ELS Howto: CUPS Print Server


Synopsis

This document explains how to set up a network print server on an Elemental Linux Server (ELS) using CUPS.


Prerequisites

You will need a printer attached to your ELS machine as well as a client workstation with a web browser and appropriate drivers for your printer.


Installation

CUPS is already installed as part of the ELS base packages.


Configuration

The following steps explain how to configure CUPS printing on your ELS system and allow further configuration through a web browser on the client workstation.

  1. Copy the sample configuration files from the documentation directory to /etc/cups/
  2. Edit cupsd.conf, change it to listen on all interfaces and enable access to the / and /admin locations.
  3. Configure cupsd for automatic start-up.
  4. Change permissions on the printer device to enable r/w access for everyone.

Example

The example below shows how you would set up CUPS 1.6.1 for a printer attached to LPT1.

cp /usr/share/doc/cups-1.6.1/config/* /etc/cups/

vi /etc/cups/cupsd.conf
Listen *:631
Allow From @LOCAL
Allow From @LOCAL

chmod +x /etc/init.d/cupsd

chmod o+rw /dev/lp0

Testing

Test your CUPS server by configuring a network printer.

  1. Start CUPS
  2. Open the administration page in a browser on the client workstation.
  3. Create a print queue for the printer.
  4. Follow your O.S. vendor's instructions for installing an IPP printer on the client workstation and print a test page.

Your set up will be unique to your printer, but here are some common problems you might run into and how to fix them.

  1. If the administration page is not accessible, check the following:
  2. If the Add Printer page of CUPS does not show any local printers, check the permissions on your printer's device node. (e.g. Is /dev/lp0 set to r/w for all?)

Additional configuration assistance may be found by consulting the help pages at http://www.cups.org and by searching your client operating system vendor's online help for IPP printing setup instructions.