I'm trying to change the CUPS Server Configuration File, but my changes refuse to be saved.
What am I doing wrong?
I've logged into 127.0.0.1:631
MacBook and Powerbook, Mac OS X (10.5.2), Powerbook G4 Titanium
You need to authenticate yourself as 'root'. But by default the Mac OS X root account is disabled.
So is there another strategy I can use to get my print sharing to work? Ever since I upgraded my print serving Mac to OS 10.5, it has not allowed my other computers to print via WiFi. The error I get is Unable to get printer status (Forbidden)!
Changing the CUPS server configuration file was a strategy I read about in the discussion forum which seemed to work for some people having the same problem.
So enable root. Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal
passwd root
...give root a strong password...
Now access localhost:631 and when asked for a username and password give it root and whatever password you gave to root.
And I really have to do this in order to share the printer?
Print sharing is supposed to be one of the basic underlying features of OSX. And it was easy to do in earlier versions of the system. I am not in the least Terminal savvy.
>And I really have to do this in order to share the printer?
>
>Print sharing is supposed to be one of the basic underlying features of OSX. And it was easy to do in earlier >versions of the system. I am not in the least Terminal savvy.
That is not what you originally asked:
>I'm trying to change the CUPS Server Configuration File, but my changes refuse to be saved.
>What am I doing wrong?
>I've logged into 127.0.0.1:631
Maybe you should start over again, and ask your real question in a new thread
I actually did just that. And so far have gotten zero replies. So I went this route after reading some discussions on this topic dated 2008. So what do I do now?
OK. I tried that. Terminal asked for an old password.
I don't have one, so I just hit return.
Then it asked me to type in a new password twice.
So I did.
But then I got a message that it would not authenticate me.
OK. I tried that. Terminal asked for an old password.
I don't have one, so I just hit return.
Then it asked me to type in a new password twice.
So I did.
My bad. I forgot to include 'sudo'
sudo passwd root
You should first be asked for your password to authenticate that you are allowed to use the 'sudo' command, then you will be asked to enter a new root password. The dialog should look a little like this:
sudo passwd root
Password:
Changing password for root.
New password:
Retype new password:
I did the sudo thing and created a new password for the root. At least I think I did. The Terminal isn't overly communicative.
I did log in successfully when I went to the CUPS page. For name I entered "root" and then I entered the new password, and it allowed me in. Although I've gotten past the password screen in the past without a password. Or I may have just used my main account name and password, I don't remember.
But after logging in as "root" I went to make the changes (below), and they still would not stay.
<Location />
Deny From All
Allow From 127.0.0.1
Allow From @LOCAL
# Allow shared printing and remote administration...
Order allow,deny
Allow @LOCAL
</Location>
I tried to change Deny From All to Allow From All. I could type it in, but it doesn't stay.
Hence, I still can't use my printer. And I must say this is all way over my head.
Update. I noticed that somehow during all the things I was doing, I fell off line. So I decided to start over.
When I was asked for me root password, I typed in the password I thought I had given it.
It failed.
Then instead of typing a password I typed in verbatim what you told me to type:
"Changing Password for root."
That did the trick the first time, but not this time.
So I tried Changing Password for root again, and got this message.
Last login: Thu Apr 21 21:47:06 on ttys000
Robert-iMacG5:~ robertlaughlin$ sudo passwd root
Password:
Sorry, try again.
Password:
Sorry, try again.
Password:
Sorry, try again.
sudo: 3 incorrect password attempts
Robert-iMacG5:~ robertlaughlin$
I think it wants a password (original) for the root. But how do I know what that is? I assume it was built into the machine when I bought it.
You shouldn't need to go to all that trouble. Have you enabled printer sharing in the TWO places you need to? (Sharing prefs and Print & Fax prefs)
You're right. It doesn't make sense that I have to go to all this trouble. It used to work before I upgraded from OS 10.4 to 10.5. But in looking through archived discussions, I saw that a lot of people had the same problem, but that the problem went away when they changed the CUPS file.
However, not for me. And yes, Printer Sharing has always been enabled in BOTH places. I double checked that several times. But just to be clear, Printer Sharing only has to be enabled on the computer that's directly connected to the printer, right? I don't need to enable it on the computers that are trying to access the the printer wirelessly?
Yes, sharing On - on the computer that is the server (has the printer attached). Not on the client computers. Do you have the same driver verson installed on server and clients? (highlight printer, get info)
Check firewall settings on server - as a test, turn off.
I've experimented with different drivers, but they now have the same driver on both server and client (at least it's the same name). Then I restarted both machines. And it still doesn't work. I still get the same error message.
Unable to get printer status. (Forbidden)
I could not find any reference to firewall anywhere in the system preferences, so I could not make the test you suggested. I thought firewalls were only for PC's running Windows.
I did reset the password for the root, and tested it with the Terminal. But even logging in with those credentials could not let me save changes to the printer configuration of the CUPS file.
And I'm in way over my head already. I just want my printer sharing to work like it did before.
So can I get some closure on this? Have we exhausted our possible remedies?
I still am unable to print from the clients.
CUPS edit configuration file
