Printer Installation & Printing on redhat

[Larrys Account]

Thanks very much for this comprehensive reply Rick.

I guess I'll start by upgrading to a newer version of redhat. Do you know 
if it's possible to upgrade  to Fedora Core directly, or do I have to take 
a complete backup and do a complete re-install ?

Cheers
Larry

At 22:46 21/09/2004, you wrote:
>Larrys Account wrote:
>>Does anyone know anything about this ? Have I got the wrong mailing list 
>>? Could someone tell me where I might be able to get hold of this information ?
>
>We'll try.
>
>>Hi
>
>Hi, yourself!  :-)
>
>>I've just got an Epson stylus C66 printer and I'm trying to set it up as 
>>a local printer.
>>I'm using red-hat 8, kernel version 2.4.18-14.
>
>First, RH8.0 is TOTALLY discontinued (not even Fedora Legacy will
>provide updates any longer).  Fedora Core 1 has been moved to legacy now, 
>since FC3 test 2 has been released.  So, Fedora Legacy is providing
>updates for RH7.3, RH9 and FC1.  The Fedora Project is supporting FC2.
>As a result, I have to recommend you upgrade to Red Hat 9 or one of the
>Fedora Core releases ASAP.  Believe me, FC2 is worth it.  And the
>fedora-list is a _very_ active support group.
>
>>I would like to use CUPS as my printing system and the printer uses a USB 
>>port.
>>I have the usb-uhci usb driver installed.
>>/sbin/lsmod | grep usb gives:
>>usb-uhci               26188   0 (unused)
>>usbcore                77024   1 [printer hid usb-uhci]
>>I've tried to add the printer using the Printer configuration too (System 
>>Settings->Printing) using the following entries:
>>Queue name: epsonC66
>>printer device: /dev/usb/lp0
>>driver:            Epson->Stylus C60->gimp-print(*)
>>But when I do a Test print I get a dialog with the message:
>>There was an error trying to print the test page.
>>Could someone help me with how to go about troubleshooting this.
>>I don't really know anything about the printing process, so I'm not sure 
>>exactly what components are involved and therefore what components I need.
>>  From what I've read I need to have some sort of spooling software 
>> daemon (I'm wanting to use cups - I'm currently using one that came with 
>> redhat), a filter that can translate the print job data into printer 
>> commands (apparently a filter, foomatic, is used with CUPS) and a driver 
>> that is compatible with the printer (gimp-print, I think should work).
>>I have a few questions (listed below) that have come up while I've been 
>>trying to get printing to work. Does anyone has any answers, or can tell 
>>me where I can start looking to get the information ... ?
>>1) It seems the epson stylus C66 is not explicitly listed in 
>>linuxprinting.org. This was an oversight on my part, having looked and 
>>thought that all the C6* series were listed. My searches over the 
>>internet, however, have suggested that the C66 works using gimp-print. Am 
>>I correct in that assumption or is it not possible to use C66 with linux ?
>
>I think it works, but I can't be certain since it's not explicitly
>stated.
>
>>2) Could anyone tell me how CUPS, foomatic and the gimp-print driver fit 
>>together. Am I likely to need to install new versions of them ? And if so:
>>     Where are they located on redhat ?
>>     How to I find out what versions I have ?
>>     Where can I get compatible versions from with instructions on how to 
>> install them ?
>
>CUPS is the overall system.  It's made up of a number of programs,
>lpq-cups, lpd-cups, lpstat-cups, etc.  CUPS uses foomatic to actually
>talk to the printers, and foomatic uses PPD files to define how the
>printers work.
>
>>3) The CUPS documentation talks about PPD files that describe the 
>>capabilities of the printer. Where are these stored under redhat and 
>>where might I be able to get hold of one for the  C66 ?
>
>The PPD files for your installed printers will be located in
>/etc/cups/ppd.  I can tell you now that the C66 is not directly
>supported under either FC1 or FC2, so you may have to use the next best
>thing.  There is support for the C60, C61, C62, C63 and C64, so you may
>have to try one of those drivers instead and see how it works.  My guess
>is that the C64 driver will work, but don't quote me on that.
>
>>4) Are there any log files I can look at that might give me some more 
>>error information ?
>
>First, do an "lsusb" and make sure your printer is seen on the USB bus.
>You can also look at /var/log/messages to see if there are any error
>messages.  The "dmesg" command may also be of some help.
>
>Again, I HIGHLY recommend you update your system to AT LEAST Red Hat 9,
>Fedora Core 2 would be even better.
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>- Rick Stevens, Senior Systems Engineer     rstevens at vitalstream.com -
>- VitalStream, Inc.                       http://www.vitalstream.com -
>-                                                                    -
>- Life:  That which happens while you search for the remote control. -
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Redhat-install-list mailing list
>Redhat-install-list at redhat.com
>https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/redhat-install-list
>To Unsubscribe Go To ABOVE URL or send a message to:
>redhat-install-list-request at redhat.com
>Subject: unsubscribe