Setting up a printer

This page describes how to set up a printer at our institute. It also describes solutions for common printing problems.

For Unix and Mac

Each of our printers has an assigned IP address. Check the /etc/printcap file on Engram to find out which printer corresponds to which address. Most of our printers support direct printing on port 9100 as well as ftp, SMB, and AppleTalk protocols. If all else fails, you can also print on some of our printers using a Web browser.

To set up a printer, create a new entry in /var/spool/lpd and add the information to your /etc/printcap file.

Example:

insulin:\
:lp=:/dev/null:\
:force_localhost@:\
:rm=63.127.146.215:\
:rp=INSULIN:\
:sh:\
:if=/usr/lib/lpf:\
:af=/usr/lib/lpf:\
:sd=/var/spool/lpd/insulin:\
:lf=/var/spool/lpd/insulin/errs:\
:mx#0:

See man printcap for details.

For Windows

The following printers are available on Engram as network shares for Windows users:

  1. [copier]
  2. [cp4005]
  3. [leo]
  4. [insulin]
  5. [druid]
  6. [hpcolor]
  7. [hpcolor2]
  8. [hpbw]
  9. [hpbw2]
  10. [canon]
  11. [canon-duplex]
  12. [hp2200dtn]

If you have a new network printer you'd like to make available, let me know and I will add it.

"Canon-duplex" is the same as "canon" except that the printer is automatically set to duplex (two-sided copy) mode. Hpcolor2 and hpbw2 are just different configurations of hpcolor and hbpw, in case you have trouble printing with one configuration.

There are three ways to install a printer in Windows: from the CD, over the network, or from Add Printer.

Using CD

  1. Put CD in CD tray in your computer.
  2. Click on Setup.
  3. Return CD to secretary.

If the CD is lost, I can make a new one for you.

Over the network (Windows or Mac using SMB)

For some printers, the entire contents of the CD are on Engram in a separate folder for each printer. Example: /temporary/drivers/cp4005.

This example shows how to set up the printer cp4005.

  1. Use Windows to browse to /temporary/drivers/cp4005
  2. If it asks for a password, use BRNI for password and username. (Note: This will give you guest access to the public areas on the server. This password only works if you are on our local network).
  3. Click on Setup.exe.

Using 'Add Printer' in Windows

This is the best way to set up a printer, because your printing goes through the server, which can fix problems and prevent print jobs from getting mixed up. This example shows how to add the printer called "cp4005", which is on the server "Engram" on the network. The exact details may differ slightly in different versions of Windows.

  1. Start - Settings - Printers
  2. Add Printer
  3. Next - Network Printer - Next
  4. Click Next to browse for printer
  5. Double click on the small '+' next to 'Engram' to expand it.
  6. If it doesn't expand, that means it needs a password.
    1. Go to your desktop and click on My Network Places.
    2. Click on Engram.
    3. Enter your Engram username and password,
    4. Or, enter BRNI for the username and password to login as guest.
  7. On Engram, click on cp4005. It will turn blue.
  8. Next
  9. Click OK on the message box.
  10. Click "Have Disk" where it says to select the manufacturer. It is not necessary to select "HP" from the menu.
  11. Click Browse
  12. Browse to engram:/temporary/drivers/cp4005/Drivers/i386/PS
  13. Click on hpc4005d.inf. This is the correct printer driver for most people for this printer.
  14. OK
  15. OK
  16. It will copy a large number of files.
  17. Default printer, select yes or no.
  18. Finish

To Test the printer:

  1. Right-click on the cp4005 icon and select Properties.
  2. Click Print Test Page.
  3. Click OK.

Troubleshooting

Checking Printer Status To find the current printer status, including the amount of toner and paper remaining, click on "HP cp4005 Printer" on our local website, www.brni-jhu.org.

Can't find printer on network If you have trouble finding the server on the network, check to make sure your computer is set to the correct workgroup. Example: in Windows 2000, right-click on "My Computer" and select Properties. Click on the Network Identification tab. If your workgroup is not "BRNI", click the Properties button to change it, then reboot.

Printing from outside the institute It is not possible to print to any of our printers from outside the Institute. Access to our printers is blocked by our firewall.

Printing PDFs Adobe Acrobat 8 sometimes has trouble printing PDF files on our Canon ImageRunner. If you have difficulty printing PDF files, please use the "Direct Print" option on the web interface for the Canon at our local website. The web interface can print any PDF file.

Printing on 11×17 paper The Web interface for the Canon printer can make multiple copies, 11x17 prints, and two-sided prints of any PostScript or PDF document. To convert your document to PostScript, make sure your computer is using a PostScript driver (not a PCL driver), then select "Print to file". Don't forget to put the appropriate paper in the copier first.

Printing PostScript files The Web interface is especially useful for Windows users, who cannot print PostScript files. Using a browser, it is possible to select any Postscript or PDF file on your disk and send it to the printer (canon).

Can't print in Windows If you click "print" and nothing happens: In some versions of Windows, it is necessary to give the guest password to the server before you are allowed to print. This is true even if the guest password is blank. Unfortunately, Windows does not always put up a dialog box to allow you to give the password. The solution is to click on "Network Neighborhood" or "My Network Places", and navigate to the server (engram). Windows will then ask for a password. Once you type the password, you will then be able to print.

Using the old printer Your configuration for the old HP color printer should still work. It is located by the microwave.

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