Recipe 14.5. Serving Windows Clients Without Samba

14.5.1 Problem

You would like to connect your Windows clients to a Linux printer server, but you really don't want to set up Samba just to share printers.

14.5.2 Solution

CUPS can handle the job without Samba. You need your Windows installation CD or printer driver disk, and Windows clients need to have Internet Printing Services installed. This is the same as IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) on Linux.

Windows 95/98 users can get the download at http://www.microsoft.com/windows98/downloads/. Look for "Internet Print Services." The file you want is wpnpins.exe.

Windows ME supplies the Internet Printing Services software in the Add-on folder on the installation CD.

On Windows NT, go to Control Panel Network Services tab Add Microsoft TCP/IP Printing.

On Windows2000/XP, install TCP/IP Print Services from Network and Dial-up Connections Advanced Menu Optional Networking Components Other Network File and Print Services.

Next, fire up the Add Printer wizard. Select Network Printer, then add the printer URI. This consists of the IP address or server name, port number, and /printers/<printername>. Be sure to use the exact name you gave the printer, like this:

http://192.168.1.5:631/printers/hp6L

There isn't a /printers directory anywhere; that's just a convention used by CUPS.

When Windows first connects to the CUPS server, it will install its own local printer drivers and print its own test page, rather than the CUPS test page. So you may need a Windows CD or the driver installation disk.

14.5.3 Discussion

If you have name resolution working on your LAN, you can use the server name instead of the IP address:

http://windbag:631/printers/hp6L

14.5.4 See Also

• This chapter's "Introduction," for more information on printer drivers