General/Other How-Tos

How to Configure Printers for WiFi Connection

Printers can be configured for wireless connection by any one of the following 3 methods.

Method I - Using hp-wificonfig/hp-setup utilities

     1.      Run ‘hp-setup’ on the terminal

     2.      Select the third option “Wireless/802.11 (requires temporary USB connection and is only available for select devices)”

     3.      Follow Wireless Wizard to get the IP address

     4.      Run ‘hp-setup <IP address>’

Method II - Using the Front Panel on the printer, if present

     1.      Press wireless button on the display

     2.      Select the “Wireless Menu”→"Wireless Setup Wizard”

     3.      Choose the router to connect the printer

     4.      Wait for the printer to display the IP address

     5.      Run ‘hp-setup <IP address>’

Method III - If hp-wificonfig/hp-setup fails and printer do not have panel

    1.      Download the Windows driver for the particular model

    2.      Install the Windows driver on your Windows machine and get the IP address.

    3.      Run ‘hp-setup  <IP address>’ on Linux machine

 

How to check my printer connection in Linux

Required Steps:

How to check if the printer is connected to the computer.

  1. Unplug the printer from your computer, open a terminal/console window and enter this command. This will display the syslog.
tail -f /var/log/messages

for Ubuntu:

sudo tail -f /var/log/syslog

then reconnect the printer. You should see the system display something like:

Mar 16 11:45:43 localhost kernel: [4298892.030000] hub 2-1.2:1.0: USB hub found
Mar 16 11:45:43 localhost kernel: [4298892.033000] hub 2-1.2:1.0: 4 ports detected
Mar 16 11:45:44 localhost kernel: [4298892.316000] usb 2-1.3: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 11
Mar 16 11:45:44 localhost kernel: [4298892.409000] hub 2-1.3:1.0: USB hub found
Mar 16 11:45:44 localhost kernel: [4298892.412000] hub 2-1.3:1.0: 4 ports detected
Mar 16 11:45:44 localhost kernel: [4298892.697000] usb 2-1.2.1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 12
Mar 16 11:45:44 localhost kernel: [4298892.798000] drivers/usb/class/usblp.c: usblp0: USB Bidirectional printer dev 12 if 1 alt 0 proto 2 vid 0x03F0 pid 0x4311
Mar 16 11:45:44 localhost kernel: [4298892.798000] scsi6 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
Mar 16 11:45:44 localhost kernel: [4298892.975000] usb 2-1.2.2: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 13
Mar 16 11:45:44 localhost kernel: [4298893.063000] usb 2-1.2.2: not running at top speed; connect to a high speed hub
Mar 16 11:45:45 localhost kernel: [4298893.077000] drivers/usb/class/usblp.c: usblp0: USB Bidirectional printer dev 13 if 0 alt 0 proto 2 vid 0x03F0 pid 0x8804
Mar 16 11:45:45 localhost kernel: [4298893.255000] usb 2-1.3.1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 14
Mar 16 11:45:45 localhost kernel: [4298893.342000] usb 2-1.3.1: not running at top speed; connect to a high speed hub
Mar 16 11:45:45 localhost kernel: [4298893.356000] drivers/usb/class/usblp.c: usblp0: USB Bidirectional printer dev 14 if 0 alt 1 proto 2 vid 0x03F0 pid 0x2817
Mar 16 11:45:45 localhost kernel: [4298893.360000] scsi7 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
Mar 16 11:45:45 localhost kernel: [4298893.539000] usb 2-1.3.3: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 15
Mar 16 11:45:45 localhost kernel: [4298893.624000] usb 2-1.3.3: not running at top speed; connect to a high speed hub
Mar 16 11:45:45 localhost kernel: [4298893.638000] drivers/usb/class/usblp.c: usblp0: USB Bidirectional printer dev 15 if 1 alt 0 proto 2 vid 0x03F0 pid 0x5711
Mar 16 11:45:45 localhost kernel: [4298893.638000] scsi8 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices

Then enter this command:

dmesg

You should see something like this displayed:

[4298893.638000] scsi8 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
[4298893.638000] usb-storage: device found at 15
[4298893.638000] usb-storage: waiting for device to settle before scanning
[4298897.802000]   Vendor: HP        Model: Officejet 74xx S  Rev: 1.00
[4298897.802000]   Type:   Direct-Access                      ANSI SCSI revision: 02
[4298897.816000] sd 6:0:0:0: Attached scsi removable disk sdb
[4298897.816000] sd 6:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg1 type 0
[4298897.817000] usb-storage: device scan complete
[4298898.366000]   Vendor: HP        Model: LaserJet 2840     Rev: 1.00
[4298898.366000]   Type:   Direct-Access                      ANSI SCSI revision: 02
[4298898.381000] sd 7:0:0:0: Attached scsi removable disk sdc
[4298898.381000] sd 7:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg2 type 0
[4298898.384000] usb-storage: device scan complete
[4298898.642000]   Vendor: HP        Model: Photosmart        Rev: 1.00
[4298898.642000]   Type:   Direct-Access                      ANSI SCSI revision: 02
[4298898.657000] sd 8:0:0:0: Attached scsi removable disk sdd
[4298898.657000] sd 8:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg3 type 0
[4298898.660000] usb-storage: device scan complete

enter this command:

/usr/lib/cups/backend/hp

You should see something like this displayed:

direct hp:/usb/Photosmart_series?serial=XXXXXXXXXXXXXX "HP Photosmart_series" "hp:/usb/Photosmart_series?serial=XXXXXXXXXXXXXX"
direct hp:/usb/HP_Color_LaserJet_2840?serial=XXXXXXXXXXXX "HP HP_Color_LaserJet_2840" "hp:/usb/HP_Color_LaserJet_2840?serial=XXXXXXXXXXXX"
direct hp:/usb/Deskjet_6980_series?serial=XXXXXXXXXXXXXX "HP Deskjet_6980_series" "hp:/usb/Deskjet_6980_series?serial=XXXXXXXXXXXXXX"
direct hp:/usb/Officejet_7400_series?serial=XXXXXXXXXXXXXX "HP Officejet_7400_series" "hp:/usb/Officejet_7400_series?serial=XXXXXXXXXXXXXX"

 

How do I set up HP printing on the Acer Aspire One?

Required Steps: 

A package (RPM) has been developed to assist customers in getting HP printing set up on the Acer Aspire One Netbook. For instructions on downloading and setting up HPLIP from this RPM, go to: https://developers.hp.com/hp-linux-imaging-and-printing/ManualBuildandInstall.html

 

How to add a new printer from within hp-toolbox

Required Steps: 

There is no work around at this time. Please install your new printer using hp-setup from a terminal window.

 

How to check the syslog for HPLIP system error

Required Steps: 

With superuser (su/sudo) privileges, use the following command to view the syslog. Look for any errors during the time of the failure.

# tail -f /var/log/messages

 

How to delete printer queue

Required Steps: 
 

There are several ways to delete the HPLIP printer queues:

hp-toolbox

In a terminal run: hp-toolbox

Click the printer queue you want to delete, then press the "Delete" key on your keyboard.

CUPS

In your browser go to http://localhost:631/printers

Click "Delete" next to the printer queue you want to delete.

 

How to disable smart install feature in HP printer(s) from Linux

Required Steps: 

HP Smart Install is a service running on firmware which makes printer appear as "Mass Storage Devices" when connected via USB cable. This is to install the minimal printer software from flash memory of printer. This service needs to be disabled on Linux in order to have the device function as a printer.

You can detect and disable Smart Install using the below methods:

  1. Using the Device Front Panel:  Settings → Services → HP Smart install

NOTE: This option is available only for some HP printers. If this option is not found in the device front panel then please try other options mentioned below.

  1. Using HPLIP tool:
    Run hp-doctor script. It will notify you whether there is a Smart Install device connected and prompt you for disabling the same.
  2. Using Linux commands:
    To detect Smart Install:
    1. Run command "lsusb" in terminal to obtain USB ID's.
      ex: $> lsusb

            Bus 001 Device 004: ID 03f0:042a Hewlett-Packard

where,

Bus  ID is 001

Device ID is 004

  1. Run command "lsusb -s [[bus]:][devnumber] | grep bInterfaceClass"
    ex: $> lsusb -s 001:004 | grep bInterfaceClass
  2. If the output contains "8 Mass Storage". It means the device has the Smart Install service enabled and is detected as mass storage device.

To disable Smart Install:

  1. Download  SmartInstallDisable-Tool.run (Right-click the link and choose "Save Link As..." to save the file to your computer)
  2. Download SmartInstallDisable-Tool.run.asc(Right-click the link and choose "Save Link As..." to save the file to your computer)
  3. Validate the digital signature of the file SmartInstallDisable-Tool.run using SmartInstallDisable-Tool.run.asc through gpg command with superuser permissions

su -c "gpg --keyserver pgp.mit.edu --recv-keys 0xA59047B9"

su -c "gpg --verify SmartInstallDisable-Tool.run.asc SmartInstallDisable-Tool.run"

  1. Run command  "sh SmartInstallDisable-Tool.run" in terminal to disable the Smart Install feature in the device

How to find the root/superuser password

Required Steps: 

To install HPLIP you will need the root and/or superuser password.

Depending on your Linux Distribution the root password is either set during install – or the password is the same password as your user account.

For example, on Ubuntu the root/superuser password is normally your user password – however, on Fedora the root password is usually set when Fedora is installed on the system, therefore the password might be different than the user password.

You may want to contact your Linux Distribution for more information on using the root/superuser account.

 

How to run terminal

Required Steps: 
 

What is Terminal?

A "terminal" is a way of sending commands to the computer by using your keyboard. This is often referred to as: terminal, shell, console, command line interface (CLI), and command prompt – among others.

How come I need to run terminal or run commands using the command line interface?

Not all Linux commands or functions use a graphical user interface (GUI). Often a command or process can be run more quickly using the command line. The command line can seem intimidating at first, however once some basic skills are mastered it is really no more difficult than the point-and-click interface.  Because the Linux platform still uses many things with the command line, gaining some basic skills will help your Linux experience be more meaningful. For troubleshooting HP Linux Imaging and Printing we will be using the command line, but you don't have to be an expert to understand it.

How to run terminal:

Ubuntu
In Gnome (Ubuntu)

The terminal can be found at Applications menu → Accessories → Terminal.

In Xfce (Xubuntu)

The terminal can be found at Applications menu → System→ Terminal.

In KDE (Kubuntu)
The terminal can be found at KMenu → System → Terminal Program (Konsole).

For more information on using Terminal in Ubuntu here. https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UsingTheTerminal

Fedora
To open a terminal in a graphical environment:

1. Open up your menu. This is either the "Red Hat" down in the tray, or a little "foot," or possibly a little penguin.

2. Under System Tools, click Terminal.

To switch your entire screen to a terminal, press Ctrl-Alt-F1. You can then switch between six different terminals, by using Alt-F1 through Alt-F6. Pressing Alt-F7 will bring you back to your graphical environment.

For more information on using Terminal in Fedora click here. http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/DavidFarning/fedorafaqBasics

Other Linux Versions
Other Linux distribution usually have a similar process for running terminal.  You may need to check with your specific distribution on how to run terminal.