[Samba] Printing problems

[Joel Hammer]

For future reference, as these questions get asked again and again, can you
describe in detail just what was misconfigured?
Thanks,
Joel

On Mon, Jun 17, 2002 at 08:43:06AM -0400, Joe Carmon wrote:
> Thanks for the nudge in the right direction. It was a mis-configured driver 
> that printer driver.
> 
> At 04:12 PM 6/16/2002 -0400, you wrote:
> >Just some observations while you figure out what is wrong.
> >
> >I can't comment much about your printcap because I don't use gimp to
> >print, I use ghostscript. Have you run checkpc -f to look for errors and
> >adjust permissions on your spool directories?
> >
> >Your path in your smb.conf looks odd. Usually, that path is put someplace
> >like /tmp. Could there be a permissions problem?
> >
> >You have only one print queue. This queue must be able therefore to handle
> >ALL file types, including those sent from your clients. Now, your linux
> >server sends postscript files which seem to be printed OK. I do not know if
> >your linux print queue handles files formatted by the windows
> >clients. What print driver are you using on your windows clients?
> >(windows may call it a printer definition). You can test this by printing
> >to a file on your windows client, and then transferring that file to
> >your linux server, and then lpr'ing the file. This is what samba does, by
> >the way.
> >
> >A very nice and easy work around in this situation is as follows:
> >If your linux server prints postscript files well, using just that one
> >queue, then on your clients install the network printer using the HP
> >laserjet III plus as the printer definition. This driver will send
> >postscript files to your server, which your server will handle. Postscript
> >is THE printer language for linux, after all. I do not know why this isn't
> >considered a general solution for linux print servers.
> >
> >The other thing to try is to set up a print queue in /etc/printcap which has
> >NO filter and install the proper drivers on your windows clients for your
> >printer. Such a raw queue will just dump the print file to your printer. You
> >will have to negotiate printtool to do this. Or, disable the automatic call
> >to printtool in your lpd startup script.
> >
> >Here is my smb.conf regarding printing matters. I use guest logins and have
> >therefore less security but fewer headaches. I use the %J variable to capture
> >the windows file name. I list all the printing commands explicitly.
> >
> >
> ># Global parameters
> >[global]
> >         security = SHARE
> >         guest account = ftp
> >         hosts allow = 192.168.  127.0.0.
> >[ps]
> >         comment = Filtered for Z53
> >         path = /tmp
> >         read only = No
> >         create mask = 0700
> >         guest ok = Yes
> >         hosts allow = 192.168.
> >         printable = Yes
> >         printing = lprng
> >         print command = echo %J %p %s  >>  /tmp/junkJ;\
> >                        a="`echo '%J' | sed "s/^.*- //"`" ;\
> >                        echo This is truncated $a >> /tmp/junkJ;\
> >                        /usr/bin/lpr -Pps  -J"$a"  %s;\
> >                        rm %s
> >         lpq command = /usr/bin/lpq -Pps
> >         lprm command = /usr/bin/lprm -Pps %j
> >         lppause command = /usr/sbin/lpc hold z53 %j
> >         lpresume command = /usr/sbin/lpc release z53 %j
> >         share modes = No
> >         use client driver = yes
> >
> >You aren't the only one to have trouble with the RedHat printtool. I dumped
> >mine after it failed to set up my network printer properly.
> >
> >Joel
> >
> >On Sun, Jun 16, 2002 at 03:37:47PM -0400, Joe Carmon wrote:
> > >
> > > >1. Your printing system (lprng, etc.)-- LPR
> > > >2. Your smb.conf
> > > >3. Your printer EPson Stylus Color 980
> > > >4. Your /etc/printcap
> > > >5. The print driver you are using for your printer.-- Gimp
> > > >6. Your flavor of unix/linux.  Red Hat 7.3
> > > >7. The client OS. -- Win 2k PRO, Windows 98 SE
> > >
> > > The printcap and smb.conf files are attached.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > >This information may help.
> > > >Joel
> > > >
> > > >On Sun, Jun 16, 2002 at 03:11:25PM -0400, Joe Carmon wrote:
> > > > > When printing locally the printer works fine, but when I try to 
> > print from
> > > > > a client computer the following message prints out.
> > > > >
> > > > > ****Unable to open the initial device, quitting.
> > > > >
> > > > > Can any body help with this problem.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > --
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