless 8000 Pro. Both work wonderfully and easily. Ink on the other hand (in the 8000)........
I think may just be lucky on printers. I've had 5 printers since 1998, over 4 brands. All have Just Worked, and I have done zero compatibility checking.

Scanners, on the other hand, well, early on, were terrible. Still, I like dangerous living and never checked compatibility on those either.