Setting Up A Raw Printer in Ubuntu Linux

Compatibility

• ✅ 2.1 | ✅ 2.0 | ✅ 1.9 | ...
• Windows | Mac | Linux

This tutorial is for raw printers only. If unsure please see What is Raw Printing?

Background

These steps will allow a USB, Network, Serial or Parallel attached printer to receive raw commands through Java on Ubuntu Linux.

Steps

1. Open Settings > Printers > Additional Printer Settings

   

2. Click +Add

3. Set up the printer/port settings:

   For USB Printer:

   Devices: Enter URI

   Enter Device URI: usb://Zebra/LP2844 (example)

   Get this port by issuing the command lpinfo -v |grep usb:

   Note: You don't need the "? location=1a200000" information.

   For Network Printer:

   Devices: AppSocket/HP JetDirect

   Host: 192.168.254.254 (example)

   Port: 9100

   The Host IP address may be configured to use a different address, which is outside of the scope of this tutorial. If AppSocket is not listed, close and relaunch the Wizard and it should appear.

   For Serial Printer

   Devices: Enter URI

   Enter Device URI: serial:/dev/ttyS0 (or serial:/dev/ttyUSB0, etc)

   For USB serial, issue the command dmesg |grep tty

   Insufficient permissions fix: This command grants the logged in user write permission to all serial ports:

   sudo usermod -a -G dialout $USER;

   Note: 12.04 users may also need to remove [ModeManager] (https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/662881) due to a specific bug, ttylUSB devices don't seem writable by CUPS, so try printToFile('/dev/ttyUSB0'); instead.

4. Click Forward

5. Driver: Select printer from Database > Generic > Forward

6. Models: Raw Queue

   Drivers: Generic Raw Queue > Forward

   

7. Printer Name: (ie: my_raw_printer)

   Description: My Raw Printer

You may now print to your printer as a raw device.

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To learn how to print from a webpage continue to Getting Started