Add a Printer to Raspberry Pi - Linux Printing Guide

Adding Printer Support to Raspberry Pi (Rasbian)

The Raspberry Pi, operating with the Rasbian operating system, differs from standard Windows computers in its initial setup. It doesn't inherently offer immediate, out-of-the-box printer functionality.

Initial Considerations

Setting up printing on your Raspberry Pi requires a few configuration steps. These steps will enable comprehensive print capabilities for your Pi device.

Installing Required Packages

To begin, the necessary software packages must be installed. This is achieved through the command line interface.

• First, update the package lists: sudo apt update.
• Then, install the CUPS (Common Unix Printing System) package: sudo apt install cups.
• Finally, install the printer drivers: sudo apt install printer-driver-cups-pdf.

Configuring CUPS

After installation, CUPS needs to be configured to allow remote access. This is essential for managing printers through a web interface.

Edit the CUPS configuration file: sudo nano /etc/cups/cupsd.conf.

Find the line that begins with Listen localhost:631 and replace it with Port 631. This allows access from any IP address.

Within the section, add the following lines to allow access from your local network:

Allow @LOCAL

Accessing the CUPS Web Interface

The CUPS web interface provides a user-friendly way to add and manage printers. Access it through your web browser.

Open your browser and navigate to http://localhost:631 or http://[your Pi's IP address]:631.

Adding a Printer

Through the CUPS web interface, you can now add your printer. The process involves selecting the appropriate driver and configuring the printer settings.

Click on "Administration" and then "Add Printer". You may be prompted for your Pi's username and password.

Select your printer from the list of detected devices, or choose the appropriate connection type if it's not automatically detected.

Choose the correct driver for your printer model. If a specific driver isn't available, a generic PostScript or PCL driver may work.

Testing the Printer

Once the printer is added, it's crucial to test its functionality. This ensures that everything is configured correctly.

Print a test page through the CUPS web interface to verify that the printer is working as expected. Successful test printing confirms proper setup.

With these steps completed, your Raspberry Pi will have full-fledged print capabilities, allowing you to print documents directly from your Pi unit.

The Benefits of Setting Up Printing on Your Raspberry Pi

This guide is designed for those looking to utilize their Raspberry Pi for printing purposes. Whether you intend to use the Pi as a full desktop computer, require physical print capabilities for specific software, or simply want to enable conventional printing, this tutorial provides a direct path to success.

No prior experience with Linux printer configuration is necessary to follow along and achieve functional printing.

Expanding the Raspberry Pi's Functionality

The Raspberry Pi is a versatile device, and adding printing functionality further enhances its capabilities. It allows for a more complete desktop experience and opens up possibilities for various applications.

Printing from your Pi can be particularly useful for projects that require physical documentation or output.

• Desktop Replacement
• Application Support
• Traditional Printing

Further Exploration: Constructing an LED Indicator with a Raspberry Pi (for Email, Weather, or Custom Alerts)

Essential Requirements

To follow this guide successfully, you will require the following components.

• A Raspberry Pi device running the Rasbian operating system.
• A printer that connects via USB or is accessible through a network.

Should you not have already set up your Raspberry Pi with a Rasbian installation, we strongly recommend beginning with our introductory guide to the Raspberry Pi platform.

Setting Up the Environment

Before proceeding, ensure your Raspberry Pi is fully operational with Rasbian. This provides the necessary foundation for printer integration.

A functional printer, whether connected directly via USB or available on your network, is also crucial for completing the setup process.

Raspberry Pi and Rasbian

The Raspberry Pi serves as the central processing unit for this project.

Rasbian, a Debian-based operating system optimized for the Raspberry Pi, provides the software environment needed to manage printing tasks.

Printer Connectivity

Your printer can connect to the Raspberry Pi in one of two primary ways.

• USB Connection: A direct physical link between the Raspberry Pi and the printer.
• Network Access: The printer is connected to the same network as the Raspberry Pi, allowing for wireless printing.

The chosen method will influence the subsequent configuration steps.

Prior experience with the Raspberry Pi is helpful, but not mandatory. Our introductory resources will quickly get you up to speed.

Setting Up CUPS on Raspberry Pi and Enabling Remote Access

To connect a printer to your Raspberry Pi, the initial step involves installing the Common Unix Printing System, commonly known as CUPS. Begin by accessing the terminal on your Pi, either directly or through an SSH connection.

Within the terminal, execute the following command to initiate the CUPS installation process:

 sudo apt-get install cups

Confirm the installation by typing 'Y' and pressing Enter when prompted. The CUPS installation is relatively extensive, so a brief pause is understandable.

Once the core installation is finished, several administrative adjustments are necessary. First, you must add your user account to the group that manages printer access – the "lpadmin" group. The standard user on Rasbian is "pi"; modify the subsequent command if you are using a different user account.

Enter this command into the terminal:

sudo usermod -a -G lpadmin pi

The "-a" option ensures that the existing user ("pi") is added to the specified group ("lpadmin") without removing them from other groups, as indicated by the "-G" switch.

Related: How to Turn a Raspberry Pi into a Low-Power Network Storage DeviceThe next preparatory task is to enable remote configuration of CUPS. While the configuration can be completed through the Pi’s web browser, accessing it from a different device, such as a Windows desktop browser, requires modifying a setting within the 

/etc/cups/cupsd.conf

file. Use this command in the terminal:

sudo nano /etc/cups/cupsd.conf

Locate this section within the file:

# Only listen for connections from the local machineListen localhost:631

Comment out the line "Listen localhost:631" and replace it with this:

# Only listen for connections from the local machine# Listen localhost:631Port 631

This change directs CUPS to accept connections on any network interface directed to port 631.

Continue scrolling down the configuration file until you reach the "location" sections. The lines you need to add are highlighted below:

< Location / >

# Restrict access to the server...

Order allow,deny

<strong>Allow @local</strong>

< /Location >

< Location /admin >

# Restrict access to the admin pages...

Order allow,deny

<strong>Allow @local</strong>

< /Location >

< Location /admin/conf >

AuthType Default

Require user @SYSTEM

# Restrict access to the configuration files...

Order allow,deny

<strong>Allow @local</strong>

< /Location >

Adding "allow @local" grants access to CUPS from any device on your local network. Remember to restart the CUPS server after making changes to its configuration file. This is done with the following command:

sudo /etc/init.d/cups restart

Following the restart, you should be able to access the CUPS administration panel from any computer on your network by navigating to http://[the Pi's IP address or hostname]:631 in a web browser.

Integrating a Printer with CUPS

Upon initially accessing http://[the Pi's IP or hostname]:631, the standard CUPS homepage will be displayed, as illustrated in the image above. The "Administration" tab is the section of focus. Proceed to click on it.