jawtheshark's Journal: Ask Slashdot: Ubuntu and Network printing?

I have a big problem with Ubuntu 9.04 and my network printer. My network printer is a Ricoh Aficio CL2000N with duplex unit and it supports PostScript. One might think that this printer would be easiest to install on Linux. As a matter of fact, I chose this printer because it supports PostScript level 3 and is networked.

The OpenPrinting database even lists it as "works Perfectly". However, I can assure you it doesn't. I have configured it over the GNome interface, over the cupsd web interface with different protocols (IPP, LPD, etc....). The only thing it does is warm up and that's it. Ubuntu reports that the job has been submitted successfully. I have tried the PPD provided by Ricoh, the PPD provided by Ubuntu, the PPD that Ubuntu downloads if you don't want to use the stock one. Nothing.

I know 100% sure that it worked on Windows (which I can't test, since I have no Windows machines around). My work computer and the Atom both run Ubuntu 9.04 and they both have the issue. Oddly enough, I can print with my work laptop on the Xerox Phaser 8560MFP at work.

I've been searching left and right on forums, but never found any conclusive solution except that I don't seem to be the only one.

Any ideas?

Update 2009-10-22 00:15
Forgot that my sister has a Windows PC on my network. Installed the printer there. Works just fine. (Using the PostScript driver)

printer queue name?

[elmegil]

What I found was most challenging in setting up network printing without a windows magic driver was knowing the print queue name. MOST often it's "lp" or "default". You probably want to check for that information, and make sure that information is making it's way into the Ubuntu setup (btw, I have no experience with Ubuntu, just SuSE & RedHat). I would use LPD, it's a common denominator protocol. Good luck....

Re:printer queue name?

[jawtheshark]

Yes, I already thought of that: It's one of the first things I looked up. It's "lp" for this model (p70 on the users manual). Still, it doesn't work.

I do think it is distro-specific. My Asus EEE PC runs Debian Lenny and I'm positively sure that I could print from that machine. (I just can't test it, it's at the hospital with my wife)

My experience - lsmod is your friend

[tqft]

Check the loaded modules

My understanding is if the printer isn't connected at install time, the necessary modules won't be installed by default. Installing a printer won't necessarily change this other than load it at boot time.

In my case it was lp.

Find the kernel module name and check it is being loaded

Re:My experience - lsmod is your friend

[jawtheshark]

I think what you say is only true for directly connected printers. However, my printer is on and connected to ethernet 24/7.

lp is loaded: jorg@luminous:~$ lsmod | grep lp lp 17156 0 parport 42220 2 ppdev,lp

Re:My experience - lsmod is your friend

[jawtheshark]

Sorry for the formatting glitch:

jorg@luminous:~$ lsmod | grep lp
lp 17156 0
parport 42220 2 ppdev,lp

Re:My experience - lsmod is your friend

[tqft]

You are technically correct about my situation.

But does a network connected printer need a kernel module loaded?

I assume you have been here?
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/NetworkPrintingWithUbuntu [ubuntu.com]

Or maybe try something like this?
http://www.gentoo-wiki.info/HPLIP#Network [gentoo-wiki.info]

Re:My experience - lsmod is your friend

[jawtheshark]

No, normally a network connected printer needs no such things. They talk directly via TCP/IP and if that isn't supported by my kernel, I probably have bigger troubles ;-)

Haven't been on the gentoo site, the ubuntu one I read evidently. Thing is, there is nothing I don't know there. I have had this Network printer for years now. Never made any trouble, that's why I hugely suspect Ubuntu.... Next release is around the corner, so perhaps I just wait and see if it's fixed.

Firmware?

[Daengbo]

I had a HUGE problem with a well-supported HP 1006 printer, and it turned out that the firmware wasn't being loaded. Not sure if that's required for this network printer.

Is the printer being auto-configured by CUPS or do you have to do it manually?

Re:Firmware?

[jawtheshark]

Possible, but unlikely. When I still had my iBook (ages ago, I know), I could print from that. I'm pretty sure I could print from Ubuntu 8.10 and I know with 99% percent certainty that I can print with Debian Lenny (as said above, I only have that on my EEE PC and I don't have it here)

Both cups and the GNome interface detect the printer just fine. Now, that said, using the web interface of cups I never tried the auto-detect route. I now did: no difference.

Network printing

[Tet]

Forgive me if I'm teaching you to suck eggs. But::

• Can you print to it from Linux if you plug it in directly using a parallel cable? Even without cups/lpd/whatever, you can just cat some PostScript to /dev/lp0 and see if it works.
• When on the network, can you ping it?
• Can you connect to the relevant port (515, 631 or whatever else you're using)?
• If you're using lpd, I've come across many printers that are very sensitive to having the correct queue name. Check what the correct one should be for that printer.

Cups is very capable, but it's also (necessarily) very complex. I went to a lecture about it by Kurt Pfeifle many years ago, and it was only after that, and after seeing some of his architecture diagrams, that I really understood it. Of course, I've forgotten most of that in the intervening years, but if I can be of help, I will.

Re:Network printing

[jawtheshark]

• It doesn't have a parallel interface. I think it might have an USB one, but I never used it. Need to find a USB-A to USB-B cable for that, which would be typical for such situations.
• Of course, I can even access the web interface or telnet to it.
• On my printer or on the local computer? http://localhost:631/ [localhost] works, yes... If I do "nc wobbegong.sharks 9100" and type random text, the printer warms up and say "Waiting". After I press Ctrl-C it prints the random text I wrote.
• It's "lp" according to the service manual downloadable at Ricohs website.

I'm convinced that printing isn't easy, and I'm bashing no-one here. After all didn't RMS once write a rant about not being able to use his networked printer? If he can't do it... who am I?

I did get a libpoppler update today in Ubuntu. Apparently, that's the one responsible for PDF generation (Not sure, just repeating what I read on forums). It might work now, just didn't get around going it and my hopes are not great.

Re:Network printing

[jawtheshark]

Nope... libpoppler didn't fix a thing.

Re:Network printing

[Tet]

It doesn't have a parallel interface

Hmmm... Ricoh's web site claimed otherwise. But USB would be fine, if you can find the right cable.

If I do "nc wobbegong.sharks 9100" and type random text, the printer warms up and say "Waiting". After I press Ctrl-C it prints the random text I wrote

If you do cat sample_file.ps | nc wobbegong.sharks 9100, does it print? If so, what does tcpdump/wireshark show being sent over the wire when printing with cups, and how does that differ from what works by just sending it to the printer with nc? My guess would be that something other than PostScript is being sent over the wire. There might be some job submission wrapper around the PostScript that your printer is objecting to, or it might just be in some altogether different format. Is your cups setup sending the file via JetDirect, or is it just LPD/IPP that aren't working?

Re:Network printing

[jawtheshark]

Parallel port: You're right it does have one. I just looked at the ports (not that easily accessible). So, I need a centronics cable. I should have one at my parents.

If you do cat sample_file.ps | nc wobbegong.sharks 9100, does it print?

Clever! Why didn't I think of that.... Anyway: cat /usr/share/cups/data/testprint.ps | nc wobbegong.sharks 9100 prints out the standard cups page perfectly.

Neither JetDirect or LPD/IPP works. If any of them would have worked, I would have settled for the working version ;-)

You're most certainly right there is some wrapper that freaks out. That's what I read on some forums. The fixes proposed, didn't work though.

My tcpdump and wireshark -foo aren't that good and I need to do that later. Need to go to the Confirmation of my wifes half sister. (Don't ask... My wife's family has been great so far. I got the her an iPod Touch... hope she likes it.)

Re:Network printing

[jawtheshark]

I filed a bug with Ubuntu today about this. I hoped 9.10 would have fixed it, but it didn't.... I also had the luck that I could get the Asus EEE for an evening (long story) and so I tried printing from Debian Lenny. Worked *just* *fine*. So let's hope I get some help there. I tried to be as detailed as possible. Hope I didn't leave out anything [slashdot.org]. Thanks for you help, my friend.