Friday, October 18, 2013

Solaris 11: Setup Printer server using Cups and Windows 7 x64

Now that Solaris 11.1 now comes with cups v1.4.5 I thought I would replace our old Solaris 10 lpd server with a cups set up. The printer server is used by many clients, MacOS, Windows and Solaris. Note: Solaris SRU 11.1.8.4.0 fixed a few problems with Cups.

Steps:
  • Create Solaris zone (printsrv)
  • Setup cups server and printers
  • Setup Windows 7 clients

 Create Solaris zone (printsrv)

  • A normal Solaris zone is required and nothing special here.
# sudo zonecfg -z printsrv export
create -b
set brand=solaris
set zonepath=/zones/printsrv
set autoboot=true
set bootargs="-m verbose"
set limitpriv=default,sys_time
set ip-type=exclusive
add anet
set linkname=net0
set lower-link=auto
set allowed-address=193.60.2.46/24
set defrouter=193.60.2.245
set link-protection=mac-nospoof
set configure-allowed-address=true
set mac-address=random
end 
# sudo zoneadm -z printsrv  install 
# sudo zoneadm -z printsrv boot
# sudo zlogin -C -e\@ printsrv

Setup cups server and printers

  • Install cups packages
 # sudo pkg install print/cups print/cups/filter/foomatic-db print/cups/filter/foomatic-db-engine print/cups/hal-cups-utils print/cups/system-config-printer
  •  Install cups libraries
# sudo pkg install library/print/cups-libs library/desktop/gtk2/gtk-backend-cups library/python-2/pycups library/python-2/pycups-26 library/python-2/pycups-27
  • Install print filters
# sudo pkg install print/filter/ghostscript print/filter/gutenprint print/filter/hplip print/lp/filter/foomatic-rip print/lp/filter/foomatic-ppds
  • Start printer services
# sudo svcadm enable cups/scheduler
# sudo svcadm enable cups/in-lpd
# sudo svcs "*cups*"
STATE          STIME    FMRI
online         May_24   svc:/application/cups/scheduler:default
online         May_24   svc:/application/cups/in-lpd:default
  •  Allow remote administration of cups. Edit /etc/cups/cupsd.conf and change some of the others:
 Listen 631
...
 
  # Allow shared printing and remote administration...
  Order allow,deny
  Allow @LOCAL
...

  # Allow remote administration...
  Order allow,deny
  Allow @LOCAL
...

  AuthType Default
  Require user @SYSTEM
  # Allow remote access to the configuration files...
  Order allow,deny
  Allow @LOCAL
  • Restart the services and the URL should work.
 # sudo svcadm restart svc:/application/cups/scheduler:default
http://printsrv:631
  • Now you can add a printer. The GUI is straight forward so it is just a matter of finding the printer interfaces. Also, alter the some of the server administration options.
  • Here are the command line way of doing it.
  • We have a lot of HP LaserJet P4515x printer and I am using a PS PPD file that came with print/filter/hplip since I had problems with the cups (hpcups) software.
# lpadmin -p cork -E -v socket://cork:9100 -P /usr/share/ppd/SUNWhpijs/HP/hp-laserjet_p4515x-ps.ppd.gz
# lpadmin -p cork   -L"Printer Room" -D"HP Laserjet 4515"
# lpstat -l -p cork
printer cork is idle.  enabled since Thu Oct 17 21:36:46 2013
        Form mounted:
        Content types: any
        Printer types: unknown
        Description: HP Laserjet 4515
        Alerts: none
        Location: Printer Room
        Connection: direct
        Interface: /etc/cups/ppd/cork.ppd
        On fault: no alert
        After fault: continue
        Users allowed:
                (all)
        Forms allowed:
                (none)
        Banner required
        Charset sets:
                (none)
        Default pitch:
        Default page size:
        Default port settings:
  • Add Printer options: Duplex, A4
lpoptions -p cork -o PageSize=A4 -o Duplex=DuplexNoTumble -o HPOption_Duplexer=True
  • Display all possible printer options available to you. (I have highlighted the ones alter with the command above)
# lpoptions -p cork -l
HPPrinterModel/Printer Model: *Zorro ZorroLite Toronado
HPCollateSupported/Collation in Printer: True288 *False288
HPOption_Tray3/Tray 3: Tray3_500 Tray3_1500 *False
HPOption_Tray4/Tray 4: Tray4_500 Tray4_1500 *False
HPOption_Tray5/Tray 5: Tray5_500 Tray5_1500 *False
HPOption_Tray6/Tray 6: Tray6_500 Tray6_1500 *False
HPOption_Duplexer/Duplex Unit: *True False
HPOption_Disk/Printer Disk: True *False
HPOption_Envelope_Feeder/Optional Envelope Feeder: True *False
HPOption_MBM_Mixed/Accessory Output Bins: *Standard HP5BinMB_Mailbox HP5BinMB_Stacker HP5BinMB_Separator HP5BinMB_Collator MBMStaplerStacker MBMStacker
HPPaperPolicy/Fit to Page: *PromptUser NearestSizeAdjust NearestSizeNoAdjust
HPServicesWeb/Services on the Web: *SupportAndTroubleshooting ProductManuals OrderSupplies ShowMeHow
HPServicesUtility/Device Maintenance: StatusOfMyPrinter *DeviceAndSuppliesStatus
HPJobRetentionOption/Mode: HPJobRetentionQuickCopy HPJobRetentionProof HPJobRetentionStoreJob HPJobRetentionPersonal *HPJobRetentionOff
HPUsePINToPrint/Use PIN to Print: *False True
HPDuplicateJobMode/If Job Name Exists: *Unique Overwrite
HPUserName/User Name: *FileSharingName Set
HPJobName/Job Name: *DocName Set
HPManualDuplexSwitch/Manual Duplex: True *False
HPManualDuplexPrintGuide/Print Reinsertion Guide: True *False
HPManualDuplexOrientation/Binding: *DuplexNoTumble DuplexTumble
HPBookletFilter/Format Output As Booklet: True *False
HPBookletBackCover/Last Page Is Back Cover: True *False
HPBookletPageOrder/Page Order: *Normal Asian
HPBookletScaling/Scaling: *Proportional FitPage
HPBookletPageSize/Paper For Booklet: *Letter Legal Executive HalfLetter w612h935 A4 A5 A6 B5 w553h765 w522h737 w558h774 Postcard DoublePostcard
OutputBin/Output Bin: *PrinterDefault Bin1 Bin2 Bin3 Bin4 Bin5
HPStaplerOptions/Stapling Options: *None 1Angled_Max15
HPRotate180/Rotate Page 180 deg: *False True
MirrorPrint/Mirror Image: True *False
MediaType/Media Type: *Unspecified Plain Light6074 Bond Recycled Card_Stock176220 Monotransparency Labels Letterhead Envelope Preprinted Prepunched Colored Rough
HPStraightPaperPath/Use Straight Paper Path: True *False
Duplex/2-Sided Printing: None *DuplexNoTumble DuplexTumble
Collate/Collate: True *False
PageSize/Page Size: Letter Legal Executive HalfLetter w612h935 *A4 A5 A6 B5 w553h765 w522h737 w558h774 Postcard DoublePostcard Env10 EnvMonarch EnvISOB5 EnvC5 EnvDL Custom.WIDTHxHEIGHT
InputSlot/Paper Source: *Auto Tray1 Tray2 Tray3 Tray4 Tray5 Tray6 Tray1_Man EnvelopeFeeder
Resolution/Printer Resolution: 1200x1200dpi 1200dpi *600x600dpi
Smoothing/Resolution Enhancement: *PrinterDefault On Off
HPEconoMode/EconoMode: *PrinterDefault True False
HPHalftone/Levels of Gray: *PrinterDefault Enhanced Standard
HPwmSwitch/Mode: *Off Watermark Overlay
HPwmPages/Pages: *AllPages FirstPage
HPwmTextMessage/Text: *Draft CompanyConfidential CompanyProprietary CompanyPrivate Confidential Copy Copyright FileCopy Final ForInternalUse Preliminary Proof ReviewCopy Sample TopSecret Urgent Set
HPwmFontName/Font: CourierB *HelveticaB TimesB
HPwmFontSize/Size: pt24 pt30 pt36 pt42 *pt48 pt54 pt60 pt66 pt72 pt78 pt84 pt90
HPwmTextAngle/Angle: Deg90 Deg75 Deg60 *Deg45 Deg30 Deg15 Deg0 DegN15 DegN30 DegN45 DegN60 DegN75 DegN90
HPwmTextStyle/Style: Thin *Medium Thick Halo Fill
HPwmBrightness/Intensity: Darkest Darker Dark MediumDark *Medium MediumLight Light Lighter Lightest
  • Test that your printer works.
  • If all OK now you want to setup your Windows Clients

 

Setup Windows 7 clients

I had a lot of problems with Windows 7 x64 and printers drivers, but I got it to all work with using the CUPS driver above and the "HP Universal Driver PS"
  •  Install the "HP Universal Driver PS" drive
C:\Temp\HPPSdrivers\Install.exe /dm /q
  •  Create printer cork which connects via out printer on the server
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Rundll32.exe printui.dll,PrintUIEntry  /ga /x /n "cork"  /if /r "http://printsrv:631/printers/cork" /m "HP Universal Printing PS" /h x64 /b "cork"
  •   After you have set any default options using the Printer Wizard on Windows 7 i.e. Duplex, Location and other features you can save it for future deployment.
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Rundll32.exe printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /Ss /n "cork" /a "C:\Temp\setcork.dat"
  •   You can then use the following command to deploy your Windows 7 options to other PCs
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Rundll32.exe printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /Sr /n "cork" /a "C:\Temp\setcork.dat" d u g 2

 That it! Hope it helps.


8 comments:

Unknown said...

Well this method is bit complicated but very effective and efficient.

Thanks
Silvester Norman

Change MAC Address

Anonymous said...

...Yes, very complicated...

It's all Greek to me! :-)

PhilD.

Andrew Watkins said...

PhilD,

Well, you have been out of the Computing game for a long time and do they have computers on Sunny Crete beaches ;-)

Andrew - still working - Watkins

Anonymous said...


Very true!

Yes - there are still computers here, sadly. I now tell people that I used to be a pig farmer, it's easier.

Now using Linux Mint - it was time to leave the capitalist proprietary software behind.

Sorry that you're still working - it's not good for your health, you know!

-PhilD.

Anonymous said...

Hi there Andrew

Thanks so much for your blog. I am just configuring a couple of Solaris 11 servers, having been out to pasture with Linux for maybe the last ten years - since my SunOS days. Really delighted to come across your blog.

Just reading through this, and about to have a go - but, please excuse my ignorance - why is creating a zone necessary for this process? I understood that they were virtual OS environments?

Thank YOU!

Jamie

Andrew Watkins said...

Jamie,

Sorry for the delay. Thanks for your comments and the short answer is you don't require a zone and you also right a zone is a VM.
The reason why I and many uses zones is you separate the application from other programs for security and/or software versions. For example. You can update the software versions in one zone without effecting other applications.

Don't forget a Solaris Zone has no over heads.

Andrew

Anonymous said...

Hi again, Andrew

Wow. My gosh. I have just learned about and set up my first zone. I am absolutely blown away. It's genius stuff! Thank you for sharing this.
I wonder if you could tell me just the ways in which you use zones on your server - how you have deployed this? I have just configured one to run our webserver. Thanks indeed, Jamie

Andrew Watkins said...

Zones are great tool and I think the basic rule is to put all applications in a zone. Even every major application in its own zone, since it provides an isolated and secure environment.

Now with Solaris 11.2 and kernel zones you can have different versions of the OS so you can upgrade the version independently of the global zone.

Yes,zones are great.

Andrew