HPLIP

hplip - printer initiated scan to computer

Asked by Roy S Smith on 2017-10-05

Hello forum -

This post is in regards to scanning to a computer (digital sending) from the printer/scanner, not from the PC. I would like to report that the hp laserjet 200 MFPm276nw can indeed scan to a Linux computer as stated here: http://hplipopensource.com/node/334 because I have successfully accomplished this using Samba in Linux.

And I'm guessing many other HP printers can do likewise as long as the printer's web interface supports scanning to a network folder.

I have another HP printer (HP 4622) whose web interface does NOT offer support for setting up a network folder but instead a scan is initiated (Windows only) simply by pressing the scan button on the printer/scanner. But this same printer/scanner says "PC not found" when pressing the scan button when I am in the same Linux OS where the first printer/scanner I just mentioned scans to a network folder successfully. When this printer/scanner is connected to a Windows machine and the scan button is pressed, the Window's hostname shows on the printer/scanner's LCD panel.

I am pretty well convinced now that HPLIP does not support scanning to a computer (digital sending) when the printer involved does not offer a way to setup a network folder in its web interface, which is the case with the HP 4622.

I would be thrilled if HPLIP would allow digital sending to printers that do not offer a way to setup a network folder. The only way scanning to a PC can be done presently with the HP 4622 is to have the printer connected to a Windows machine. It won't work in Linux.

So to answer all of the questions as to whether or not an HP Printer can scan to a Linux computer when the scan is initiated from the printer/scanner is: It all depends if the printer's web interface supports enabling a network folder or not. If it does, it will. If it doesn't, it won't.

Meanwhile I am waiting and hoping HPLIP will enable digital sending to printers that do not support enabling network folders such as the HP 4622 or else make all HP printers able to configure a network folder in the web interface.

Thanks for hearing me out.

Roy