Chapter 2. Printer Connection Types

Table of Contents

2.1. Local Printer
2.1.1. Parallel port
2.1.1.1. Requirements
2.1.1.2. Auto-detection of Devices
2.1.1.3. Auto-probe of the Printer Model
2.1.2. Serial Port
2.1.2.1. Requirements
2.1.2.2. Auto-detection of Devices
2.1.2.3. Device Settings
2.1.2.4. Auto-probe of the Printer Model
2.1.3. USB
2.1.3.1. Requirements
2.1.3.2. Auto-detection of Devices
2.1.3.3. Auto-probe of the Printer Model
2.1.4. IrDA
2.1.4.1. Requirements
2.1.4.2. Auto-detection of Devices
2.1.4.3. Auto-probe of the Printer Model
2.2. Remote Printer
2.2.1. LPD-compatible server
2.2.1.1. Required information
2.2.1.2. Auto-detection of Hosts
2.2.1.3. Auto-detection of Queues
2.2.2. Printing via IPP protocol
2.2.2.1. Required information
2.2.2.2. Auto-detection of Hosts
2.2.2.3. Auto-detection of Queues
2.2.3. SMB/CIFS/Windows printer
2.2.3.1. Required information
2.2.3.2. Auto-detection of Hosts
2.2.3.3. Auto-detection of Workgroups
2.2.3.4. Auto-detection of Queues
2.2.4. Novell Netware (NCP)
2.2.4.1. Required information
2.2.4.2. Auto-detection of Hosts
2.2.4.3. Auto-detection of Queues
2.2.5. Direct printing to TCP port
2.2.5.1. Required information
2.2.5.2. Auto-detection of Hosts
2.2.5.3. Auto-detection of Port

Generally you can say, that the printer can be local or connected to another machine via network.

2.1. Local Printer

It means a printer that is connected to the machine's parallel or serial port, USB port or via the IrDA or Bluetooth interface.

2.1.1.  Parallel port

2.1.1.1. Requirements

Parport support module, lp module, proc filesystem support, parport_pc module in the kernel.

2.1.1.2. Auto-detection of Devices

A list of parallel ports is in /proc/sys/dev/parport. The user must choose the port for adding a printer if there is more than one not auto-probed port.

2.1.1.3. Auto-probe of the Printer Model

If the printer conforms to the IEEE 1284 specification then hwinfo detects the printer vendor and model (and the device it is connected to).

2.1.2.  Serial Port

2.1.2.1. Requirements

Serial port support module, proc filesystem support in the kernel.

2.1.2.2. Auto-detection of Devices

A list of serial ports can be found in /proc/tty/driver/serial. The user must choose the port for adding a printer if there is more than one not auto-probed port.

2.1.2.3. Device Settings

User should be able to set baud rate, data bits, parity and ?flow control?. TODO it doesn't work!!!

2.1.2.4. Auto-probe of the Printer Model

Probing of printer connected via serial port is not supported (probably is not possible at all).

2.1.3.  USB

2.1.3.1. Requirements

USB support in kernel, usblp module loaded, hotplug

2.1.3.2. Auto-detection of Devices

All /dev/usb/lp* are treated as possible devices. If CUPS is used as spooler, CUPS USB backend is used to probe URIs for queues.

2.1.3.3. Auto-probe of the Printer Model

Printer vendor and model are detected via hwinfo. In case of some printers (Epson USB printers) CUPS USB backend is used to detect the vendor and model (as hwinfo doesn't report the model correctly). If CUPS is used spooler, the device for the detected printer is set according to the info of the CUPS USB backend.

2.1.4.  IrDA

2.1.4.1. Requirements

IrDA properly configured and active

2.1.4.2. Auto-detection of Devices

All /dev/irlpt* are treated as possible devices.

2.1.4.3. Auto-probe of the Printer Model

Probing of printer connected via serial port is not supported.