Printer Configuration Issue with openSUSE 11.3

English Hardware
1

I am unable to add my USB printer via the YaST2 Printer Configuration setup tool in openSUSE 11.3. The printer, a Dell Color Laser 1320c, was last used with openSUSE 11.2, and setup was entirely uneventful. No driver is provided by Dell, so I used the Fuji Xerox DocuPrint C525A Linux driver.

The problem: To add a print queue in 11.3, a Connection must be specified (parallel, USB, network, etc). However, the configuration wizard fails to show the presence of the USB print device.

TROUBLESHOOTING

Hardware Information shows the following:

59: USB 00.0: 10900 Printer
[Created at usb.122]
Unique ID: 7bWa._Fboe88l6WC
Parent ID: pBe4.9T1GDCLyFd9
SysFS ID: /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.7/usb2/2-3/2-3:1.0
SysFS BusID: 2-3:1.0
Hardware Class: printer
Model: “Dell Color Laser 1320c”
Hotplug: USB
Vendor: usb 0x413c “Dell Computer Corp.”
Device: usb 0x5516 “Color Laser 1320c”
SubVendor: “Dell”
SubDevice: “Color Laser 1320c”
Revision: “1.00”
Serial ID: “0930419488”
Driver: “usblp”
Driver Modules: “usblp”
Device File: /dev/usb/lp0
Device Files: /dev/usb/lp0, /dev/char/180:0, /dev/usblp0
Device Number: char 180:0
Speed: 480 Mbps
Module Alias: “usb:v413Cp5516d0100dc00dsc00dp00ic07isc01ip02”
Driver Info #0:
Driver Status: usblp is active
Driver Activation Cmd: “modprobe usblp”
Config Status: cfg=no, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown
Attached to: #52 (Hub)

The following commands should produce one sheet with the word ‘Hello’ printed on it:

echo -en “\rHello\r\f” >/dev/usb/lp0
echo -en “\rHello\r\f” >/dev/usblp0

In both cases, the printer reacts as though preparing to print, but no output is produced.

The command “lpinfo -l -m | less” shows the following about installed printer description (PPD) files:

Model: name = FujiXerox/en/FX_DocuPrint_C525_A_AP.ppd
natural_language = en
make-and-model = FX DocuPrint C525 A-AP v1.0
device-id =
Model: name = downloaded/FX_DocuPrint_C525_A_AP.ppd
natural_language = en
make-and-model = FX DocuPrint C525 A-AP v1.0
device-id =

This printer was working just eight weeks ago under 11.2, and 11.3 is obviously able to detect its presence and identify it correctly. I feel certain the solution is simple, but I haven’t found documentation that provides the answer. Suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

2

Have you tried to configure the printer using CUPs ?

http://localhost:631

3

I looked at CUPS briefly but didn’t see any reason to mess with it. Configuration of the printer under openSUSE 11.2 was a simple matter of providing a descriptive name for the printer and pointing the wizard to the PPD file. No harm in playing around (cautiously), though, so I tried CUPS without success.

CUPS Add Printer shows just one option for non-networked printers:

Local Printers: SCSI Printer

My printer is connected to usblp0, but the documentation seems to suggest that the interface type may not be important (i.e. “scsi” may be a legacy placeholder that describes all local connections generically). Pure speculation on my part. In any event, it’s the only option offered. Working from an example shown on screen, I specified the queue name thusly:

lpd://D7BFKQH1/dev/usb/lp0

Thereafter I selected the FujiXerox PPD file and specified various printer configuration options. Finally I attempted to send a test page to the printer. This last operation produced no output and no errors. The job is still shown to be “processing”.

4

With the printer connected, what is the output of lsusb?

5

Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 008: ID 413c:5516 Dell Computer Corp.
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 005 Device 002: ID 0a5c:5800 Broadcom Corp. BCM5880 Secure Applications Processor
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 006 Device 006: ID 1410:4100 Novatel Wireless U727
Bus 007 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 008 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub

“Dell Computer Corp.”: Both the printer and the laptop are Dell; I’m guessing this refers to an onboard laptop component.
“Broadcom Corp. BCM5880 Secure Applications Processor”: I believe this refers to the onboard smartcard reader.
“Novatel Wireless U727”: Sprint Mobile Broadband modem/mass storage connected via USB.

Working outside today; will try to check for and respond to messages periodically.

6

Vendor: usb 0x413c “Dell Computer Corp.”
Device: usb 0x5516 “Color Laser 1320c”

Yes lsusb is recognizing the dell printer

but …
Model: name = FujiXerox/en/FX_DocuPrint_C525_A_AP.ppd
natural_language = en
make-and-model = FX DocuPrint C525 A-AP v1.0
device-id =
Model: name = downloaded/FX_DocuPrint_C525_A_AP.ppd
natural_language = en
make-and-model = FX DocuPrint C525 A-AP v1.0
device-id =

The device-id = entries are blank indicating FX Docuprint is not linked to the usb device. Thusly, cups and lpd deamon both can’t talk to the printer thru this filter. all IMHO

7

Aha! I see what you did there. Guess I got overwhelmed by the forest and forgot to look at the trees. Even so, I remain stumped (pun intended) as far as a solution. I suppose I could revert to 11.2, but I can’t hide in the back woods forever…

8

If you intend to venture into the woods, walk real soft and carry a big stick at least until you leaves