Setting up Pharos Printing for Linux*

*These instructions were created using Ubuntu 7.04 distribution, but can be adapted for other Linux distributions.

Overview

These instructions will guide you through setting up printing to the Pharos printers on a Linux computer. These instructions include; Requirements, Setup, Adding a User to Match Your NetID, Troubleshooting, Known Issues, and the Pharos Print Queue Table.

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Requirements

1. Linux packages - these 3 packages are required:

   • cupsys

   • cupsys-client

   • cupsys-bsd

Note: The Ubuntu 7.0.4 distribution used to create these instructions came with these 3 packages pre-loaded.

2. If your Linux username is the same as your BYU-Idaho NetID, then continue to Setup. If it is different, follow the instructions under Adding a User to Match Your NetID.

Setup

In these setup steps we will be demonstrating how to setup Pharos printing for Smith 268 LaserJet 4000, but the same steps will apply to any of the Pharos printers.

1. Open Firefox and type http://localhost:631 in the address bar.

   

    

2. Click Add Printer.

   

    

3. Give your printer a unique identification. Enter a short, memorable name in the Name field (no spaces). Enter Location and Description, then click Continue.

   

    

4. From the Device drop-down menu, select LPD/LPR Host or Printer

   

    

5. Enter the Device URI. Consult the Pharos Print Queue Table below to determine the Server and Print Queue for the printer.

   

    

   For example, if you are in Smith 268, your Device URI will be lpd://abinadi/Pharos4000. If you are in Ricks 131, your Device URI will be lpd://abinadi/Pharos2300.
   b. In the Device URI field, enter lpd://server/queue format. Click Continue.

6. Under Make, select HP and click Continue.

   

    

7. Under Model, choose HP LaserJet ... (In this Smith268 example, we select HP Laserjet 4000 - CUPS...) Click Add Printer.
   Note: It may ask you for a username and password to verify that you have sufficient privileges to add a printer. Use you Linux user username and password.

   

    

8. You will get a message saying, "Printer...has been modified successfully".
   a. Wait for a few seconds and you will be redirected to the new printers main page. If it does not bring you to this page, go to the newly installed printer by clicking the Printers tab.

   

Optional: Test your settings by clicking on Print Test Page. Login to a Pharos Station as normal, find the document called Test Page and print it.

Congratulations, you are finished!

If you are having problems, refer to the Troubleshooting and Known Issues sections below.

Adding a User to Match Your NetID

1. On your Linux computer, go to System > Administration > Users and Groups and select Add User. For the username, enter your netID.

2. Give the new user administration rights to add a printer by highlighting the username: click Properties, click the Advanced tab, click Main Group drop-down menu and select lpadmin.

3. Click OK then Close.

4. Continue with Setup.

Troubleshooting

If nothing appears in your queue when you login to the Pharos Station:

1. You may have missed a step. Go back and double check the Device URI address.
2. The Cups program may not have finished preparing your document for print. Check it by going to the Jobs tab. If there are jobs listed, then they have not fully processed. Wait for a minute or two for it to fully process. It should say Completed under the State column.

Known Issues

1. Issue: Documents with the extention of .ps (postscript) will make it to the Pharos Station, but will not print on the printer. It will charge your I-Card account but the printer will not print the document. This was discovered after trying to print a desktop publishing document from Scribus.
   Work Around: Export .ps document as a .pdf and print.
   
   
2. Issue: Users with a different Linux username than that of their BYU-Idaho NetID cannot print to the Pharos stations. The Pharos stations will not recognize usernames that are not on the BYU-Idaho network.
   Work Around: Create another user with the same username as your NetID. See Adding a User to Match Your NetID.

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Sources

This guide was made with the help from these two documents:

• Linux Printing from Princeton University. http://www.princeton.edu/~pug/faq/#print
• BYU-Idaho's Wireless Print Guide for Mac. http://www.byui.edu/wireless/mac.htm

Special Acknowledgement: Derek Hildreth, a student at BYU-Idaho, freely gave of his time to help put these instructions together

Pharos Print Queue Table (updated 2-13-2009)

This list will change from time to time.

Return to Setup (Device URI)

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