[SOLVED] 2 PCs, 1 router, and 1 USB printer

[Snowhog]

My equipment:

Two PCs (laptops) connected to a Linksys wireless router (both connected via wire) and a USB printer connected to one of the PCs.

My printer is an old (twenty years -- yes, I said twenty years) Panasonic KX-P4410 Laser. Due its age, it has no network connections; just a parallel port which I connect the laptop to via a parallel to USB cable. The printer works just fine from the connected PC.

Is it possible to share the printer connected to PC 'A' from PC 'B'? I've read data (Ubuntu) that says it can be done, but I haven't been able to accomplish it. If it is possible, how does one go about getting it set up?

[oshunluvr]

It's real simple presuming you can access the printer with cups.

On the server PC, open a browser and type localhost:631 in the URL bar. Set the admin option to "Share printers connected..."

On the client, open a browser and type localhost:631 in the URL bar. Set the admin option to "Show printers shared..."

Once you reload the page, the printer should show on the client. That should do it.

[blackpaw]

Assuming 12.04 or 12.10 jusr select the printer in System Settings|Printeres and there should be a "share" checkbox.

Then choose "Add Printer" from the other PC, if you hold your tongue just right it will appear as a remote printer.

[Snowhog]

On the client, open a browser and type localhost:631 in the URL bar. Set the admin option to "Show printers shared..."

No such option on the client.

[Guest]

On the server PC, open a browser and type localhost:631 in the URL bar. Set the admin option to "Share printers connected..."

On the other PC you need to change a line in the file /etc/cups/cupsd.conf (kdesu kate /etc/cups/cupsd.conf)
Look for the line:
Listen localhost:631
and change it to:
Listen *:631

and save the file

restart cups (in a terminal: sudo service cups restart )

Now you will see the printer in printer dialogs on the other PC

[GreyGeek]

I purchased a wireless print server, plugged it into my wireless router with an ethernet cable, and configured it to a fixed IP address of 192.168.1.99. My wireless router begins at *.100, so the CUPS connection to the printer is good for all who attach to my wireless regardless of the order in which they attach.

[Snowhog]

On the server PC, open a browser and type localhost:631 in the URL bar. Set the admin option to "Share printers connected..."

On the other PC you need to change a line in the file /etc/cups/cupsd.conf (kdesu kate /etc/cups/cupsd.conf)
Look for the line:
Listen localhost:631
and change it to:
Listen *:631

and save the file

restart cups (in a terminal: sudo service cups restart )

Now you will see the printer in printer dialogs on the other PC

Doesn't work.

[oshunluvr]

On the server PC, open a browser and type localhost:631 in the URL bar. Set the admin option to "Share printers connected..."

On the other PC you need to change a line in the file /etc/cups/cupsd.conf (kdesu kate /etc/cups/cupsd.conf)
Look for the line:
Listen localhost:631
and change it to:
Listen *:631

and save the file

restart cups (in a terminal: sudo service cups restart )

Now you will see the printer in printer dialogs on the other PC

Mine works just fine without this edit.

Snowhog: You don't see this in your browser?

[Snowhog]

oshunluvr@

Yes, I do. But what do I check in the CUPS Administration on the 'Server' (the laptop that has the printer connected directly to it), and what do I set on the other PC?

[oshunluvr]

Sorry Snowhog I wish I could be more help. This has always "just worked" for me. On my server, same page but "Share Printers Connected..." is checked. that's all I've ever had to do.

[Snowhog]

So, let me see if I understand. The image in reply #8 is what CUPS looks like on the 'client' PC, and the image in reply #10 is what CUPS looks like on the 'server' PC?

[oshunluvr]

Yup

[Snowhog]

Thanks. But, for me, here, still not dice. It is almost certainly because of just how old the printer is. There was a time when earlier versions of Kubuntu wouldn't recognize it at all, which I was able to fix. 12.04 sees it fine, but that doesn't mean that it can be seen well enough on the CUPS server so another PC can also see and use it.

[Snowhog]

Got it working!

On the HP (main PC and the one the printer is connected to): CUPS Server Setting - Share printers connected to this system is checked. No other options checked.
On the Toshiba, System Settings > Printers I added the printer with the following connection setting: ipp://192.168.31:631/printers/KX-P4410

I can print from the Toshiba to the printer connected to my HP.

Life is good. Linux is good. Kubuntu is good. :cool: