Printer Configuration with SuSE Linux 8.1

Support knowledgebase (jsmeix_print-einrichten-81)
Applies to

SuSE Linux: Version 8.1

Situation

You want to set up your printer.

New Installation of SuSE Linux 8.1

From SuSE Linux 8.1 on, the CUPS printing system is installed by default. From SuSE Linux 8.1 on, the printing systems CUPS and LPRng/lpdfilter are concurrently configured with YaST2's printer configuration. To do this, YaST2's printer configuration saves all the configuration data, creating the configuration for the current printing system or for the new one, if the printing system has been changed.

YaST2's printer database contains at least several preconfigurations for each printer model. Most (not all) configurations are available for both printing systems. Those configurations valid for both printing systems are available immediately after switching from one printing system to another.

YaST2's printer configuration enables you to select or switch among the following printing systems:

The printing system CUPS offers the user the opportunity to define individual settings for each printout. There is no fixed queue configuration, but the possibilities for printer-specific settings for each queue are stored in a PPD (PostScript Printer Description) file and can be presented to the user through a print dialog. By selecting a preconfiguration from YaST2's printer database, the corresponding settings are set to be used by default in the PPD file with YaST2's printer configuration. Several different settings usually must be changed in the PPD file for a certain preconfiguration. Depending on the Ghostscript driver, different PPD files are used and each PPD file must match the corresponding database records. For this purpose, YaST2's printer configuration uses the PPD files in /usr/share/YaST2/data/printerdb/ if a preconfiguration should be set up.
When the printer model is manually selected, any PPD file can be used instead of a preconfiguration. For example, a PPD file from the packages cups-drivers and cups-drivers-stp in /usr/share/cups/model/ or a PPD file from the manufacturer for a certain PostScript printer model. YaST2's database does not contain any records for these PPD files. Therefore, the presettings in the PPD file cannot be changed with YaST2. The CUPS command "lpadmin" enables changing of presettings in any PPD file in a queue. Refer to the manual for additional information.

If a configuration from the printer database is available for LPRng/lpdfilter but not for CUPS, a PPD file from the package cups-drivers should be used for CUPS. The PPD files in /usr/share/cups/model/ are sorted according to manufacturers. Their names consist of:
<model_name>-<driver_name>.ppd.gz
The driver name is the name of the Ghostscript driver, "gimp-print" for the GIMP-Print Ghostscript driver "stp", or <parameter_file_name>.upp if a parameter file is used for the Ghostscript driver "uniprint".

As in SuSE Linux 8.0, the printer configuration can take place automatically (see "Printer Configuration with SuSE Linux 8.0" (http://sdb.suse.de/en/sdb/html/jsmeix_print-einrichten-80.html), but the second condition has been substantially tightened in SuSE Linux 8.1:

Update to SuSE Linux 8.1

It is not possible to change old queues with YaST2's printer configuration in SuSE Linux 8.1. YaST2's printer configuration in SuSE Linux 8.1 distinguishes between queues created by YaST2 (SuSE Linux 8.1) and queues created in a different way. The latter cannot be modified, but only overwritten with a new configuration.

The main source of potential problems is that CUPS is the default printing system installed in SuSE Linux 8.1.

As usual, make a backup of the configuration files before updating the current printing system and make sure the right packages are installed to avoid, for example, replacing existing printing system with CUPS if you do not want this.

Package overview:

The packages cups-client and lprng exclude each other and cannot be installed at the same time. The package cups-libs must always be installed, because certain programs, such as Samba, are linked to CUPS libraries. Some other packages are usually required for a complete printing system: Since SuSE Linux 8.1, CUPS requires these packages, too: If you update from a SuSE Linux version before 8.0 note that since SuSE Linux 8.0 the following packages are no longer included: There is no need to replace lprold, plp, and aps, because existing old versions of these packages should work with SuSE Linux 8.1 as well.

If you use SuSE Linux for business, you should not update your business system without making a test on a test system to check the best way for the update to SuSE Linux 8.1 in your individual case. We offer a complete range of support services. See example SuSE Linux Services


See also:
o Installing a Printer
o Installing a Printer from SuSE Linux 6.4 to 7.3
o Printer Configuration with SuSE Linux 8.0
o Printer Configuration from SuSE Linux 8.2
o Purchase of Printers and Compatibility

Keywords: PRINTING, PRINTER, CUPS, YAST2, INSTALLATION, CONFIGURATION, 81, 8.1

Categories: Frequently asked Questions , Documentation , Printer

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SDB-jsmeix_print-einrichten-81, Copyright SuSE Linux AG, Nürnberg, Germany - Version: 04. Sep 2002
SuSE Linux AG - Last generated: 17. Mar 2003 by ip (sdb_gen 1.40.0)