CUPS Configuration

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CUPS (Common UNIX Printing System) is the standard Linux printing subsystem. It is relatively advanced and generally quite easy to configure.

Basics

  • Once you install cups in Gentoo (and start the daemon cupsd), the web interface is accessible at http://localhost:631/.
  • From the interface, you can add printers. The most important thing to understand is how your computer is connected to the printer, and which protocols the printer supports (CUPS support all but the most exotic protocols so this should not be a problem).
  • The most common protocols are IPP, lpd/lpr and direct access on port 9100. CUPS recommends IPP if it is available, however I have not yet fully understood what's the address of an IPP printer. So try lpr:/ or socket:/ protocols if IPP does not work.
  • Note that the PPD driver file CUPS asks is not essential for the printer to work. As far as I understand, this file is for optimizations and tweaks for the particular printer you use.