Configuring Printers

Printing services in linux are managed by a package called CUPS which is an abbreviation for "common unix printing system". If it's not already emerged, emerge cups.

$ sudo emerge -av cups

CUPS only has a few printer drivers available by default, so in order to improve your options, you can emerge the foomatic packages.

$ sudo emerge -av foomatic-db foomatic-filters

After the emerge completes, start the cups daemon, and add it to startup.

$ sudo /etc/init.d/cupsd start
$ sudo rc-update add cupsd default

CUPS administration is now done via a web interface. In order to finish configuring your printer, you'll need to emerge a browser. While you are waiting, ensure your printer is connected to the system. Open your browser and go to http://localhost:631/. Click on "Administration", then "Find New Printers". In most cases CUPS will detect your printer automatically. Click the "Add New Printer" button to begin adding your printer. You can change the printer name if you choose, then click "Continue".

Cups should automatically detect the best driver for your printer from its foomatic database listing, but if it doesn't, you have the option to change that here. If your drivers isn't listed, you'll need to download a .ppd file from your printer manufacturer's website to complete the configuration. Click "Add Printer" to complete the installation. You will be prompted to provide a username and password at this point; you'll need to enter root as the username and your root password.

If you've selected the correct driver, your printer should be successfully installed.

Troubleshooting

If you get an error such as "unable to copy .ppd file", try a different driver. In most cases, the generic postscript driver will work.