Difference between revisions of "Adding Printer to RHEL"

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Adding a printer to a RHEL-installed machine can be done by remote or if you are locally at the machine.  Doing so requires sudo access to the machine, and if possible, always add the printer via the print server.
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__NOTOC__
  
==Connecting to the machine==
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All network printers in the ECE Department must be accessed through our central print server, ECE-PRINT-03. 
  
* ''Connecting remotely through Putty''
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The following guide explains how to add printers to a RHEL installed machine using the LPD protocol.  Please note, you must have sudo access on the machine in order to perform these steps.
  
:*Load up Putty and enter the [[FQDN]] of the machine in the "Host Name" blank and hit "Open".  You don't need to change any other settings (unless you are using a version of Putty before v.055, in which case you need to click the SSH button under "Protocol").  If you get a prompt about adding (or changing) the RSA host key, say Yes.
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If you have any problems adding a printer, printing, or have questions not answered by this page, please contact [mailto:ecehelp@ncsu.edu ecehelp@ncsu.edu].
  
* ''Connecting remotely from another Unix machine''
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----
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<br>
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====Step 1 - Starting the Printer Config====
  
:* At a prompt, use the "ssh" command and the FQDN to connect to the machine.  For example:
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Login to the RHEL machine and open a Terminal windowThen run the following command:
  
  ssh grendel.ece.ncsu.edu
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sudo system-config-printer
  
:* If you get a message about the RSA key having changed, see [[Editing your RSA Host Key File]].
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Enter your NCSU password at the prompt and the Printer Configuration will open as shown in ''Figure 1''.  From there, click on the New button to start the wizard.
  
* ''Locally at the machine''
 
  
:* Hit CTRL+ALT+F1 to enter a text interface ([[TUI]]).  Log in as normal. CTRL+ALT+F7 will return to the graphical interface ([[GUI]]) once you are done.
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<table>
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<TR><TD>[[Image:RHEL6-printeradd0.png|thumb|450px|'''Figure 1 - RHEL Printer Configuration''']]  
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</TD></TR>
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</table>
  
==Changing to Root==
 
  
Once you are logged into the machine, you must enter a root shell to be able to make the necessary changes.  To do so, enter "sudo su -" at the prompt.  You will be prompted to enter your unity password.  If successful, you will then be acting as root.
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If you see the prompt in the picture below regarding adjusting the firewall, '''click "Do It Later".'''  (Letting it adjust the firewall has caused network problems for other machines.) You will likely receive this prompt each time you add a printer, so please be sure to click "Do It Later" each time.
  
  
'''MAKE ABSOLUTELY NO CHANGES BEYOND THE ONES THAT ARE DESCRIBED BELOW'''
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<table>
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<TR><TD>[[Image:System-config-printer-firewall.png|thumb|450px|'''Figure 2 - Prompt about Firewall ''']]
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</TD></TR>
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</table>
  
==Adding the Printer==
 
  
* ''Starting the tool''
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====Step 2 - Configuring the LPD connection====
  
:*As root, run the following command:
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The next page allows you to choose and configure the connection to the printer.  Choose the "Network Printer > LPD/LPR Host or Printer" option.  This will bring up additional options on the right.
  
  system-config-printer-tui
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* In the "Host" blank, enter the department print server as "ece-print-03.ece.ncsu.edu"
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* In the "Queue" blank, enter the name of the printer you wish to add.  This name should be labeled on the printer.
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** If you cannot determine the name of the printer, email [mailto:ecehelp@ncsu.edu ecehelp@ncsu.edu] for assistance.
  
:* This will start the [[TUI]] version of the printer config tool.  See ''Figure 1'' below to see what the tool will look like.
 
  
:* Within the printer config tool you must use TAB to move between fields and ENTER to make choices.
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<table>
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<TR><TD>[[Image:RHEL_6-printeradd_1.png|thumb|450px|'''Figure 3 - Configuring LPD options''']]
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</TD></TR>
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</table>
  
* ''Choosing the queue type''
 
  
:* TAB to "NEW" and hit ENTER.  This will open up a window for choosing the type of queue you wish to create.
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See ''Figure 3'' above.  As you can see we have filled in the necessary information to add the printer, HIPPOGRIFFOnce you have entered in the necessary information, click Forward to proceed.
:** See ''Figure 2''.  As an example, we are adding the printer ARCTICWOLF to a computerThe first blank in this window is the name of the queue you are adding.  Use the name of the printer for for the queue name.
 
:** Hit TAB once and use the down-arrow key to highlight "UNIX Print Queue  LPD".
 
:** Hit TAB one more time to highlight "NEXT" and hit ENTER.
 
  
* ''Setting up the queue''
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====Step 3 - Choosing a driver====
  
:* A new window will open for designating the print server and queueSee ''Figure 3''.
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The next two screens are for choosing a driver for your printerThe first page requires that you choose a manufacturer, i.e., Dell, HP, Xerox, etcPlease note that while RHEL does contain built-in drivers for printers, there may not be an appropriate driver for the printer model you are trying to addHowever, the generic PCL drivers work for almost all models.
:** In the first blank, enter "eceprint.ece.ncsu.edu".
 
:** In the second blank, enter the name of the queue for the printerFor nearly all printers, this should just be the name of the printer.  In rare cases the queue name is different than the printer name.  Check the print server or ask Dan, Patrick, or Brian if you are unsure.
 
:** TAB to "NEXT" and hit ENTER.
 
  
* ''Designating the printer driver''
 
  
:* The next window is for choosing the printer driver that the new queue will use
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<table>
:** Use the Up and Down arrow keys to scroll through the list and SpaceBar to expand selections
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<TR><TD>[[Image:RHEL_6_printeradd_2.png|thumb|450px|'''Figure 4 - Choosing Driver''']]
:** Once you have found the driver you wish to use, highlight it, then TAB to "NEXT" and hit ENTER.
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</TD></TR>
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</table>
  
* ''Finish and save''
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To use the generic driver, choose "Generic" under "Makes" and click '''Forward'''.  This will bring you to the page shown in ''Figure 5'' below.
  
:* You'll now see a summary screen, as shown in ''Figure 4''.  TAB to "Finish" and hit ENTER.
 
:** You'll return to the screen shown in ''Figure 1''.  Add additional printers as necessary.
 
:** To set a printer as default, highlight the printer, then TAB to "Default" and hit ENTER.
 
  
:* When you are finished, TAB to "Exit" and hit ENTER.
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<table>
:** You'll get a msg saying that changes must be saved.  Say YES and wait for the config tool to exit back to the command prompt.
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<TR><TD>[[Image:RHEL_6_printeradd_3.png|thumb|450px|'''Figure 5 - Choosing Driver''']]
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</TD></TR>
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</table>
  
:* Exit from the root shell.
 
:* You should now be able to print to the default printer with the command lpr "filename".  If there are multiple printers added to the machine, you can choose to print to a particular printer with the command lpr -Pprintername "filename".
 
  
'''Gallery - Click on a picture to see in full-size'''
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From here, choose "PCL 6/PCL XL Printer" under "Models", and let it use the recommended driver under "Drivers".  Then click '''Forward'''.
<gallery>
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Image:print-linux1.jpg|Printer Config Tool
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(To check if RHEL has specific drivers for the printer model, follow the same method as choosing a generic driver, but instead choose the appropriate manufacturer under "Makes".  Then see if the printer model is listed as an option.  If it is not, go back and select Generic and use the generic driver.)
Image:print-linux2.jpg|Choosing queue type
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Image:print-linux3.jpg|Inputting server and queue
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Image:print-linux4.jpg|Summary screen
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====Step 4 - Finishing the config and other options====
</gallery>
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Once you've chosen a driver, the last page gives a very brief summary and allows you to set the printers Name which should be on the printer, Description and Location. The "Description" and "Location" fields are optional. Click '''Apply''' to finish the wizard and add the printer. 
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<table>  
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<TR><TD>[[Image:RHEL_6_printeradd_4.png|thumb|450px|'''Figure 6 - Setting other options''']]
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</TD></TR>
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</table>
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You should now be back at the Printer Configuration as shown in ''Figure 7''.
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<table>
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<TR><TD>[[Image:RHEL6_printeradd_7.png|thumb|450px|'''Figure 7 - Setting other options''']]
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</TD></TR>
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</table>
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You can see that HIPPOGRIFF now appears in our list of local printers. You can print a test page, edit the optional fields, or change the driver that is being used for the printer by right clicking on it in this window.  If the printer you have added is a color printer, the "Printer Options" field has some additional options you may wish to check.
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You can now close the Printer Configuration and use the printer you've added in applications and from the Terminal.

Latest revision as of 15:39, 15 June 2018


All network printers in the ECE Department must be accessed through our central print server, ECE-PRINT-03.

The following guide explains how to add printers to a RHEL installed machine using the LPD protocol. Please note, you must have sudo access on the machine in order to perform these steps.

If you have any problems adding a printer, printing, or have questions not answered by this page, please contact ecehelp@ncsu.edu.



Step 1 - Starting the Printer Config

Login to the RHEL machine and open a Terminal window. Then run the following command:

sudo system-config-printer

Enter your NCSU password at the prompt and the Printer Configuration will open as shown in Figure 1. From there, click on the New button to start the wizard.


Figure 1 - RHEL Printer Configuration


If you see the prompt in the picture below regarding adjusting the firewall, click "Do It Later". (Letting it adjust the firewall has caused network problems for other machines.) You will likely receive this prompt each time you add a printer, so please be sure to click "Do It Later" each time.


Figure 2 - Prompt about Firewall


Step 2 - Configuring the LPD connection

The next page allows you to choose and configure the connection to the printer. Choose the "Network Printer > LPD/LPR Host or Printer" option. This will bring up additional options on the right.

  • In the "Host" blank, enter the department print server as "ece-print-03.ece.ncsu.edu"
  • In the "Queue" blank, enter the name of the printer you wish to add. This name should be labeled on the printer.
    • If you cannot determine the name of the printer, email ecehelp@ncsu.edu for assistance.


Figure 3 - Configuring LPD options


See Figure 3 above. As you can see we have filled in the necessary information to add the printer, HIPPOGRIFF. Once you have entered in the necessary information, click Forward to proceed.

Step 3 - Choosing a driver

The next two screens are for choosing a driver for your printer. The first page requires that you choose a manufacturer, i.e., Dell, HP, Xerox, etc. Please note that while RHEL does contain built-in drivers for printers, there may not be an appropriate driver for the printer model you are trying to add. However, the generic PCL drivers work for almost all models.


Figure 4 - Choosing Driver

To use the generic driver, choose "Generic" under "Makes" and click Forward. This will bring you to the page shown in Figure 5 below.


Figure 5 - Choosing Driver


From here, choose "PCL 6/PCL XL Printer" under "Models", and let it use the recommended driver under "Drivers". Then click Forward.

(To check if RHEL has specific drivers for the printer model, follow the same method as choosing a generic driver, but instead choose the appropriate manufacturer under "Makes". Then see if the printer model is listed as an option. If it is not, go back and select Generic and use the generic driver.)


Step 4 - Finishing the config and other options

Once you've chosen a driver, the last page gives a very brief summary and allows you to set the printers Name which should be on the printer, Description and Location. The "Description" and "Location" fields are optional. Click Apply to finish the wizard and add the printer.


Figure 6 - Setting other options

You should now be back at the Printer Configuration as shown in Figure 7.


Figure 7 - Setting other options


You can see that HIPPOGRIFF now appears in our list of local printers. You can print a test page, edit the optional fields, or change the driver that is being used for the printer by right clicking on it in this window. If the printer you have added is a color printer, the "Printer Options" field has some additional options you may wish to check.

You can now close the Printer Configuration and use the printer you've added in applications and from the Terminal.