CentOS - Jun 2010 - Setting up a printer without having one

Hi folks! :-)

I am supposed to configure this fresh install of CentOS 5.5 to work
nicely with the HP 1010 printer, once it gets connected to the
computer (probably via usb, but I cannot be sure). The problem is that
I will not be anywhere near the machine when the printer actually gets
plugged in, and hp-setup refuses to do anything until that happens.

So how does one configure a to-be-used-in-the-future printer, without
actually having one plugged in? People who are going to use the
machine are noobs, and unlikely to be able to set up the printer
themselves, so it would be a good idea if I could do it in advance.

I haven't done anything like this before, and would be grateful for
any pointers.

TIA! :-)
Marko

At Tue, 1 Jun 2010 19:07:35 +0200 CentOS mailing list <centos at
centos.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi folks! :-)
> 
> I am supposed to configure this fresh install of CentOS 5.5 to work
> nicely with the HP 1010 printer, once it gets connected to the
> computer (probably via usb, but I cannot be sure). The problem is that
> I will not be anywhere near the machine when the printer actually gets
> plugged in, and hp-setup refuses to do anything until that happens.
Unless you can work your way though the foomatic printer database and
know what ppd file(s) to copy to /etc/cups/ppd and know the exact
incatation that needs to be in /etc/printers.conf, you pretty much have
to have the print itself on hand.

Is the HP 1010 printer a *laser* printer or an *inkjet*?  If it is a
laser printer it is easy, since it is likely a PostScript printer.  You
can pretty much dispense with hp-setup and just hand edit the config
files with a generic postscript ppd file.  It is even better if the
printer is a networked printer.

CUPS is not easy to configure without going though the point-and-click
interface and that interface only really works if the printer is itself
attached to the system.  You can't 'cheat' and configure things
'in
advance'. 
> 
> So how does one configure a to-be-used-in-the-future printer, without
> actually having one plugged in? People who are going to use the
> machine are noobs, and unlikely to be able to set up the printer
> themselves, so it would be a good idea if I could do it in advance.
You probably won't be able to.  You will be able to be present when the
printer arrives and thus be there when it is plugged in the first time? 
If so, you'll probably just have to perform the magic on the spot.
> 
> I haven't done anything like this before, and would be grateful for
> any pointers.
> 
> TIA! :-)
> Marko
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On Tuesday 01 June 2010 13:07:35 Marko Vojinovic wrote:
> So how does one configure a to-be-used-in-the-future printer, without
> actually having one plugged in?
Just run system-config-printer and  follow the new printer wizard.  You 
basically need to know the manufacturer and model.  With that you can select 
the proper PPD file.  

The other thing you need to know is HOW the printer is going to be connected 
to the machine.  In other words, its backend (CUPS-wise).  If you get this 
right (correct PPD and correct backend) you're all done.

HTH,
Jorge