Raspberry Pi

Network Printing with Raspberry Pi

Setting Up Network Printing with Raspberry Pi: A Beginner’s Guide for 2024

Focus Keyword: Network Printing with Raspberry Pi

Introduction:

Raspberry Pi can serve as a low-cost network print server, allowing you to connect a printer and share it across multiple devices in your home or office network. By setting up network printing with Raspberry Pi, you can turn any standard USB printer into a network printer, accessible by computers, tablets, and smartphones. This guide will show you how to configure your Raspberry Pi for network printing using CUPS (Common UNIX Printing System), making it easy for any user to print remotely.

Why Use Raspberry Pi for Network Printing?

  • Cost-Effective Solution: Turn a basic USB printer into a wireless network printer without needing to buy expensive hardware.
  • Cross-Platform Printing: Use your printer across different devices, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.
  • Centralized Printing: Manage and monitor all print jobs from a single server (your Raspberry Pi), making it perfect for home offices or small businesses.

What You Need for Network Printing with Raspberry Pi

Before you begin, ensure you have the following:

  • Raspberry Pi (Raspberry Pi 4, Raspberry Pi 3, or Raspberry Pi Zero).
  • USB Printer: A standard printer with a USB connection.
  • Network Connection: Raspberry Pi connected to your home or office network (via Ethernet or Wi-Fi).
  • CUPS (Common UNIX Printing System): The software that will enable network printing.

Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Network Printing on Raspberry Pi

Step 1: Update Raspberry Pi and Install CUPS

CUPS (Common UNIX Printing System) is the software that will allow your Raspberry Pi to manage print jobs over the network.

  1. Open the terminal on your Raspberry Pi (or connect via SSH if using a headless setup).

Update the package list:
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sudo apt update

Install CUPS:
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sudo apt install cups -y

Add the pi user to the lpadmin group so you can configure the printers:
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sudo usermod -aG lpadmin pi

Step 2: Configure CUPS for Network Access

By default, CUPS only allows connections from the local device. You need to modify its configuration to allow access from other devices on the network.

Edit the CUPS configuration file:
bash
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sudo nano /etc/cups/cupsd.conf

  2. Allow remote access by making the following changes:

Find the line:
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Listen localhost:631

and change it to:
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Port 631

Find the section that looks like this:
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<Location />

  Order allow,deny

</Location>

and replace it with:
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<Location />

  Order allow,deny

  Allow @local

</Location>

Do the same for the following <Location> blocks (find and modify as shown):
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<Location /admin>

  Order allow,deny

  Allow @local

</Location>

 

<Location /admin/conf>

  Order allow,deny

  Allow @local

</Location>

  1. Save and close the file: Press Ctrl + X, then Y, and hit Enter.

Restart the CUPS service to apply the changes:
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sudo systemctl restart cups

Step 3: Access the CUPS Web Interface

You can manage your printer setup via the CUPS web interface.

  1. Open a web browser on your computer or mobile device connected to the same network.

Navigate to the CUPS web interface by entering the Raspberry Pi’s IP address followed by port 631:
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http://192.168.1.x:631

  1. Replace 192.168.1.x with your Raspberry Pi’s actual IP address.
  2. Log in with your Raspberry Pi credentials (username: pi, password: the password you set).

Step 4: Add a Printer to CUPS

Now that you have access to the CUPS web interface, you can add and configure your printer.

  1. Plug your USB printer into the Raspberry Pi.
  2. In the CUPS web interface, click Administration.
  3. Under Printers, select Add Printer.
  4. Select your USB printer from the list and click Continue.
  5. Provide a name, description, and location for your printer, then check the box to share this printer and click Continue.
  6. Choose the printer’s driver from the list. If your printer’s model is listed, select it. If not, try a generic driver.
  7. Click Add Printer to complete the setup.

Step 5: Enable Printer Sharing for Network Printing

To ensure other devices can access the printer, enable printer sharing.

  1. In the CUPS web interface, go to Administration and click Manage Printers.
  2. Select your printer, click Modify Printer, and ensure the Share This Printer checkbox is selected.

Step 6: Access the Network Printer from Other Devices

Now that your Raspberry Pi is set up as a network print server, you can add the printer to other devices on the same network.

For Windows:
  1. Open Control Panel and go to Devices and Printers.
  2. Click Add a Printer and choose The printer that I want isn’t listed.
  3. Select Add a printer using a TCP/IP address.
  4. Enter the Raspberry Pi’s IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.x) and follow the instructions to complete the setup.
For macOS:
  1. Open System Preferences and click Printers & Scanners.
  2. Click the + button to add a new printer.
  3. Select the IP tab and enter the Raspberry Pi’s IP address, using the IPP protocol.
  4. Choose the appropriate driver for your printer.
For Linux:
  1. Open the Printers section of your system settings.
  2. Click Add and search for network printers.
  3. Select your printer from the list and configure it.

Optional: Setting Up AirPrint for iOS Devices

If you want to print from iOS devices (iPhone or iPad), you can configure AirPrint on Raspberry Pi. CUPS has built-in support for AirPrint, but some extra steps are required.

Install the required packages:
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sudo apt install avahi-discover avahi-daemon avahi-utils

Restart the Avahi service:
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sudo systemctl restart avahi-daemon

Your Raspberry Pi printer should now appear on iOS devices when using the Print option in apps.

Troubleshooting Network Printing on Raspberry Pi

Problem: Printer not listed in the CUPS interface.

Solution: Ensure the printer is properly connected to the Raspberry Pi via USB. Check that the printer is powered on and that CUPS is running by checking the status:
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sudo systemctl status cups

Problem: Printer not accessible from other devices.

  • Solution: Ensure that printer sharing is enabled in the CUPS interface. Verify that your Raspberry Pi and other devices are on the same network and that no firewall is blocking port 631.

Problem: Printer driver not found.

  • Solution: Try using a generic printer driver if your specific printer model isn’t listed.

FAQ: Network Printing with Raspberry Pi

Q: Can I use any USB printer with Raspberry Pi for network printing?
A: Most USB printers will work with Raspberry Pi via CUPS. If your printer is not listed, try using a generic driver.

Q: How many devices can print to the Raspberry Pi printer simultaneously?
A: Raspberry Pi can handle multiple print requests, but performance may vary depending on the model and workload.

Q: Can I print wirelessly from my smartphone or tablet?
A: Yes, you can configure AirPrint on Raspberry Pi for wireless printing from iOS devices, and Android devices can use third-party apps to print via CUPS.

Conclusion:

By following this guide, you’ve successfully set up network printing with Raspberry Pi, turning your basic USB printer into a shared network printer accessible from any device. Whether you’re using Windows, macOS, Linux, or mobile devices, Raspberry Pi makes it easy to print across your network, all at a fraction of the cost of dedicated print servers.

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