Having difficulty installing my Brother printer MFC8860DN - openSUSE 12.1

English Hardware
1

Hello out there:

Can anybody assist me with my printer install ? - hardware PC(intel) / 3.0 ghz. CPU / 8 gigs ram / 32 bit / KDE

I am using openSUSE 12.1 / my printer is Brother MFC8860DN - its connected to my router via USB.

I have 2 hard drives /dev/hda is running Windows XP – /dev/hdb is running suse linux 12.1 - dual boot is controlled with GRUB

My printer will print under Windows XP - but no print under linux - Now for a definition of the problem…

I found a bash script under the “Brother Solutions Center / Cupswrapper Install” - the script is “linux-brprinter-install”

This script worked just fine - it installed the printer driver “brmfc8860dnlnptr-2.0.1-1.i368” and the cupswrapper driver “cupswrapperMFC8860DN-2.0.1-1.i386”

The script then asks you if you want a test print ? <YES> - then it isues the print command “lpr -P MFC8860DN /usr/share/cups/data/testprint”

I do not get any print out - no lights come on at the printer ?

( the aformentioned files exists - the yes printer is turned on and its plugged in to the router !! )

SO NOW I have looked at a few threads under LINUX FORUMS / HARDWARE and I found a problem that applies ( well sort of - just a different printer ) .

Following the advice given here - I did the following

A) uninstall the drivers - make sure you are under su.
“rpm -e --nodeps brmfc8860dnlpr-2.0.1-1.i386”
“rpm -e --nodeps cupswrapperMFC8860DN-2.0.1-1.i386”

B) check to make sure the drivers have been deleted
“rpm - qa | grep -e brmfc8860dnlpr-2.0.1-1.i386 -e cupswrapperMFC8860DN-2.0.1-1.i386”

   drivers are gone !!

C) install the dirvers again this time using command line instructions
“rpm -ihv --nodeps brmfc8860dnlpr-2.0.1-1.1386”
“rpm -ihv --nodeps cupswrapperMFC8860DN-2.0.1-1.386”

D) run step B again to make sure the drivers are installed - yes they are

From here I ran a test print - same as before and I do not get a print out

Undeterred - I go to my web browser ( firefox ) and issue this command “http://localhost:631/printers”

From this I get the following :
Queuename = MFC8860DN
Description = MFC8860DN
location = blank, nothing
Status = Processing “Printer not connected, will retry in 30 seconds”

The last thing I did was go to web browser and punched in “http://localhost:631/admin” ( from root of course! )

I get a few menu items here - like “add printer” / “find new printer” / “manage printers”

From here I am lost -

Thanks - I would appreciate any advice that I receive

Regards

Leland

2

The last thing I did was go to web browser and punched in “http://localhost:631/admin” ( from root of course! )

I get a few menu items here - like “add printer” / “find new printer” / “manage printers”

This is where I would have pointed you.

If you go to manage printers. Does it have any listed.
I was using the same interface a week or so ago on a customers install.
I ended up deleting what was there and then adding new again.
I really did have to fiddle around in there, so I can’t really give you step by step.

But I can tell you this.
12.1 printer detection and install is very much a regression IMO
My own small HP Deskjet that just worked in 11.3, no setup, required some work in 11.4 and even more now in 12.1

3

Hi,
I just installed my brother printer model MFC-5890CN
My set-up is different from yours, though you might be able to adopt this in your printer.
My printer is connected to the router via the router cable I assume your printer has the same outlet to connect directly via the same connection.
I started the printer setup in yast2 after installing the brother drivers.
In yast2 printer, I clicked the connection wizard
In the left side you will see the printer connection options
I choose the Print Via Print Server Machine then click Traditional UNIX Print Server
In Connection Settings, under IP Address or Hostname,type the ip of your printer
Under Queue Name, type lp (l is small letter “L”)
test your connection, if it’s says “test ok” proceed with the printer setup, the rest will be simple to figure-out.

As an aside, I used to have a connection like yours through a router with usb connection for printing
I use it on my canon printer, but since I acquired my brother printer I use the above setup because it is much easier for our computers to access.
Sorry can’t help you with the usb connection part, but isn’t it if it is connected via router’s usb port you still have to supply the ip?

4

**This problem has been SOLVED ! - thanks to “conram” **- i followed his advice

exactly and I can now print files under openSUSE12.1

Basically all I did was to download and install the proper printer driver and cupswrapper driver

For the next step - I followed the advice given and I used YAST2 -> Connection Wizard

and followed the suggestions given and presto ! - it works

Thanks again !

Leland

5

One more thing about this problem - I don’t know if this will help others,

as suggested - yes if you are using a USB connection to a router for you printer

you need to give the IP address of the printer - in “Connection Wizard”

This is something I would not have thought of EVER!

Leland

6

Hi Leland,

Good to hear from you, that it is working now.
Happy printing!

Cheers,
conram

7

[QUOTE=conram;2426876]Hi,
I just installed my brother printer model MFC-5890CN
My set-up is different from yours, though you might be able to adopt this in your printer.
My printer is connected to the router via the router cable I assume your printer has the same outlet to connect directly via the same connection.

Thank you. I’ve been pulling my hair out trying to connect the printer. I’m using GNOME --I did try KDE but it was a disaster, so decided on GNOME. Printer model: Brother HL-2030, connected via usb. I was up and running in 2 mins. I had already downloaded the drivers from Brother, Started the printer setup in yast, and the rest was easy. OpenSUSE 12.1

I am no expert, just an ordinary user and have been using OpEnSUSE for years – it’s free so I don’t want to ***** but, it is much, much more difficult to install and setup now. (: Once again thank you.

grasshopper