Linux / Unix Command: cupsaddsmb

Command Library

NAME

cupsaddsmb - export printers to samba for windows clients  

SYNOPSIS

cupsaddsmb [ -H samba-server ] [ -U samba-user ] [ -h cups-server ] [ -v ] -a
cupsaddsmb [ -H samba-server ] [ -U samba-user ] [ -h cups-server ] [ -v ] printer [ ... printer ]  

DESCRIPTION

cupsaddsmb exports printers to the SAMBA software (version 2.2.0 or higher) for use with Windows clients. Depending on the SAMBA configuration, you may need to provide a password to export the printers. This program requires the CUPS or Adobe PostScript printer driver files described below.

The -H option specifies the SAMBA server which defaults to the CUPS server.

The -U option specifies the SAMBA print admin username which defaults to your current username.

The -a option exports all known printers. Otherwise only the named printers are exported.

The -h option specifies a different CUPS server to use.

The -v option specifies that verbose information should be shown and is useful for debugging SAMBA configuration problems.  

SAMBA CONFIGURATION

cupsaddsmb uses the new RPC-based printing support in SAMBA 2.2.x to provide printer drivers and PPD files to Windows client machines. In order to use this functionality, you must first configure SAMBA (via the smb.conf file) to support printing through CUPS and provide a printer driver download share, as follows:

    [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.

 

CUPS POSTSCRIPT DRIVERS FOR WINDOWS

cupsaddsmb can use the CUPS PostScript printer drivers for Windows, which are available for download from the CUPS web site.

The CUPS printer drivers are preferred over the Adobe drivers since they support page accounting, banner pages, and page labels on all printers. However, currently only Windows NT, 2000, and XP are supported by the CUPS drivers, so you will also need to get the Adobe driver to support Windows 95, 98, and Me clients.

Once you have extracted the driver files, create a "drivers" directory in the CUPS data directory (usually /usr/share/cups) and copy the CUPS files using lowercase filenames, as follows:

    [Windows NT, 2000, and XP]
    cups.hlp
    cupsdrvr.dll
    cupsui.dll

 

ADOBE POSTSCRIPT DRIVERS FOR WINDOWS

cupsaddsmb can use the Adobe PostScript printer drivers for Windows, which are available for download from the Adobe web site (http://www.adobe.com).

The CUPS printer drivers are preferred over the Adobe drivers since they support page accounting, banner pages, and page labels on all printers.

Once you have extracted the driver files, create a "drivers" directory in the CUPS data directory (usually /usr/share/cups) and copy the Adobe files using UPPERCASE filenames, as follows:

    [Windows 95, 98, and Me]
    ADFONTS.MFM
    ADOBEPS4.DRV
    ADOBEPS4.HLP
    DEFPRTR2.PPD
    ICONLIB.DLL
    PSMON.DLL

    [Windows NT, 2000, and XP]
    ADOBEPS5.DLL
    ADOBEPSU.DLL
    ADOBEPSU.HLP

You can download and copy either set of driver files independently, and use the CUPS drivers for Windows NT, 2000, and XP while using the Adobe drivers for the Windows 95, 98, and Me clients.  

SEE ALSO

CUPS Software Administrators Manual, http://localhost:631/documentation.html  

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