Debian Admin » Print » Setup CUPS (Common UNIX Printing System) Server and Client in Debian

Setup CUPS (Common UNIX Printing System) Server and Client in Debian

Posted By Admin On 10th September 2007 @ 15:08 In General | 3 Comments

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The Common UNIX Printing SystemTM, or CUPS, is the software you use to print from applications like the web browser you are using to read this page. It converts the page descriptions produced by your application (put a paragraph here, draw a line there, and so forth) into something your printer can understand and then sends the information to the printer for printing.

Now, since every printer manufacturer does things differently, printing can be very complicated. CUPS does its best to hide this from you and your application so that you can concentrate on printing and less on how to print. Generally, the only time you need to know anything about your printer is when you use it for the first time, and even then CUPS can often figure things out on its own.

Install CUPS printer server in Debian

#apt-get install cupsys cupsys-driver-gutenprint foomatic-db-gutenprint foomatic-filters fontconfig libtiff4 libfreetype6

NOTE:- If your network use DHCP it’s a good idea to set up your server to use static IP. I will use as 172.20.22.74 for the server and 172.20.22.150 for administration workstation.

Configure CUPS

Default configuration file located at /etc/cups/cupsd.conf in this file you need to configure the following sections to make it work.

First, check the encryption setting and change

# Default authentication type, when authentication is required…
DefaultAuthType Basic

# Default authentication type, when authentication is required…
DefaultAuthType Basic
DefaultEncryption IfRequested

Then we need to tell it to listen for the server change

# Only listen for connections from the local machine.
Listen localhost:631
Listen /var/run/cups/cups.sock

# Only listen for connections from the local machine.
Listen localhost:631
Listen 172.20.22.74
Listen /var/run/cups/cups.sock

We need it to be visible to the entire network

# Show shared printers on the local network.
Browsing On
BrowseOrder allow,deny
BrowseAllow @LOCAL

what machines that may access the server change

# Restrict access to the server…
<Location/>
Order allow,deny
Allow localhost
</Location>

# Restrict access to the server…
<Location/>
Order allow,deny
Allow localhost
Allow 172.20.22.*
</Location>

And the same for the configuration files change

# Restrict access to configuration files…
<Location /admin/conf>
AuthType Basic
Require user @SYSTEM
Order allow,deny
Allow localhost
</Location>

# Restrict access to configuration files…
<Location /admin/conf>
AuthType Basic
Require user @SYSTEM
Order allow,deny
Allow localhost
Allow 172.20.22.150
</Location>

Other configuration i left default one so need to change anything.

Now you need to restart CUPS using the following command

#/etc/init.d/cupsys restart

You should now be able to connect to the CUPS web interface from the administrator workstation (IP 172.20.22.150 in this example) by pointing your web browser at http://172.20.22.74:631/ once it opens you should see the following screen

If you got the correct drivers installed and your printer is connected to the server, Now you need to add your printer under the “Administration” tab.Setup your printer and finish the setup and verify that it works by printing the CUPS test page.