Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Kwill

macrumors 68000
Mar 10, 2003
1,595
1
USB, AppleTalk, and Bonjour drivers for the same device differ.

I currently have 6 different printers available from an Ethernet hub or wirelessly via AirPort.
  • Brother MFC-8860DN (USB2, Bonjour, EN T-10/100)
  • HP Designjet Z3100GX PS (USB2, Bonjour, EN T-10/100/1000)
  • HP Designjet 5000 (USB, AppleTalk, Bonjour, EN T-10/100)
  • HP 1700C (USB, AppleTalk, Bonjour, EN T-10/100)
  • Xerox Phaser 7750GX (USB, AppleTalk, Bonjour, EN T-10/100)
  • Xerox Phaser 8550DP (USB, AppleTalk, Bonjour, EN T-10/100)
If I add a printer to the list for USB, a separate "printer" must be added for Bonjour (I make a distinction in the printer name). It sounds like you have a driver for USB but not no network driver. Perhaps another is available from HP. Inasmuch as I do not have your specific model, I cannot provide specific instructions other than it sounds like a driver issue. :rolleyes:
 

Nermal

Moderator
Staff member
Dec 7, 2002
20,644
4,041
New Zealand
The OP's original point ("It just works? No!") still stands. It shouldn't need to be ridiculously complicated to just set up a printer. I'm in the same boat: A USB printer that I need to access from Mac and Windows systems. With it shared from Windows the driver is MIA on the Mac side. When connected to my AirPort base I can see it from my Mac but the Windows PCs will periodically decide that it doesn't exist anymore. Why does this need to be so complicated?
 

richard.mac

macrumors 603
Feb 2, 2007
6,292
4
51.50024, -0.12662
The OP's original point ("It just works? No!") still stands. It shouldn't need to be ridiculously complicated to just set up a printer. I'm in the same boat: A USB printer that I need to access from Mac and Windows systems. With it shared from Windows the driver is MIA on the Mac side. When connected to my AirPort base I can see it from my Mac but the Windows PCs will periodically decide that it doesn't exist anymore. Why does this need to be so complicated?

if you had a windows PC sharing a printer to another windows PC it would be easy and vice versa a Mac sharing a printer to another Mac. sharing a printer over the network in a mixed OS environment complicates it. i agree adding a printer connected to a PC is too complicated and should be resolved. it took me way to long to figure it out but once you get it working it should stey hassle free.

i use a HP DeskJet connected to my PC and the only way i have found to connect to it by using the CUPS driver. but this means i cant use the printer features from HP's drivers like ink levels and draft printing. if i connect it by USB the driver loads automagically with ink levels and i can draft print. but i dont wont to do this as i have a MacBook just like the OP.

if its just a standard printer with no wireless card connected to a PC, to print from it wirelessly over the network on a Mac you have to use the CUPS driver.

the easiest way would be to plug the printer into an Airport Express/Airport Extreme Base Station or any other wireless router with a USB port or parallel port. the Mac would pick it up straight away using bonjour and the windows PC would be able to connect to it using Bonjour for windows. Apple documents how to do this here.

my advice to the OP would be to add the printer under "Windows" in the add printer window and use the CUPS driver either "HP DeskJet Series, 1.3", "HP LaserJet Series PCL 4/5, 1.3" or "Generic PostScript Printer, 1.3". to do this your Windows PC would have to show under "Shared" in the Finder so make sure it does. make sure you add the Unix print services on the PC following this guide under "I want to connect the printer to my PC". or if that doesnt work use the old school CUPS method of using the browser in the same guide.
 

Nermal

Moderator
Staff member
Dec 7, 2002
20,644
4,041
New Zealand
the Mac would pick it up straight away using bonjour and the windows PC would be able to connect to it using Bonjour for windows.

In theory, yes. In practice, all of my Windows PCs would periodically appear to print, but nothing would actually print. I got sick of removing and re-adding the printer every few days to make it function again. This was over a year ago though, has there been a Bonjour update since then that might help?
 

teknikal90

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jan 28, 2008
3,348
1,902
Vancouver, BC
No its not. The OP is connecting the printer to the PC then sharing the printer. What he should be doing is connect the printer directly to his router and install the network printer drivers. I agree that this is the best option.

i dont understand how this can work...i ahve afull fledged computer as the print server...shouldnt this be more flexible?and plus i dont have the driver for wireless printing i think thats the biggest problem
i looked everywhere....i think its becasue i dont really know fully what to look for.
 

teknikal90

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jan 28, 2008
3,348
1,902
Vancouver, BC
if you had a windows PC sharing a printer to another windows PC it would be easy and vice versa a Mac sharing a printer to another Mac. sharing a printer over the network in a mixed OS environment complicates it. i agree adding a printer connected to a PC is too complicated and should be resolved. it took me way to long to figure it out but once you get it working it should stey hassle free.

i use a HP DeskJet connected to my PC and the only way i have found to connect to it by using the CUPS driver. but this means i cant use the printer features from HP's drivers like ink levels and draft printing. if i connect it by USB the driver loads automagically with ink levels and i can draft print. but i dont wont to do this as i have a MacBook just like the OP.

if its just a standard printer with no wireless card connected to a PC, to print from it wirelessly over the network on a Mac you have to use the CUPS driver.

the easiest way would be to plug the printer into an Airport Express/Airport Extreme Base Station or any other wireless router with a USB port or parallel port. the Mac would pick it up straight away using bonjour and the windows PC would be able to connect to it using Bonjour for windows. Apple documents how to do this here.

my advice to the OP would be to add the printer under "Windows" in the add printer window and use the CUPS driver either "HP DeskJet Series, 1.3", "HP LaserJet Series PCL 4/5, 1.3" or "Generic PostScript Printer, 1.3". to do this your Windows PC would have to show under "Shared" in the Finder so make sure it does. make sure you add the Unix print services on the PC following this guide under "I want to connect the printer to my PC". or if that doesnt work use the old school CUPS method of using the browser in the same guide.

ive enabled unix printing and tried every single driver under HP that came up....same thing happened...the print job got sent....the windows machine even receives it..(it appeared in the print job window on the windows PC)...but the printer doesnt print...i think its a driver problem...thats all i can think of...the mac is connecteing to the windows pc sccessfully and it even detects the printer...
the windows machine has bonjour on it so this part was easy...
what i need is a driver that i can install that i can then use over the network..
 

arkitect

macrumors 604
Sep 5, 2005
7,082
12,522
Bath, United Kingdom

Attachments

  • Change it.png
    Change it.png
    6.2 KB · Views: 1,763

richard.mac

macrumors 603
Feb 2, 2007
6,292
4
51.50024, -0.12662
ive enabled unix printing and tried every single driver under HP that came up....same thing happened...the print job got sent....the windows machine even receives it..(it appeared in the print job window on the windows PC)...but the printer doesnt print...i think its a driver problem...thats all i can think of...the mac is connecteing to the windows pc sccessfully and it even detects the printer...
the windows machine has bonjour on it so this part was easy...
what i need is a driver that i can install that i can then use over the network..

try the gutenprint drivers http://gimp-print.sourceforge.net/ credit goes to Kwill from page 1.
 

teknikal90

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jan 28, 2008
3,348
1,902
Vancouver, BC
F!!!!
i installed gutenprint..like above had adviced....i looked through the drivers it provided...mine is not included!!!
and whats worse....my OLD printer that i had just thrown away..........yup....listed.

F!!!
 

Kwill

macrumors 68000
Mar 10, 2003
1,595
1
It is odd that the premise of dissatisfaction is that Apple products are supposed to just work but there is a problem printing. Neither the printer, the printer driver, nor the host computer are made by Apple, yet the latter is the target of disdain.

Very likely, the issues experienced can be remedied by adding more Apple hardware to the mix instead of less. As mentioned earlier, I have several printers on a network. The key thing looked for is an Ethernet port. Desktop computers are hardwired to each other and to networked printers. However, Apple laptops have wireless access to the same.

The majority of cheap printers intended for single-user environments do not come with an Ethernet port. Apple has, though, figured out an ingenious method of networking USB printers. A USB port is now on the AirPort Extreme Base Station.

ae-diagram.gif


For nearly half the price, one could similarly use the Apple AirPort Express. By plugging a printer into the USB port, the printer can then be available to other computers on your wireless network. Many helpful sales personnel at Apple retail stores can advise which of the two is best for your needs.

I am happy you see the value of a Mac laptop. Hopefully, future experiences will keep you from targeting frustration on what very well may be the strongest link of a weak chain. :apple:
 

teknikal90

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jan 28, 2008
3,348
1,902
Vancouver, BC
You tried this one?

it's the HP source of driver for linux and OS X.

http://www.linux-foundation.org/en/OpenPrinting/MacOSX/hpijs


edit: forgot the link
this SEMI-works...

when i press print....the printer RESPONDS! it makes those noises as if its preparing to print and the active LED blinks...BUT....it doesnt actually ever print anythign :(

man...haha so close yet so far....i followed all instructions...installed foomatic...GPL ghostscript and then the HP set of drivers..
looks like it is just not my luck...
btw to poster above.i understand that buying an apple router would fix the problem...but ive JUST bought another router...a linksys actually..and it doesnt have a print server built it...
 

rychencop

macrumors 65816
Aug 17, 2007
1,107
10
Georgia
You need to provide more informations if you want help. What kind of print server you have? Model? What about the printer?

Print server = D-link DP-301U
Printer = Epson CX8400
Router = D-link DIR-655

I have the latest CUPS installed. Printer works fine when connected with the usb cable.
 

richard.mac

macrumors 603
Feb 2, 2007
6,292
4
51.50024, -0.12662
Print server = D-link DP-301U
Printer = Epson CX8400
Router = D-link DIR-655

I have the latest CUPS installed. Printer works fine when connected with the usb cable.

try the Line Printer Daemon protocol under IP in printer setup. the address would be 192.168.0.1, you will have to find out the queue name for your print server… look in the router's documentation, then Name and Location can be anything and try the Epson drivers or CUPS drivers. if these dont try the Guten-print or Linux Fundation drivers for your model.

EDIT: i searched around and i think your queue name is "PSC2210"… try that.
 

rychencop

macrumors 65816
Aug 17, 2007
1,107
10
Georgia
try the Line Printer Daemon protocol under IP in printer setup. the address would be 192.168.0.1, you will have to find out the queue name for your print server… look in the router's documentation, then Name and Location can be anything and try the Epson drivers or the Guten-print drivers.

i got this error message.
Attempting to connect to host 192.168.0.1 for printer PS-EF22B8-U1
Network host '192.168.0.1' is busy; will retry in 25 seconds...

changed the ip to 192.168.0.10 which is the ip for the print server and it prints blank pages.
 

richard.mac

macrumors 603
Feb 2, 2007
6,292
4
51.50024, -0.12662
i got this error message.
Attempting to connect to host 192.168.0.1 for printer PS-EF22B8-U1
Network host '192.168.0.1' is busy; will retry in 25 seconds...

changed the ip to 192.168.0.10 which is the ip for the print server and it prints blank pages.

look here 3 posts from the bottom says the default queue name PSC2210 works 5% of the time. theres another post that says the queue name is "PS-<servername>-P1" so try that.

do you have access to a windows PC? you could check the queue name on that? im not sure how to do this as all the info i just gathered was from a "D-Link DP-301U queue name" Google search.

i once setup an HP DeskJet on a Netgear FR114P print server and the "catch" ended up being the correct queue name which was "fr114p"
 

hayward9

macrumors newbie
Apr 29, 2008
1
0
Similar Problem Different Hardware

I've been searching for an answer to a similar problem.

iMac 24" 2.8, 4Gb, OS X 10.5.2
linksys WRT54GS v.5 router
Samsung CLP-610 printer

The printer is plugged into the router via ethernet cable and the iMac connects via AirPort.

I cannot get the add printer wizard on the iMac to find the driver. I downloaded the latest drivers from the Samsung website. The wizard sees the printer, but cannot find the driver.

I subsequently connected the printer directly to the iMac via the USB port and it printed fine.

After reading this thread, it's beginning to sound like there is no network driver available. If that's true, is there a workaround? I'm going to add a time capsule, so I guess I could plug it into the USB port there.

Any help would be appreciated.
 

yoavcs

macrumors regular
Apr 7, 2004
218
92
Israel
The solution is to go into the printer Properties Page in Windows and deselect an option called "Enable Bi-directional Printing". I don't quite remember under which tab it is placed and don't have a Windows PC handy to check, but it should be under a tab called Ports or some such thing. Just look for it and disable it.

This, by the way, is a Windows mis-feature and has nothing to do with OS X. Same problem appears under any OS but Windows you would try.

As for the Terminal commands you typed: they basically did nothing. Just ignore it.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.