Solaris 11: Setup Printer server using CUPS and Windows 7 x64

Now that Solaris 11.1 now comes with cups v1.4.5 I thought I would replace our old Solaris 10 lpd server with a cups set up. The printer server is used by many clients, MacOS, Windows and Solaris. Note: Solaris SRU 11.1.8.4.0 fixed a few problems with Cups. 

Steps:

• Create Solaris zone (printsrv)
• Setup cups server and printers
• Setup Windows 7 clients

 Create Solaris zone (printsrv)

• A normal Solaris zone is required and nothing special here.

# sudo zonecfg -z printsrv export

create -b
set brand=solaris
set zonepath=/zones/printsrv
set autoboot=true
set bootargs="-m verbose"
set limitpriv=default,sys_time
set ip-type=exclusive
add anet
set linkname=net0
set lower-link=auto
set allowed-address=193.60.2.46/24
set defrouter=193.60.2.245
set link-protection=mac-nospoof
set configure-allowed-address=true
set mac-address=random
end 

# sudo zoneadm -z printsrv  install 

# sudo zoneadm -z printsrv boot

# sudo zlogin -C -e\@ printsrv

Setup cups server and printers

• Install cups packages

 # sudo pkg install print/cups print/cups/filter/foomatic-db print/cups/filter/foomatic-db-engine print/cups/hal-cups-utils print/cups/system-config-printer

•  Install cups libraries

# sudo pkg install library/print/cups-libs library/desktop/gtk2/gtk-backend-cups library/python-2/pycups library/python-2/pycups-26 library/python-2/pycups-27

• Install print filters

# sudo pkg install print/filter/ghostscript print/filter/gutenprint print/filter/hplip print/lp/filter/foomatic-rip print/lp/filter/foomatic-ppds

• Start printer services

# sudo svcadm enable cups/scheduler
# sudo svcadm enable cups/in-lpd

# sudo svcs "*cups*"
STATE          STIME    FMRI
online         May_24   svc:/application/cups/scheduler:default
online         May_24   svc:/application/cups/in-lpd:default

•  Allow remote administration of cups. Edit /etc/cups/cupsd.conf and change some of the others:

 Listen 631

...

 
  # Allow shared printing and remote administration...
  Order allow,deny
  Allow @LOCAL

...

  # Allow remote administration...
  Order allow,deny
  Allow @LOCAL

...

  AuthType Default
  Require user @SYSTEM
  # Allow remote access to the configuration files...
  Order allow,deny
  Allow @LOCAL

• Restart the services and the URL should work.

 # sudo svcadm restart svc:/application/cups/scheduler:default
http://printsrv:631

• Now you can add a printer. The GUI is straight forward so it is just a matter of finding the printer interfaces. Also, alter the some of the server administration options.

• Here are the command line way of doing it.
• We have a lot of HP LaserJet P4515x printer and I am using a PS PPD file that came with print/filter/hplip since I had problems with the cups (hpcups) software.

# lpadmin -p cork -E -v socket://cork:9100 -P /usr/share/ppd/SUNWhpijs/HP/hp-laserjet_p4515x-ps.ppd.gz
# lpadmin -p cork   -L"Printer Room" -D"HP Laserjet 4515"
# lpstat -l -p cork
printer cork is idle.  enabled since Thu Oct 17 21:36:46 2013
        Form mounted:
        Content types: any
        Printer types: unknown
        Description: HP Laserjet 4515
        Alerts: none
        Location: Printer Room
        Connection: direct
        Interface: /etc/cups/ppd/cork.ppd
        On fault: no alert
        After fault: continue
        Users allowed:
                (all)
        Forms allowed:
                (none)
        Banner required
        Charset sets:
                (none)
        Default pitch:
        Default page size:
        Default port settings:

• Add Printer options: Duplex, A4

#  lpoptions -p cork -o PageSize=A4 -o Duplex=DuplexNoTumble -o HPOption_Duplexer=True

• Display all possible printer options available to you. (I have highlighted the ones alter with the command above)

# lpoptions -p cork -l
HPPrinterModel/Printer Model: *Zorro ZorroLite Toronado
HPCollateSupported/Collation in Printer: True288 *False288
HPOption_Tray3/Tray 3: Tray3_500 Tray3_1500 *False
HPOption_Tray4/Tray 4: Tray4_500 Tray4_1500 *False
HPOption_Tray5/Tray 5: Tray5_500 Tray5_1500 *False
HPOption_Tray6/Tray 6: Tray6_500 Tray6_1500 *False
HPOption_Duplexer/Duplex Unit: *True False
HPOption_Disk/Printer Disk: True *False
HPOption_Envelope_Feeder/Optional Envelope Feeder: True *False
HPOption_MBM_Mixed/Accessory Output Bins: *Standard HP5BinMB_Mailbox HP5BinMB_Stacker HP5BinMB_Separator HP5BinMB_Collator MBMStaplerStacker MBMStacker
HPPaperPolicy/Fit to Page: *PromptUser NearestSizeAdjust NearestSizeNoAdjust
HPServicesWeb/Services on the Web: *SupportAndTroubleshooting ProductManuals OrderSupplies ShowMeHow
HPServicesUtility/Device Maintenance: StatusOfMyPrinter *DeviceAndSuppliesStatus
HPJobRetentionOption/Mode: HPJobRetentionQuickCopy HPJobRetentionProof HPJobRetentionStoreJob HPJobRetentionPersonal *HPJobRetentionOff
HPUsePINToPrint/Use PIN to Print: *False True
HPDuplicateJobMode/If Job Name Exists: *Unique Overwrite
HPUserName/User Name: *FileSharingName Set
HPJobName/Job Name: *DocName Set
HPManualDuplexSwitch/Manual Duplex: True *False
HPManualDuplexPrintGuide/Print Reinsertion Guide: True *False
HPManualDuplexOrientation/Binding: *DuplexNoTumble DuplexTumble
HPBookletFilter/Format Output As Booklet: True *False
HPBookletBackCover/Last Page Is Back Cover: True *False
HPBookletPageOrder/Page Order: *Normal Asian
HPBookletScaling/Scaling: *Proportional FitPage
HPBookletPageSize/Paper For Booklet: *Letter Legal Executive HalfLetter w612h935 A4 A5 A6 B5 w553h765 w522h737 w558h774 Postcard DoublePostcard
OutputBin/Output Bin: *PrinterDefault Bin1 Bin2 Bin3 Bin4 Bin5
HPStaplerOptions/Stapling Options: *None 1Angled_Max15
HPRotate180/Rotate Page 180 deg: *False True
MirrorPrint/Mirror Image: True *False
MediaType/Media Type: *Unspecified Plain Light6074 Bond Recycled Card_Stock176220 Monotransparency Labels Letterhead Envelope Preprinted Prepunched Colored Rough
HPStraightPaperPath/Use Straight Paper Path: True *False
Duplex/2-Sided Printing: None *DuplexNoTumble DuplexTumble
Collate/Collate: True *False
PageSize/Page Size: Letter Legal Executive HalfLetter w612h935 *A4 A5 A6 B5 w553h765 w522h737 w558h774 Postcard DoublePostcard Env10 EnvMonarch EnvISOB5 EnvC5 EnvDL Custom.WIDTHxHEIGHT
InputSlot/Paper Source: *Auto Tray1 Tray2 Tray3 Tray4 Tray5 Tray6 Tray1_Man EnvelopeFeeder
Resolution/Printer Resolution: 1200x1200dpi 1200dpi *600x600dpi
Smoothing/Resolution Enhancement: *PrinterDefault On Off
HPEconoMode/EconoMode: *PrinterDefault True False
HPHalftone/Levels of Gray: *PrinterDefault Enhanced Standard
HPwmSwitch/Mode: *Off Watermark Overlay
HPwmPages/Pages: *AllPages FirstPage
HPwmTextMessage/Text: *Draft CompanyConfidential CompanyProprietary CompanyPrivate Confidential Copy Copyright FileCopy Final ForInternalUse Preliminary Proof ReviewCopy Sample TopSecret Urgent Set
HPwmFontName/Font: CourierB *HelveticaB TimesB
HPwmFontSize/Size: pt24 pt30 pt36 pt42 *pt48 pt54 pt60 pt66 pt72 pt78 pt84 pt90
HPwmTextAngle/Angle: Deg90 Deg75 Deg60 *Deg45 Deg30 Deg15 Deg0 DegN15 DegN30 DegN45 DegN60 DegN75 DegN90
HPwmTextStyle/Style: Thin *Medium Thick Halo Fill
HPwmBrightness/Intensity: Darkest Darker Dark MediumDark *Medium MediumLight Light Lighter Lightest

• Test that your printer works.
• If all OK now you want to setup your Windows Clients

 

Setup Windows 7 clients

I had a lot of problems with Windows 7 x64 and printers drivers, but I got it to all work with using the CUPS driver above and the "HP Universal Driver PS"

•  Install the "HP Universal Driver PS" drive

C:\Temp\HPPSdrivers\Install.exe /dm /q

•  Create printer cork which connects via out printer on the server

C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Rundll32.exe printui.dll,PrintUIEntry  /ga /x /n "cork"  /if /r "http://printsrv:631/printers/cork" /m "HP Universal Printing PS" /h x64 /b "cork"

•   After you have set any default options using the Printer Wizard on Windows 7 i.e. Duplex, Location and other features you can save it for future deployment.

C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Rundll32.exe printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /Ss /n "cork" /a "C:\Temp\setcork.dat"

•   You can then use the following command to deploy your Windows 7 options to other PCs

C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Rundll32.exe printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /Sr /n "cork" /a "C:\Temp\setcork.dat" d u g 2

 That it! Hope it helps.