Re: 6 hours of trying to configure my printer - solved

From: bsdnooby (bsdnooby_at_optonline.net)
Date: 03/04/05

  • Next message: Ted Mittelstaedt: "RE: 6 hours of trying to configure my printer - solved" 
    Date: Fri, 04 Mar 2005 00:01:22 -0500
To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org

    I got my printing working by installing "apsfilter" and by following
    some of the instructions in the (printed) "The FreeBSD Handbook 2ed". I
    am using FreeBSD 5.3, an HP940c Deskjet, parallel port connection, and
    the "lpr" method of printing (rather than the "CUPS" method).

    Initially I followed the instructions in the book, and was able to get
    some garbled output to come out of my printer. Then I installed
    apsfilter, which enabled some perfect printouts from Firefox. The
    apsfilter install created a new print queue that I had to tweak to make
    them compatible with the methodology I learned from the book. I never
    got the "text" and "postscript" filters documented in the book to work,
    but apsfilter works fine - so I'm using that. The sequence I followed
    is probably not ideal, but this is roughly what I did:

    1. Make sure FreeBSD can see my printer:

    dmesg | grep lp

      lpt0: <Printer> on ppbus0
      lpt0: Interrupt-driven port
      lpt0: switched to polled standard mode

    2. Enable printer in with:

      lptcontrol -p -d /dev/lpt0

    3. Make sure printer is able to print:

      lptest > /dev/lpt0

    4. Add enable command to /etc/rc.local

      (
        I had to create /etc/rc.local, so I guessed I need to make it
    executable with:

        chmod 550 /etc/rc.local
      )

    5. Create printer spool directory

      mkdir /var/spool/lpd

    6. Build apsfilter:

      cd /usr/ports/print/apsfilter
      make install clean
      rehash
     
    7. Configure apsfilter:

      cd /usr/local/apsfilter
      ./SETUP

    8. Make spool directory accessible by daemon group:

      chown daemon:daemon /var/spool/lpd/hp940
      chmod 770 /var/spool/lpd/hp940

    9. Add "ps" and "lp" aliases to the apsfilter-created entry in
    /etc/printcap:

      # APS1_BEGIN:printer1
      # - don't delete start label for apsfilter printer1
      # - no other printer defines between BEGIN and END LABEL
      ps|lp|hp940|ijs/DESKJET_940;r=300x300;q=medium;c=full;p=letter;m=auto:\
          :lp=/dev/lpt0:\
          :if=/usr/local/etc/apsfilter/basedir/bin/apsfilter:\
          :sd=/var/spool/lpd/hp940:\
          :lf=/var/spool/lpd/hp940/log:\
          :af=/var/spool/lpd/hp940/acct:\
          :mx#0:\
          :sh:
      # APS1_END - don't delete this

    10. Enable lpd daemon in /etc/rc.conf by adding:

      lpd_enable="YES"

    11. Reboot

    12. Manage print jobs

      list print job = "lpq -P hp940"
      remove print job = "lprm #" (#=jobnumber)
      cancel all jobs = "lprm -"

    I have tested Firefox and Abiword, the two programs I will be printing
    from - and they both seem to work when I print to the "default
    postscript" printer. Any suggestions or fixes to these instructions are
    encouraged. I am really new to Unix and FreeBSD, so please forgive any
    bad advice contained above.

    Some useful links:

    http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/printing-intro-setup.html
    http://www.defcon1.org/html/Networking_Articles/natdhowto-whisky/aps-filter/aps-filter.html
    http://www.defcon1.org/html/Networking_Articles/apsfilter/apsfilter.html
    http://www.freebsddiary.org/apsfilter.php

    thx!
    _______________________________________________
    freebsd-newbies@freebsd.org mailing list
    http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-newbies
    To unsubscribe, send any mail to "freebsd-newbies-unsubscribe@freebsd.org"
    _______________________________________________
    freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list
    http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions
    To unsubscribe, send any mail to "freebsd-questions-unsubscribe@freebsd.org"

  • Next message: Ted Mittelstaedt: "RE: 6 hours of trying to configure my printer - solved"

    Relevant Pages

    • Oracle Install using NFS
      ... I am trying to get Oracle running on FreeBSD. ... using a direct install from the instructions at http:/ ... I followed the instructions pretty carefully, so I have no idea as to ...
      (comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc)
    • Help with Mylex Acceleraid250(DAC960) install
      ... the instructions for RH9, but I was hoping to be able to use FreeBSD. ... reason that I cannot install FreeBSD? ... is going to be a mail server for the company, we want to be able use RAID ...
      (freebsd-questions)
    • Re: 6 hours of trying to configure my printer - solved
      ... I got my printing working by installing "apsfilter" and by following ... some of the instructions in the "The FreeBSD Handbook 2ed". ... Initially I followed the instructions in the book, ... apsfilter install created a new print queue that I had to tweak to make ...
      (freebsd-newbies)
    • Re: 6 hours of trying to configure my printer - solved
      ... I got my printing working by installing "apsfilter" and by following ... some of the instructions in the "The FreeBSD Handbook 2ed". ... Initially I followed the instructions in the book, ... apsfilter install created a new print queue that I had to tweak to make ...
      (freebsd-questions)
    • Re: apsfilter question/problem SOLVED PARTIALLY
      ... Installed apsfilter and samba on my old hp netserver so I'd ... that mentioned that driver, 10) PPA printer, so I chose that. ... additional filter 'pnm2ppa' not found. ... Do I need to install another more complete version? ...
      (freebsd-questions)