Samba + Cups + Windows Automatic driver install

tijn_sol · 11-23-2005, 09:37 AM

Hi all,

Iam setting up a print server with Cups and Samba for 70 ppl with 20 printers (different)
Cups works fine, i made Appsocket printers, they all print their test pages nice and clean,

next step! installing samba and share the printers
output of testparm:

Code:

 Centauri:/var/lib/samba/printers/test# testparm
Load smb config files from /etc/samba/smb.conf
Processing section "[drivers]"
Processing section "[printers]"
Processing section "[print$]"
Loaded services file OK.
Server role: ROLE_STANDALONE
Press enter to see a dump of your service definitions

# Global parameters
[global]
        workgroup = AFAB
        server string = %h Samba Print server
        security = SHARE
        syslog = 0
        log file = /var/log/samba/log.%m
        max log size = 1000
        socket options = TCP_NODELAY SO_SNDBUF=8192 SO_RCVBUF=8192
        printcap name = cups
        dns proxy = No
        panic action = /usr/share/samba/panic-action %d
        printing = cups
        print command =
        lpq command = %p
        lprm command =


[printers]
        comment = All Printers
        path = /tmp
        read only = No
        guest ok = Yes
        printable = Yes
        browseable = No

[print$]
        comment = Printer Drivers
        path = /var/lib/samba/printers/test
        guest ok = Yes
Centauri:/var/lib/samba/printers/test#

i see the server, and i see the printers, what doesnt work is the auto driver installing!
i get a error in windows "the installed driver on the server is bad, install a new one?"
iam sure the drivers on the server are good.

can anyone see what iam doing wrong??

thnx in advance

tijn

alexlc · 12-01-2005, 10:50 AM

How did you install the windows drivers on the cups server? The only way I ever got this to work correctly, was to set up the printers in cups, and then, connect to the printers share from a windows machine, and right click on each printer, and install the driver through the printer properties menu. Once I installed the driver on the server from a windows machine, other windows machines were able to automatically download the driver.

I know there is a way to do it via 'net' rpc commands, but i never bothered to make that work.

tijn_sol · 12-02-2005, 01:40 AM

well, just install the drivers on a windows client, they will put the drivers in print$ then on the next client, i have to install a driver, (any driver) when thats ready i have to go to properties en select the correct one (which is on samba)

but i guess there is no way to do this automaticly :/

gonna check the net rpc command though, thnx

grtz tijn

steve1972 · 12-02-2005, 10:25 AM

In order for CUPS to work with Samba, you have to (at minimum) configure the smb.conf file like this:

[global]
load printers = yes
printing = cups
printcap name = cups

[printers]
comment = All Printers
path = /var/spool/samba
browseable = no
public = yes
guest ok = yes
writable = no
printable = yes
printer admin = root

[print$]
comment = Printer Drivers
path = /etc/samba/drivers
browseable = yes
guest ok = no
read only = yes
write list = root

This configuration assumes a FHS-compliant installation of SAMBA; adjust the [printers] and [print$] share paths accordingly on your system as needed. That is, the directory for your printer drivers can be anywhere on the system; just make sure it is writable by the users specified by the write list directive plus readable and executable by all users. Also, make sure that you have SAMBA passwords defined for each user in the write list using SAMBA's smbpasswd(1) command. Otherwise you will not be able to authenticate.

Also....

When you extracted the driver files, did you create a "drivers" directory in the CUPS data directory (usually /usr/share/cups) and copy the files exactly as named below:

[Windows 2000 and higher]

ps5ui.dll
pscript.hlp
pscript.ntf
pscript5.dll

Finally, did you run the cupsaddsmb command to export the printer drivers?

Best regards,
Steve

P.S. - I bought ESP Print Pro to eliminate all this hassle. http://www.easysw.com/printpro/