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The Common UNIX Printing SystemTM, or CUPS, is the software you use to print from applications like the web browser you are using to read this page. It converts the page descriptions produced by your application (put a paragraph here, draw a line there, and so forth) into something your printer can understand and then sends the information to the printer for printing.

Now, since every printer manufacturer does things differently, printing can be very complicated. CUPS does its best to hide this from you and your application so that you can concentrate on printing and less on how to print. Generally, the only time you need to know anything about your printer is when you use it for the first time, and even then CUPS can often figure things out on its own.

Install CUPS printer server in Debian

#apt-get install cupsys cupsys-driver-gutenprint foomatic-db-gutenprint foomatic-filters fontconfig libtiff4 libfreetype6

NOTE:- If your network use DHCP it’s a good idea to set up your server to use static IP. I will use as 172.20.22.74 for the server and 172.20.22.150 for administration workstation.

Configure CUPS

Default configuration file located at /etc/cups/cupsd.conf in this file you need to configure the following sections to make it work.

First, check the encryption setting and change

# Default authentication type, when authentication is required…
DefaultAuthType Basic

to

# Default authentication type, when authentication is required…
DefaultAuthType Basic
DefaultEncryption IfRequested

Then we need to tell it to listen for the server change

# Only listen for connections from the local machine.
Listen localhost:631
Listen /var/run/cups/cups.sock

to

# Only listen for connections from the local machine.
Listen localhost:631
Listen 172.20.22.74
Listen /var/run/cups/cups.sock

We need it to be visible to the entire network

# Show shared printers on the local network.
Browsing On
BrowseOrder allow,deny
BrowseAllow @LOCAL

what machines that may access the server change

# Restrict access to the server…
<Location/>
Order allow,deny
Allow localhost
</Location>

to

# Restrict access to the server…
<Location/>
Order allow,deny
Allow localhost
Allow 172.20.22.*
</Location>

And the same for the configuration files change

# Restrict access to configuration files…
<Location /admin/conf>
AuthType Basic
Require user @SYSTEM
Order allow,deny
Allow localhost
</Location>

to

# Restrict access to configuration files…
<Location /admin/conf>
AuthType Basic
Require user @SYSTEM
Order allow,deny
Allow localhost
Allow 172.20.22.150
</Location>

Other configuration i left default one so need to change anything.

Now you need to restart CUPS using the following command

#/etc/init.d/cupsys restart

You should now be able to connect to the CUPS web interface from the administrator workstation (IP 172.20.22.150 in this example) by pointing your web browser at http://172.20.22.74:631/ once it opens you should see the following screen

If you got the correct drivers installed and your printer is connected to the server, Now you need to add your printer under the “Administration” tab.Setup your printer and finish the setup and verify that it works by printing the CUPS test page.

Setting up the CUPS clients

The CUPS clients are easy to set up and the config is identical on all machines.You need to install the following packages for client

#apt-get install cupsys cupsys-client

Configuring CUPS Client

You need to create /etc/cups/client.conf as root

#touch /etc/cups/client.conf

Now you need to edit the /etc/cups/client.conf file

#vi /etc/cups/client.conf

Enter the following information the server IP and the encryption requirement

# Servername
ServerName 172.20.22.74

# Encryption
Encryption IfRequested

Save the file, then restart the client

#/etc/init.d/cupsys restart

Adding Printers

Now you need to add printer in GNOME go to Desktop—>Administration—>Printing

Once it opens you should see the following screen

Select Printer—>Add printer

Once it opens you should see the following screen

In the above screen select Network Printer option,select CUPS Printer and enter the URl and click on Forward

Select your printer manufacturer and model or install printer drivers and click on apply

After finishing the setup you should see the similar to the follwoing screen now your printer is ready for printing.

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Who doesn’t like the idea of open source, of sharing, and that every one who is able to can change software to his/her likings and share the changes with the rest of the free software world? Unfortunately, it takes a big deal of self-restraint to only use completely liberated software. Who can resist the attraction of shiny animations on websites (Flash), or those of playing music on your iPod (which does not support any of the free formats that are superior in so many ways)?

Unfortunately, due to a lot of legal restrictions, Xubuntu is unable to add support for these restricted formats to a default installation. Luckily, since Xubuntu Feisty (7.04) it is easier than ever to enable, using Applications->System->Add/Remove.... With just a few clicks, you can install the package “Ubuntu Restricted Extras”. So, I open up Add/Remove… and search for “Restricted Extras”…

Not found?! Oh, wait…

To broaden your search, choose ‘Show all Open Source applications’ or ‘Show all available’ applications.

So, in the top right-hand corner, I select “All available applications” and, what a surprise, there it is!

Cliking the checkbox in front of “Ubuntu restricted extras” I get the following pop-up:

Hmm… If you are a person (as in: not a company) then it should be legal for you to install these packages. I am a person, so I click “Install”.
However, the purpose of this window isn’t entirely clear. Indeed, the button said “Install”, but it actually meant “Enable”, as in “enable extra repositories” (i.e. locations to download software from). So, if you were thinking the package would now be installed: you’re wrong. In fact, the checkbox in front of “Ubuntu restricted extras” is still unchecked. Check it now, then click OK. You will be asked if you are sure, click “Apply”. The packages will then finally be installed.

There you have it! You can now play your music and watch YouTube (and yes, you can use Gnash for that, but more likely than not situations will occur where you need a version of Flash later than seven). You can use Java (which will be open sourced and thus can be included in future releases of Xubuntu) and websites will now be displayed in the fonts their authors wanted them to be displayed in! Enjoy!

Note: the next version of Xubuntu, Gutsy Gibbon, will introduce Xubuntu Restricted Extras, which will install packages more appropriate for Xubuntu.