How do I configure a local printer at /dev/lp0?

[Alan Mackenzie]

Hello, Johannes,

> Hello,
>
> On Apr 14 09:45 Alan Mackenzie wrote (excerpt):
> > How do I configure a local printer which is connected
> > to /dev/lp0 with a USB cable?
> ....
> > I know the printer works at a low level, because this works:
> >    # echo printing^L > /dev/lp0
>
> See
> https://bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=264219#c1
> and
> http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse/2008-10/msg01527.html

> Alternatively it might work to misuse the "parallel" backend
> when you specify its device URI as parallel:/dev/usbp0
> depending on to which extent parallel port communication
> works even via an USB-to-parallel-port-converter.

The tip to try running /usr/libexec/cups/backend/usb was helpful - this command displayed nothing.  However, /usr/...../parallel found my printer, and found it at /dev/lp0.

I don't understand why /usr/..../usb failed to find my printer on a nominal usb line - lsusb finds it fine.

>From there it was but a short step to get the fine thing configured.

> Alternatively you may use a self-made backend as described in
> http://en.opensuse.org/SDB:Using_Your_Own_Backends_to_Print_with_CUPS
> provided there is a device node that can be used to send data to
> the printer via an "echo -en '\rHello\r\f' >/dev/..." command as in
> http://en.opensuse.org/SDB:Installing_a_Printer

I'm thankful I didn't need to do that.  :-)

Many thanks!

>
> Kind Regards
> Johannes Meixner
> --
> SUSE LINUX Products GmbH -- Maxfeldstrasse 5 -- 90409 Nuernberg -- Germany
> HRB 16746 (AG Nuernberg) GF: Jeff Hawn, Jennifer Guild, Felix Imendoerffer
>

--
Alan Mackenzie (Nuremberg, Germany).    Grüß aus der Südstadt!
acm at muc.de