Ubuntu
cups package

Can I connect a usb printer/scanner to eth LAN?

Asked by Bob Merhebi

I'd like to ask if its possible to connect a usb printer/scanner (this one in particular: http://linuxdeal.com/Printer-PSC-1315) to a LAN?

How should I do that if possible?

No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS
Release: 12.04
Codename: precise

Linux *** 3.2.0-33-generic #52-Ubuntu SMP Thu Oct 18 16:29:15 UTC 2012 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

Can you ping the printer by IP?
What is the output of:

lsb_release -a; uname -a

Thanks

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Bob Merhebi (bobmerhebi) said : 		#2

Pinged it? well its a usb & I can't connect it to the LAN with a usb. My question was if it is possible to connect it to eth?

I tried a crossover adapter & an RJ45 adapted & tried pinging but it didnt work.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#3

Wait, do you want to SHARE the printer so that systems on the network can print to it through the Ubuntu PC?

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Sam Hathaway (sam.hathaway) said : 		#4

I connected my USB inkjet printer to the USB port on my wifi router. The router is running DD-WRT and uses p910nd to share printers using the JetDirect (a.k.a. AppSocket) protocol.

More information here:
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Printer_Sharing
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Linksys_E3000#Printing
http://p910nd.sourceforge.net/

I haven't tried to make scanning work. I scan so infrequently that it's easier for me to just plug the printer directly into my laptop when I need to.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#5

Ahhh so there is a router involved.Why did you only just mention this now? Why was it not in the initial question?

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Sam Hathaway (sam.hathaway) said : 		#6

parsnip, you may be confusing me with the initial question writer. I'm just letting him know how I solved this problem. The router is just a convenient linux-based system that has both an ethernet port and a usb port. It happens to come with p910nd pre-installed. This can be done with the Ubuntu p910nd package.

Incidentally, you can do this with CUPS as well, but it's more of a hassle:
http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/networking/53105-how-make-cups-jetdirect-appsocket-print-server.html#post322333

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Bob Merhebi (bobmerhebi) said : 		#7

Yes I do.

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Bob Merhebi (bobmerhebi) said : 		#8

Oh I didnt see the previous comments. I'll check them in a moment, but I have to mention that I have a regular DSL modem with no usb ports. Only eth ports!

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Sam Hathaway (sam.hathaway) said : 		#9

You can use any Linux machine to "share" your USB device via p910nd or CUPS as I described. Doesn't have to be a router. That was just what I chose since it has a USB port and sits right next to my printer.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#10

If you use the network printer option in the printer dialogue, you can tell the OS to probe the IP to find printers

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