Hello all,
I did some reading and found that HP has released HPLIP, a set of drivers do they can use the features of your printer to it's full extent, including cleaning and aligning cartriges, plus viewing ink levels + detailed printer status! Here's how: (All as root.)
1) Install HPLIP drivers for Linux and disable the old ones:
- Disable hpoj: (not used on newer systems - don't worry if "service not found" comes up)
Code:
/sbin/chkconfig hpoj off
/sbin/service hpoj stop
- Install HPLIP & HPIJS drivers:
Code:
yum install hplip hpijs
- Activate on boot:
Code:
/sbin/chkconfig hplip on
/sbin/service hplip start
2) Plug in the printer
3) Restart CUPS & HPLIP:
Code:
/etc/init.d/cups restart
- Unplug your printer
Code:
/etc/init.d/hplip restart
- plug it back in
4) Configure your printer:
Code:
system-config-printer
> Select "New"
> Fill in the fields, choose your settings as you like except when it comes to connection type, select the hp:/connectiontype/printername?serial=0SERIAL1_2NUMBE3
entry. Of course, the text in there will be replaced with real ones on your entry list. For example, mine is:
hp:/usb/deskjet_5550?serial=MY28J1Q18N2L
seeing as it's a USB-connected Deskjet 5550 with S/N MY28J1Q18N2L.
5) If all is done correctly, you have now sucessfully added the printer. You can set it to be the default, or modify it as you like.
TIP: If you'd like to share the printer, hit the "Sharing" button on the "system-config-printers" program and allow all hosts. You can now print from Windows (Works best w/ XP) or Macs, if you open ports 515 and 631 in your firewall.
To access the new features, in a terminal type
/usr/share/hplip/toolbox
Or use the menu entry in "Accessories". Although, there seems to be a bug with the menu entry of some versions of HPLIP. If you can't find the menu entry, please edit this file:
/usr/share/applications/HP-hplip.desktop
and change this line:
Hidden=true to
Hidden=false
The menu entry will now appear under "Acessories."
Enjoy!
Firewing1
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If you want to configure it using the CUPS web interface (not recommended), then do this:
1) Browse to localhost:631/ in your favourite browser
2) Click "Printers"
3) Click "Add Printer"
- user: root password is, you guessed it, root's password.
4) Name is the new printer's name; Description is the description other users will see. Leave location blank. Click Continue.
5) From the drop-down menu, select the
hp:/connectiontype/printername?serial=0SERIAL1_2NUMBE3
from the menu. The italics will be the real-life values.
Example: Mine is: hp:/usb/deskjet_5550?serial=MY28J1Q18N2L
- Click Continue.
6) Make: Select HP. Click Continue.
7) Model/Driver: Select the HP New DeskJet Series CUPS v1.1 (en) entry. Click Continue.