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I'm running Sabayon Linux (x86_64).

$ uname -a
Linux qdoe 3.7.0-sabayon #1 SMP Thu Dec 20 07:12:55 UTC 2012 x86_64 Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3930K CPU @ 3.20GHz GenuineIntel GNU/Linux

I have a HP LaserJet 1100 printer which by default is connected via an 25-pin parallel printer port (DB25). Now, I have a new computer without such a port and I'm not able to directly connect the printer.

Therefore, I bought an USB-to-DB25-connector and tried to install my printer.

USB-to-DB25-connector

But here the trouble starts. In Sabayon or Gentoo, there is a toolbox for HP printers called hplip which is very easy to use: connect printer, detect it with hplip and you are ready to go.

hplip

Now the issue is, that the hplip software does not recognize the printer. Neither via USB nor via parallel port (LPT). The port seems to work though:

# lsusb
(...)
Bus 002 Device 006: ID 067b:2305 Prolific Technology, Inc. PL2305 Parallel Port

I already tried to manually enter the USB address 067b:2305 into hplip - but no success, the printer is not recognized.

What else can I do? Is there some kind of further port-emulation software or any drivers I need in addition to make this port work with my printer?

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I haven't seen such a beast, but it should behave like a paralell port, just probably with a weird name. Try to find out what it is named, and see if you can enter that. Perhaps you'd have to find out exactly what files the tool modifies (perhaps strace helps here) and hack the paralell name's port in. It would be nice if you reported your problems and solution to your distribution to update hplip. – vonbrand Jan 26 at 6:27

1 Answer

up vote 1 down vote

http://en.gentoo-wiki.com/wiki/CUPS

If you are using a USB->Parallel adapter, you'll want to do the following:

Add your printer by selecting a different connection type (since usb and parallel will not be listed)
Edit the file /etc/cups/printers.conf
Change the DeviceID line to read: DeviceID = parallel:/dev/usb/lp0
...actually, it looks like the proper line is now: DeviceURI parallel:/dev/usb/lp0

Note: that it is "parallel:" NOT "usb:" - the USB part is handled by the usb drivers. To CUPS it should show up as a parallel port. CUPS doesn't know to look for USB->Parallel adapters, but if you manually configure it, it will work

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Hi, thanks for your reply. I dont have a /etc/cups/printers.conf file. Creating one, adding that line and restarting cupsd didn't work. – donschoe May 10 at 17:33

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