Printing to an IP address using linux

Situation:  Needed to hook up various printers to linux box for windows users.

Problem:  Had various print server manufactures to configure.  HP, Xerox, Netgear, Linksys.

Solution:  Needed to choose which linux print system to use and how each manufacturer does direct printing.

Using Linux: I ran nmap against the printer to see what type of print server it was running.  ie. LPR, IPP.

[root@moe techdocs]# nmap -p 515,9100 192.168.2.185
 
Starting nmap V. 3.00 ( www.insecure.org/nmap/ )
Interesting ports on  (192.168.2.185):
Port       State       Service
515/tcp    open        printer
9100/tcp   open        jetdirect

Nmap run completed -- 1 IP address (1 host up) scanned in 0 seconds
[root@moe techdocs]#
 
This tells me that both UNIX LPD (port 515) and JetDirect (aka IPP) port 9100 are supported.  I can then 
run through the cups installer or RedHat's printer configuration utility and use which ever queue
type I need.  When using LPD, you'll be asked for the print queue name.  P1=Port1 on most nics or print
servers.  L1=Port1 on a linksys print server.

Also, make sure the printer has a static IP address.  The power management feature will shut
the printer down over the weekend and that may cause a dhcp enabled printer to grab a different address. 

Last updated on July 30, 2003.

Jeff Borders