Ubuntu

Samba printing: Win OK; Mac can't see

Asked by Iain Houston

I have been able to print to the Umbuntu-attached printer from Windows system on the network; but my Mac OS X system can't see any printer to choose from when browsing the Umbuntu system. I can connect from Mac OS X to Samba-shared Umbuntu folders. Any clues? Many thanks!

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Best Iain Houston (iainhouston) said : 		#1

I can't tell you how much fiddling trials and errors I've attempted but I am now printing OK.
I hope these tips help others!
Trying to use the Mac Print & Fax Preferences didn't find the printer on the network; so here's what works:
1) Use your Mac's browser to open page http://127.0.0.1:631 - yes really!
2) Add a new printer via "Administration"
3) Page 1's text boxes are not vital
3) Page 2 choose "Windows printing via Samba"
4) Page 3 really important (several trials & errors!)
   type in: smb://my_username:my_linux's_smb_password@WINDOWS_WORKGROUP/LINUX_COMPUTER/Stylus-Photo-R220
   OK, here's where you get those values:
   my_password - this is the one known to the Linux /etc/samba/smbusers file - see how to verify below.
   Now the colon
   my_linux's_smb_password is the password I entered into the Linux system using the smbpasswd command
   Now the @ sign. Note: if you modify your printer definition you'll have to retype this and preceeding id and password. The admin tool loses these for you - security?
   WINDOWS_WORKGROUP had to be uppercase. I verified this from Mac Terminal with command "smbclient -Llinux_computer -Umy_username" which prompts for smb password and shows you WINDOWS_WORKGROUP and LINUX_COMPUTER in uppercase .... yes, I believe the smb URI syntax is this fussy ... even though smbclient accepts lowercase.
   Finally, the Linux-Ubuntu Printer Admin tool window title bar held the printer's exact character string identifier, in my case "Stylus-Photo-R220"
5) Page 4 is where you choose the printer driver ... hmmm choose the nearest one to yours! Complete adding printer.
6) Go to the Printers page of the localhost Admin tool and send a test page ... well it works for me!
Cancelling jobs on the Ubuntu linux system isn't very well done.
The Windows to Linux printing is good; The Mac OS X to Linux printing ... is OK for now.

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Iain Houston (iainhouston) said : 		#2

I have discovered that I can add a Samba-attached printer using the regular Mac OS X Printer Utility or the Printer System Preferences dialogue. (Two different ways to get to the same place).
You have to be as particular about inputting exactly the right text strings as above.
The extra bit of magic is that you need to press and hold alt / Option when you click on "More printers" to get the "Advanced" value in the topmost dropdown list which, in turn, allows you to choose "Windows printing via SAMBA". The smb URI is as above.