Printing from Mac OSX 10.4.4 to linux cups server

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Printing from Mac OSX 10.4.4 to linux cups server

I have a Mac mini with OSX 10.4.4 installed with all the updates as of today. I was previously able to print to my Epson Stylus C84 printer from the Mac.

The printer is physically connected via USB to a linux box that is using CUPS to broadcast and make the printer available to other machines on the network. The Mac participates on my network via AirPort.

I can see the printer and add it via the Printer panel in the Mac. However, it only prints blank pages from the Epson printer. At first I thought this might be a printer driver issue as I'd read that in 10.2.x the version of CUPS on OSX had issues and a work-around was required due to PICT output from Cocoa apps (like Acrobat Reader). But now I'm reading the most recent version of AirPort software might be to blame.

Can anyone confirm?

Thanks.

mac mini, Mac OS X (10.4.4)

Posted on Jan 17, 2006 4:31 PM

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Answer 1

greg sahli

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Jan 17, 2006 5:10 PM in response to tr3y

Can you confirm you are using the Gimp-Print driver on OS X?

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Answer 2

tr3y Author

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Jan 17, 2006 6:32 PM in response to greg sahli

Can you confirm you are using the Gimp-Print driver
on OS X?

Yes, I'm using the gimp-print driver.

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Answer 3

greg sahli

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25,508 points

Jan 17, 2006 7:54 PM in response to tr3y

For troubleshooting, try printing using the advanced method "IPP printing via http."

In Printer Setup, hold down the option key while clicking More Printers. Select Advanced, then IPP using http. Use this URI:
http://[IP address_of_server]:631/printers/[queue_name_onserver]

Good luck.

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Answer 4

greg sahli

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Jan 17, 2006 8:16 PM in response to greg sahli

Too late to edit my previous...

You should try creating a RAW queue on the server to make sure you aren't double-ghostscript processing.
If that doesn't help, for troubleshooting, try printing using the advanced method "IPP printing via http."
In Printer Setup, hold down the option key while clicking More Printers. Select Advanced, then IPP using http. Use this URI:
http://[IP address_of_server]:631/printers/[queue_name_onserver]

Another driver option, use postscript driver on Mac and regular driver on server.
Good luck.

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Answer 5

tr3y Author

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Jan 18, 2006 5:29 AM in response to greg sahli

How do I create a RAW queue as mentioned above? Also, it's odd that it used to work and then suddenly stopped one day. That's what made me suspect updated AirPort driver or other such update may have affected it.

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Answer 6

greg sahli

Level 7

25,508 points

Jan 18, 2006 6:23 AM in response to tr3y

I added my raw queue using the http://localhost:631 interface, plus the mime edits described here:
http://members.cox.net/18james/osxprintersharing.html
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20040101194202284

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Answer 7

tr3y Author

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Jan 19, 2006 1:17 PM in response to greg sahli

The "IPP printing via HTTP" method has fixed the issue. Thanks.

I hope in the future it will be easier to set this up using the more 'traditional' method of picking up the CUPS broadcasting printer and printing directly that way.

Don't know why that method worked once before and no longer does?

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