Add Printer to Linux

Connect to the print server using the LPD or SMB protocols using CUPS. A list of hosted printers’ full and share names can be generated using Samba’s implementation of the “net” command.

1. Use the local CUPS configuration server at http://localhost:631 (or any other configuration program). The CUPS server may not be running by default. Check the status of the cups server by entering the command systemctl status cups into the terminal. If the cups server is not active, start it with systemctl start cups (you may need root privileges). If you get an error saying “cups service is masked”, upgrade to the latest version using your system’s package manager (For example, apt-get upgrade cups on Ubuntu or yum upgrade cups on centos).

2. Open the printer configuration application and select add a new printer.
3. Enter name, description, and location information
4. Choose the appropriate driver, if available, or Generic/Postscript otherwise
5. Choose LPR/LPD for the printer type, with a URL syntax: lpd://server-name/name-of-printer
   • (e.g. lpd://eng-printers/ece-pho502-bw1)

   • The server name is eng-printers.bu.edu

   • The Share name of the printer, or the ‘Queue’ are listed by dept