Using OS: Linux 3.1.10-1.16-desktop x86_64 System: openSUSE 12.1 (x86_64) and KDE: 4.7.2 (4.7.2) “release 5” and trying to print to network connected HP LaserJet 5M which used to work fine. When it stopped working I could not pinpoint, ie after which update.
If I open Yast printer configuration I can print a test page perfectly but I cannot print from any application, that is KWrite, Libreoffice or Thunderbird.
The /var/log/cups/error_log shows no errors. When I send a job to this printer from an application it wakes up, displays that it is processing job but then goes to ready and prints nothing.
An HPColorLaserJet on same subnet works fine.
Could somebody please advise where I should start looking for cause of this problem.
Budgie2
If you have not already done so, I suggest you switch over to the Printing Repository and update hplip and anything else it uses. You can use the following terminal command to do so.
su -
password:
zypper ar http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/Printing/openSUSE_12.1/ Printing
(or use "zypper ar http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/Printing/openSUSE_12.2/ Printing" for openSUSE 12.2)
zypper refresh
zypper mr -rk -p 15 Printing
zypper update
zypper dup --from Printing
You can also just manually add in the Printing repository if you prefer, but the above command does that for you plus replace the bad applications. Use the correct one for your version of openSUSE. Next, but not as root, but as a normal user, open up terminal again and run the command:
hp-check -t
After the check is complete, you will likely be missing a few required applications. I normally startup YaST / Software / Software Management, search on each app listed as needed and install it. You can run the command again and find and install the next missing thing. I made it down to the single error, "error: ‘hpaio’ package is missing/incompatible " which does not seem to cause a problem, but I had a dozen things wrong at first, requirements not mentioned by YaST as hplip comes pre-installed. The program suggests you can run the command ‘hp-check --fix’ to fix any issues, but it did not seem to work right for me. Anyway, the default hplip has developed a lot of problems that has been decided to not update in our update repository for some reason and a considerable verbage went back and forth over the bug report about the problem. You can read the hubub yourself here and even add your own comments if you wish.
In the end, just switch to the Printing repository and you will be fixed. I can not actually say your problem is related, but I would not do one other thing until I made the update switch.
Hi James,
It has been a while, so very many thanks for your detailed and concise instructions.
I have been through the first round but made the mistake of being tempted to try the --fix option. Seems to have made things worse so I think your manual method should have been used from outset! Sadly after a great deal of activity the problem is still not fixed but I have the logs to go through and check manually.
Meanwhile a couple of questions.
Where does CUPS fit in all this in relation to hplip?
My log includes the statement that DBUS “may not be installed or not running” I thought this was pretty fundamental so what is used instead on my system?
Will report back when I have checked the obvious.
Regards,
Budgie2
Hi James,
After re-booting and doing it over I too have only hpaio error message. Having re-installed the two main printers, both work after a fashion but I still have a couple of problems:-
First is that KWrite only prints the first page of a document. Looks like a problem with KWrite because if I print to pdf and open in Okular all pages show but in print preview only the first page and a bit of the last. Most odd. Any ideas? No great fan of KWrite but it would be good to get it right. The paper tray problem outlined below also applies to KWrite.
From LibreOffice all pages print but I cannot save the default behaviour whereby, if there is paper in the multi-purpose slot, (which is where I can use reverse side of unwanted or failed prints thus saving the planet,) it is used in preference to the tray. In consequence and with all the trials I am doing, I now have a stack of scrap paper. The trouble is there are so many places where the behaviour options can be set. Any pointers here would be welcome but I do appreciate know they can be printer specific.
Grateful for any further ideas but many thanks again for getting me back up and running.
Budgie2
The final problems were at my end due first to the replaced printer drivers having different defaults from my original system so the tray with new paper was selected first rather than checking if paper was available in other tray first.
The second issue was due to a default setting in an editor which switched to html. Unchecked the box which offered this option and all was well.
Well this last message proves if you wait long enough, the user will figure out the problem while you can get the credit for the fix. So, YEA! it is fixed!
You are correct in that pieces of some printer settings are stored all over the place. One thing I would like to say is the more you change things to fix a single problem, the more likely you will make a bigger mess. In the procedure I outlined, I have used it several times with success and I am happy to hear it has worked again, but be careful and skeptical of any excessive modifications to fix a small problem. You should also read through the bug report link I posted, its kind of interesting in light of how bad the present hplip has become. I would request that anyone that has had a problem with hplip, add their comments there.
Hi James,
I marked this as solved but have had to start over with a completely new installation and I cannot get HP ColorLasterJet 2840 to work with the test page. The HP laserJet 5M works fine. I did exactly as you advised above but this time I get the following from hp-check -t:-
-----------
| SUMMARY |
-----------
Missing Required Dependencies
-----------------------------
error: 'libjpeg-devel' package is missing/incompatible
error: 'hpaio' package is missing/incompatible
Missing Optional Dependencies
-----------------------------
None
USER GROUPS
-----------
error: lp groups need to be added for alastair user
Total Errors: 4
Total Warnings: 2
Re-run 'hp-doctor' command to prompt and fix the issues.
Done.
I had the hpaio missing last time but it didn’t seem to make any difference, as you also found and I marked the thread [solved]. Wrote too soon I fear!
I have no idea where to get libjpeg-devel and I do not understand the User Group message. There is no entry for today in the /var/log/cups/error_log and the access_log says sent OK. Please could you advise further?
Regards,
Budgie2
Hi James,
Please ignore my last posting. Your maxim is still true it seems. Tracked the problem down to the printer which may be developing a fault. Hate to admit it but seems like wife’s windoze machine brought it back to life. Of course it probably caused the problem in the first place.
BTW the hp-doctor sorted out the recorded errors but I do not think they were relevant to my problem.
Regards,
Budgie2
Once again, wait long enough and good Linux users such as yourself will sort out the problems without any outside help. Good to hear you are working as you require.
Hi James,
I have used your advice to good effect for a couple of upgrades to openSUSE 12.2 since the above exchange and it has continued to be the best advice on HP printer installation, so thanks again.
However I am now moving to 12,3 and when I run hp-doctor I get lots of red ink advising that this version is not yet supported. I reverted to Yast installation and had to turn off the firewall before I could get it to work, I read the Help advice on Firewall settings with regard to CUPS which is NOT to open port 631 to external zone but put printer in internal zone. Since my lan is the external zone as far as my laptop is concerned this is a problem After turning firewall off while completing printer installation I turned it on again and was still able to print but hp-setup doesn’t work like it used to. Do you have any further advice to add to above regarding 12.3?
By saying hp-doctor, do you really mean “hp-check”? So I have not been having any problems with hplip in openSUSE 12.3 and have not been using the version in the Printing repository either since I switched to openSUSE 12.3. I have run the terminal command:
hp-check -t
And I have managed to fix all but two errors that appear for missing policykit (where our version must not match) and hpaio which I think does not exist in our packaging. The bottom line for me is that hplip is printing just fine to my two network printers in openSUSE 12.3.
On 2013-03-31 01:46, Budgie2 wrote:
> I reverted to
> Yast installation and had to turn off the firewall before I could get it
> to work, I read the Help advice on Firewall settings with regard to
> CUPS which is NOT to open port 631 to external zone but put printer in
> internal zone. Since my lan is the external zone as far as my laptop is
> concerned this is a problem
IIRC, the printing service is not considered secure. If you open the
cups page from another computer, the password can be sniffed, thus the
recommendation to create different passwords for use with cups different
than those of the user on the system. Specially true for root, which
often has to be used to administer cups. This is documented somewhere in
the wiki:
If the computer is connected to a home network behind a router to
internet with its firewall, you can consider it safe to open port 631,
no matter if you setup the zone as “external” in the firewall settings.
For the exact details, the second link above gives them all
–
Cheers / Saludos,
Carlos E. R.
(from 12.1 x86_64 “Asparagus” at Telcontar)
