7.4. Simple Printer Setup

This section tells how to configure printer hardware and the LPD software to use the printer. It teaches the basics:

• Section Hardware Setup gives some hints on connecting the printer to a port on your computer.
• Section Software Setup shows how to setup the LPD spooler configuration file /etc/printcap.

If you are setting up a printer that uses a network protocol to accept data to print instead of a serial or parallel interface, see Printers With Networked Data Stream Interaces.

Although this section is called ``Simple Printer Setup,'' it is actually fairly complex. Getting the printer to work with your computer and the LPD spooler is the hardest part. The advanced options like header pages and accounting are fairly easy once you get the printer working.

7.4.1. Hardware Setup

7.4.1.1. Ports and Cables

7.4.1.2. Parallel Ports

7.4.1.3. Serial Ports

7.4.2. Software Setup

7.4.2.1. Kernel Configuration

7.4.2.2. Enabling the Spooler: The /etc/printcap File