[SOLVED] Install new Epson Printer in Mageia

[maluethy]

I want to install a printer in Mageia 8. According to the documentation, Mageia has its own configuration interface "system-config-printer". https://doc.mageia.org/mcc/3/en/content ... inter.html

In the documentation under "No automatically detected printer" it is shown how to select a printer driver manually. How do I get to this dialog? I just can't find it.

When I want to add the printer, I see the dialog "Select Device". In this dialog I don't know what to enter in the fields (for example under "Generic CUPS-BRF"). I notice that "USB" does not exist.

When do I install a printer with CUPS and when with the "system-config-printer"?

Can I install a new printer in CUPS and leave the settings in the "system-config-printer"?

Currently I want to install an Epson EcoTank ET-4850 (black case) / ET-4856 (gray case). I wanted to connect the device briefly with USB. I would like to use the device afterwards over the network.

Thanks in advance for the support.

[Germ]

Mageia Control Center > Hardware > Configure Printer

Try that way. If its USB it should be automatically detected.

[maluethy]

The problem probably has to do with Epson printers. I have therefore changed the subject.

The installation via "Mageia Control Center > Hardware > Configure Printer" is described in the Mageia documentation and leads to the "Select Device" dialogue (as described in the first post). In this dialogue I do not know what to enter in the fields (dialogue see print screen Screenshot_Select_Device).

When I connect the printer to the computer via USB, the printer is not automatically detected or something like a wizard opens.

In the installation instructions from Epson there is, among other things, an installation method with CUPS > 8.2. Registration of Printer > https://download.ebz.epson.net/man/linu ... tml#sec8-2

I was able to set up the printer in this way. However, the printer does not print the test page. An error message appears on the printer (see print screen Screenshot_Missing_Driver). This error message probably has to do with the Linux Standard Base (LSB).

At the beginning, the Epson manual says: "Linux distribution supporting LSB 3.2 or later". Mageia 8 contains LSB 3.1. => https://madb.mageia.org/package/show/na ... rch/x86_64 => Will the Linux Standard Base (LSB) of Mageia 8 be updated in the near future? If not, can I update the LSB on my own computer (effort and difficulty?) or will this affect other parts of the operating system?

[putzina]

What is your Epson printer model? I have found going to the address localhost:631 in a web browser is the best way to set up printers.

[maluethy]

Thanks for the feedback.

I would like to install an Epson ET-4856 (printer has a grey case, otherwise the same as the ET-4850 (black case). Linux drivers are available from Epson for the ET-4850 / ET-4856.

localhost:631 is CUPS. - I was able to set up the Epson ET-4856 with CUPS, but an error message appears (see post above). - According to Epson, CUPS requires at least Linux Standard Base 3.2 (LSB). My Mageia 8 is currently running LSB 3.1.

Are you running an Epson printer that you set up with localhost:631 / CUPS? If so, what model do you have?

[Germ]

You coould go to Mageia bugzilla and file a package request for LSB 3.2

https://bugs.mageia.org/

[maluethy]

Thanks for the tip on bugzilla. I looked on bugzilla and found the following entry: Bug 19684 - Update LSB version to 5.0 (currently at 4.1). Does it make sense to make another entry for LSB 3.2? https://bugs.mageia.org/show_bug.cgi?id=19684

What I don't quite understand about Bug 19684 is "currently at 4.1". What does that refer to? To the current state of LSB or LSB of Mageia?

[sturmvogel]

There is a misunderstanding on your side.

Mageia 8 and cauldron are using LSB 4.1. This package is developed by the Linux Foundation. https://wiki.linuxfoundation.org/lsb/start
https://madb.mageia.org/package/show/application/0/name/lsb-core-lib

The lsb-release-3.1-2.mga8 you are refering to is an additional (kind of 3rd party) package which is not connected nor developed by the Linux foundation. It adds some additional features (as example to query your OS or LSB version). https://github.com/thkukuk/lsb-release_os-release. This package is NOT needed by the Epson driver and is NOT LSB itself!

OT:
By consulting the manpages

Code: Select all

man lsb-release

you could have found yourself what this package is for and how to use it. The option to show the LSB versions of which Mageia is compliant:

Code: Select all

man lsb-release
 ....snip...
OPTIONS
       -v, --version
              Display the version of the LSB specification against which the distribution is compliant.
...snip...


Actual result:

Code: Select all

$ lsb-release -v
LSB Version:    core-2.0-amd64:core-2.0-noarch:core-3.0-amd64:core-3.0-noarch:core-3.1-amd64:core-3.1-noarch:core-3.2-amd64:core-3.2-noarch:core-4.0-amd64:core-4.0-noarch:core-4.1-amd64:core-4.1-noarch:cxx-3.1-amd64:cxx-3.1-noarch:cxx-3.2-amd64:cxx-3.2-noarch:graphics-3.1-amd64:graphics-3.1-noarch:graphics-3.2-amd64:graphics-3.2-noarch:lsb-2.0-amd64:lsb-2.0-noarch:lsb-3.0-amd64:lsb-3.0-noarch:lsb-3.1-amd64:lsb-3.1-noarch:lsb-3.2-amd64:lsb-3.2-noarch:lsb-4.0-amd64:lsb-4.0-noarch:lsb-4.1-amd64:lsb-4.1-noarch


/OT

I'm also a little bit baffled as you were already able to install the official Epson printer drivers for the ET-4750 yourself. So you should know that Mageia complies/uses LSB >3.2. See your own thread https://forums.mageia.org/en/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=14451. We explained some stuff to you and you did already good on your own.

According your second picture of the actual thread, you don't have any driver for the new printer ET-4856 installed. Thats why it is complaining. Do you have the driver installed? http://download.ebz.epson.net/dsc/du/02/DriverDownloadInfo.do?LG2=DE&CN2=&DSCMI=137647&DSCCHK=3205dbdc142420832c215645aaa98973a33cd408
You can also install the all-in-one package if you are not that experienced:
http://download.ebz.epson.net/dsc/du/02/DriverDownloadInfo.do?LG2=DE&CN2=&DSCMI=137720&DSCCHK=6d27f8d18fdd3cba92d36c84a7f2da4652807de1

You need to use the following command to let the installer pull in the needed LSB packages:

Code: Select all

su -c "urpmi epson-inkjet-printer-escpr2-1.1.49-1lsb3.2.x86_64.rpm"

It seems that you either doubleclicked the rpm or used the "rpm -ivh" command which will for sure complain about missing lsb as it doesn't resolve dependencys on its own.

See example output from a test machine. You see that LSB 4.1 gets installed (which fullfills LSB > 3.2):

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$ LC_ALL=C su -c "urpmi epson-inkjet-printer-escpr2-1.1.49-1lsb3.2.x86_64.rpm"
Password:
To satisfy dependencies, the following packages are going to be installed:
  Package                        Version      Release       Arch   
(medium "Core Release (distrib1)")
  at                             3.2.1        2.mga8        x86_64 
  colord                         1.4.5        1.mga8        x86_64 
  cups                           2.3.3op2     1.mga8        x86_64 
  cups-common                    2.3.3op2     1.mga8        x86_64 
  cups-filesystem                2.3.3op2     1.mga8        noarch 
  cups-filters                   1.28.7       1.mga8        x86_64 
  ed                             1.16         1.mga8        x86_64 
  lib64cups-filters1             1.28.7       1.mga8        x86_64 
  lib64qt3                       3.3.8b       50.mga8       x86_64 
  lsb-core-lib64                 4.1          24.mga8       x86_64 
  lsb-core-noarch                4.1          24.mga8       x86_64 
  lsb-lib64                      4.1          24.mga8       x86_64 
  lsb-noarch                     4.1          24.mga8       x86_64 
  pax                            3.4          20.mga8       x86_64 
  perl-CGI                       4.510.0      1.mga8        noarch 
  perl-Class-ISA                 0.360.0      11.mga8       noarch 
  perl-Pod-Parser                1.630.0      6.mga8        noarch 
  perl-Pod-Plainer               1.40.0       7.mga8        noarch 
  printer-testpages              2006         14.mga8       noarch 
  qt3-common                     3.3.8b       50.mga8       x86_64 
(command line)
  epson-inkjet-printer-escpr2    1.1.49       1lsb3.2       x86_64 
35MB of additional disk space will be used.
12MB of packages will be retrieved.
Proceed with the installation of the 21 packages? (Y/n)


Don't use rpm -ivh in this case as it doesn't pull deps:

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$ LC_ALL=C su -c "rpm -ivh epson-inkjet-printer-escpr2-1.1.49-1lsb3.2.x86_64.rpm"
Password:
error: Failed dependencies:
        lsb >= 3.2 is needed by epson-inkjet-printer-escpr2-1.1.49-1lsb3.2.x86_64.rpm


Additional comment: If you not only install the driver but also the Epson utility or all-in-one package you get also the link and the request to use the epson printer setup tool.
As you didn't provide any informations which driver you used, which steps you have done, which tools you used exactly....it is like poking around in the dark...

[maluethy]

Sturmvogel thank you for the explanations about the LSB version, they are very helpful. - I wasn't aware that there were different types of LSB and I didn't know how to check.

How it came to this post in the forum
On a new machine I have installed a minimal installation of Mageia 8 with Plasma using DrakX. On this computer I want to use an Epson ET-4856 printer. I went through the forum post about the Epson ET-4750. The hint from sturmvogel "If you only want the ppd file it is relatively easy." I understood this to mean that I can install the appropriate printer driver directly without having to install the whole package from Epson. This approach seemed simpler to me. I also assumed that less software would be installed which is not necessary on the computer.

I downloaded and unpacked the package "epson-inkjet-printer-escpr2-1.1.49-1lsb3.2.x86_64", which is compatible with the Epson ET-4856, and got the driver for the ET-4850 (identical in construction to the ET-4856). I then read the documentation for Mageia 8 to find out how to install the printer. I did not get any further in the documentation at the point "No automatically detected printer" because I could not find the dialogue box "New Printer - Choose Driver" (see the article at the beginning). Therefore, I installed the printer driver via CUPS according to the instructions from Epson. I was able to set up the printer and driver, but an error message appeared (see Printscreen post 3).

Activities since the last post
I installed the Epson package "epson-inkjet-printer-escpr2-1.1.49-1lsb3.2.x86_64" for the ET-4850 with a mouse click. It installed various software, pointed out the missing signature ... (as mentioned in post 4 about the Epson ET-4750 by Sturmvogel). After installing the package, the printer worked. - For comparison, I set up an additional printer where I selected the driver directly from the package. With this printer, double-sided printing does not work. With the printer that was installed by the package from Epson, the double-sided printing works. Presumably the package installation from Epson does a few more things than install a driver.

The questions in the first post are still open for me:

• How do I get to the "New Printer - Choose Driver" dialogue box in Mageia's "system-config-printer"?
• When do I install a printer with CUPS and when with the "system-config-printer"?
• Can I install a new printer in CUPS and leave the settings in the "system-config-printer"?

Questions that have arisen:

• When do I install a driver from the manufacturer according to the manufacturer's instructions and when do I follow the Mageia documentation?
• When do I install a driver package (rpm), when a single driver (ppd)?
• Are there any current printer brands that can be installed and fully operated directly with Mageia without additional software from the manufacturer?

Thanks in advance for the support.

[sturmvogel]

a)

• How do I get to the "New Printer - Choose Driver" dialogue box in Mageia's "system-config-printer"?
  

Described here: https://doc.mageia.org/mcc/3/en/content/system-config-printer.html#non_automatic

When you select a port, the system loads a driver list and displays a window to select a driver.

b)

When do I install a printer with CUPS and when with the "system-config-printer"?

Explanation here: https://doc.mageia.org/mcc/3/en/content/system-config-printer.html. It's up to the user what he wants or likes.

Printing is managed on Mageia by a server named CUPS. It has its own configuration interface which is accessible via an Internet browser, but Mageia offers its own tool for installing printers called system-config-printer which is shared with other distributions such as Fedora, Mandriva, Ubuntu and openSUSE.

c)

Can I install a new printer in CUPS and leave the settings in the "system-config-printer"?

Yes.


d)

• When do I install a driver from the manufacturer according to the manufacturer's instructions and when do I follow the Mageia documentation?
  

This is also described here: https://doc.mageia.org/mcc/3/en/content/system-config-printer.html#specificities

It is possible that some drivers for specific printers are not available in Mageia or are not functional. In this case, have a look at the openprinting site to check if a driver for your device is available. If yes, check if the package is already present in Mageia and in this case install it manually. Then, redo the installation process to configure the printer. Here are some sources to find other up-to-date drivers or for more recent devices.

Brother printers

This page give a list of drivers provided by Brother. Search the driver for your device, download the rpm(s) and install.

You should install Brother drivers before running the configuration utility.

Hewlett-Packard printers and All in one devices

These devices use the hplip tool. It is installed automatically after the detection or the selection of the printer. You can find other information here. The tool "HP Device Manager" is available in the System menu. Also view configuration for the management of the printer.

A HP All in one device must be installed as a printer and the scanner features will be added. Note that sometimes, the Xsane interface doesn't allow to scan films or slides (the lighting slid can't operate). In this case, it is possible to scan, using the standalone mode, and save the picture on a memory card or USB stick inserted in the device. Afterwards, open your favourite imaging software and load your picture from the memory card which is appeared in the /media folder.

Samsung colour printer

For specific Samsung and Xerox colour printers, this site provides drivers for the QPDL protocol.

Epson printers and scanners

Drivers for Epson printers are available from this search page. For the scanner part, you must install the "iscan-data" package first, then "iscan" (in this order). It is possible that the iscan package will generate a warning about a conflict with sane. Users have reported that this warning can be ignored.

Canon printers

For Canon printers, it may be advisable to install a tool named turboprint available here .

e)

When do I install a driver package (rpm), when a single driver (ppd)?

For unexperienced Linux users it is in most cases easier to install a rpm as it creates all necessary files/links/directorys/permissions. PPD's needs sometimes (not in all cases) some more experience to properly use them.


f)

Are there any current printer brands that can be installed and fully operated directly with Mageia without additional software from the manufacturer?

Thanks in advance for the support.

Mageia offers HP drivers (these drivers automatically download additional firmware if needed). See d)

[maluethy]

Many thanks for the further explanations.

For point a), I cannot select the USB port because I do not see a USB port. I have the options according to print screen Screenshot_Select_Device from post 2. LPT are probably paralel interfaces. Should there be a port with USB in this dialogue box or am I entering something? Or is the USB port named differently and I don't recognise the USB port? - The printer is now running. I'll ask for another time.

[sturmvogel]

As you need drivers from Epson for an Epson printer, as outpointed in d), it is possible that the Mageia internal tools can't detect this printer. This is a logical conclusion.

Please don't forget to mark this topic solved. You can do so by editing your first post in this thread and ad [SOLVED] to the title. Thanks ahead.

[maluethy]

Thank you for the feedback and explanation.