Hi guys.
I have this laser printer that I like, but
like with any USB printer, using it with multiple
computers isn't fun.
To fix that, I will turn it into a WiFi enabled
printer, using Raspberry Pi 3.
I have already installed Raspbian into this
micro-SD card, enabled SSH and configured
the WiFi.
Apart from those, it's a fresh Raspbian installation.
Next I will connect the printer to one of
the Raspberry Pi's USB ports.
Because I am going to configure everything
using SSH, I don't need to connect anything
else to the Pi.
It's time to power up both devices, Raspberry
Pi and the printer.
That's the hardware side.
Now I'll just connect to the Pi using SSH.
First I'll update the package list with sudo
apt-get update and once that is finished,
install the package "cups".
Depending on your network speed, position
of the planets and other things, this may
take a moment or two.
But no more than three.
At this point I have browser open, pointed
to the raspberry pi's port 631.
In address bar, I have Pi's IP address followed
by colon and the port number, 631.
On the right side of the sceen I have the
Raspberry Pi's terminal.
User has to be added to group called "lpadmin",
otherwise that user cant configure printers,
which we will do later.
That can be done using "sudo usermod -a -G
lpadmin pi".
Usermod edits users, option "a" appends user
to group specified using "G" option.
Next I'll configure Cups so I can access configuration
page from another computer in the local network.
That can be done by editing config files,
but I like to use command "cupsctl", with
options --remote-admin, which allows other
computers to access the admin page, --remote-any
which allows connections from any subnet and
lastly --share-printers, which enables printer
sharing.
I could restart cups service and log out and
back in to make those changes active, but
I'll just reboot instead.
After the Pi has rebooted, I'll refresh the
page on my browser, the address being Pi's
IP address, colon, 631.
And I'll see the CUPS' welcome page.
Next task is adding the printer.
First I will go to Administration -tab.
There is "Add printer" button...
After hitting that, it seems cups wants https
instead of http...
Lets do that.
Aaaand Chrome warns about connection not being
private.
That is OK, I'm in my local network with only
machines that I trust.
In Chrome I can ignore this by hitting "Advanced",
and "Proceed to.." the destination.
Now, lets try again.
Add printer.
The printer is listed under the local printers,
so I'll select it and hit continue.
I'll give it a simple name that is easy to
type and easy to remember, because we will
need that name later.
ML2165 is the model of my printer and I will
use that...
I want to share this printer, so I'll check
that checkbox and hit continue.
Cups knows it's a printer mady by Samsung,
but unfortunately I can't find this model
in the list of supported Samsung printers.
Luckily I found a package that has printer
drivers for many many Samsung printers, including
the one that I have.
I'll just reconnect the SSH and install that
package.
Sudo apt-get install printer-driver-splix.
Splix is short for samsung printer language
something something.
Once that package has been installed, I'll
redo the "Add printer" process by going to
Administration -tab, hitting Add printer,
selecting the printer under the local printers,
giving it a simple name and enabling printer
sharing.
Then comes the list of supported printers.
And there it is!
My printer is supported, so I select that
on the list and hit Add printer.
Last page is basic default settings for the
printer...
For most people, there is no need to modify
these and one can hit "Set default options"
-button.
Now the server side has been configured and
I will try to print something from Windows
client.
I have a notepad open and I'll write a sample
text, which we will hopefully soon see on
the paper.
I'll start by hitting File -> Print.
Obviously printer isn't on the list automatically.
I click the area where printers are with right
mouse button and select Add Printer.
There is link "The printer that I want isn't
listed", I hit that and choose "Select a shared
printer by name".
I'll manually add the address, which is similar
to the example under the text box.
"Computername" replaced with raspberrypi:631
and "printername" replaced with the name I
gave to my printer.
There is no need to add that last dot printer
- part.
In no time Windows asks for drivers.
My printer is made by Samsung and it is ML-2160
series, which can be found in the list.
So I select it and hit OK.
This wizard shows the name and location of
the printer.
I hit next and we should be good to go.
The printer is on the list.
I make sure it is selected and hit Print.
Few seconds later printer starts printing.
So far, so good.
What does it print?
What could it be?
Garbage or something else?
Well, it is the sample text I wrote.
It wasn't plug-and-play, not even close, but
in the end it works.
And luckily I only need to do this once and
in the future the printer works just like
local USB printer.
I hope this video was useful to you, don't
forget to hit the like button and subscribe
if you haven't already....
Thanks...Bye!
