Linux and Printers Conundrum

[JulyRC]

Since I transitioned to Linux from Windows, It has been a challenge to work with and get to know Linux OS.
I have learned through trial and error that some Printers do not get along with Linux and vise-versa.
I have an Epson ET printer and an HP Envy printer. Linux recognizes the printers but at times does not perform well with them.
The Epson printer at times pauses and Linux gives me a message saying that unable to find host or to try later or something to that effect; but eventually after about a minute, it will communicate.
The Envy just does not want to communicate and it lights up like a Christmas decoration. I have been through the printer settings and have found some settings that I just don't understand.
So, I just stick to the basics, Printing preferences and job settings. Windows OS has the HP Smart app, which is now going to be replaced by the HP app.
So I just use the HP printer with Windows pc and the Epson with Linux OS.
Does anyone else have any issues with printers?

 

[APTI]

Since I transitioned to Linux from Windows, It has been a challenge to work with and get to know Linux OS.
I have learned through trial and error that some Printers do not get along with Linux and vise-versa.
I have an Epson ET printer and an HP Envy printer. Linux recognizes the printers but at times does not perform well with them.
The Epson printer at times pauses and Linux gives me a message saying that unable to find host or to try later or something to that effect; but eventually after about a minute, it will communicate.
The Envy just does not want to communicate and it lights up like a Christmas decoration. I have been through the printer settings and have found some settings that I just don't understand.
So, I just stick to the basics, Printing preferences and job settings. Windows OS has the HP Smart app, which is now going to be replaced by the HP app.
So I just use the HP printer with Windows pc and the Epson with Linux OS.
Does anyone else have any issues with printers?

no, I have no issues. HP and epson and canon printers generally are well supported. The companies tend to hide that support due to microsoft watching them. Go to the appropriate sites and see if they have a linux version driver for the printer you need. Canon hides the stuff but if you look you will find it. Same for hp and epson.
In fact though, I have a network that is windows and linux mixed. the printers behave great on linux but the windows computers are having trouble and a real b&$%* to install them.
If these printers are network then you are likely having communication issues with them. if you are plugging them directly to the computer via USB I would say they'd work fine that way.

 

[kc1di]

can't speak to the Epson as I've never had one, But Hp is well supported in Linux. I have an Envy 55 series and its has never give a problem in any Linux distro. One thing I always do thought is set the printer to a fixed IP address. some where beyond the normal DHCP range. that will prevent the printers address from changing if you install or connect another device.

 

[APTI]

can't speak to the Epson as I've never had one, But Hp is well supported in Linux. I have an Envy 55 series and its has never give a problem in any Linux distro. One thing I always do thought is set the printer to a fixed IP address. some where beyond the normal DHCP range. that will prevent the printers address from changing if you install or connect another device.

yes, listen to this one. network printers are all on DHCP which in short means the address will change at some time stopping communication to the printer from any computer. hard setting a good IP on the printer prevents this issue.

 

[bob466]

Printers/Scanners are designed to run in windoze but you can get them to work in Linux with a little trouble.

I've always had Epson printers...the first thing I do is...download the Linux Drivers for both printer and scanner...then I install them first...then install the printer/scanner and use the USB port.

This may be of help...

https://www.linux.org/threads/how-to-check-printer-ink-levels-in-linux-mint.45267/

 

[JulyRC]

can't speak to the Epson as I've never had one, But Hp is well supported in Linux. I have an Envy 55 series and its has never give a problem in any Linux distro. One thing I always do thought is set the printer to a fixed IP address. some where beyond the normal DHCP range. that will prevent the printers address from changing if you install or connect another device.

where do you set the fixed IP?

 

[charlie.corder]

I use Linux Mint 22.3 Zena.
Canon printer-scanners seem to work the best for me. No trouble with Canon.
Plug and play. I do use the usb connection, not wireless.
Hope this helps.
OG
TC

 

[kc1di]

where do you set the fixed IP?

It's set on the printer it's self. look in the manual it will tell you if you don't have access to the manual it's available on line here.

Hp envy - Free Pdf Manuals Download | ManualsLib

www.manualslib.com

once set install and use the hplip-gui tool to setup the printer and manually set that ip address. to install on Debian based distro

sudo apt install hplip-gui

other distros have it but the install will be different on Fedora distros it's called hplip graphic tool or something similar. Good luck.

 

[Condobloke]

@kc1di ....your link to the manual brings up a 404 forbidden for me

 

[kc1di]

@kc1di ....your link to the manual brings up a 404 forbidden for me

Works here. so must be the firewall or something.
try this page.

User manual HP ENVY 6055e (English - 138 pages)

Manual HP ENVY 6055e. View the HP ENVY 6055e manual for free or ask your question to other HP ENVY 6055e owners.

www.manua.ls

 

[Condobloke]

Must be setting in Librewolf..

No drama, not important

Edit to add: came back to my pc, 3 hours later, and the link works !
No clue

 

[Deleted member 197709]

My experience... I had purchased a Brother printer as it was supposedly very compatible with Linux. Wow what a pain in my butt trying to get that thing to work! Out of frustration, I dug out my father's Cannon MB 2100, and it was a piece of cake! Setting it up through Wifi worked like a charm even.

In the old days I had an Epson that worked great, but that was so many years ago! It was one of those that used paper driven by holes on the sides that you could peel off. That thing was a workhorse! Wish I still had it.

Actually the Cannon MB2100 wants to do a firmware update. It works so damn well, I'm afraid to let it update! Sometimes the new stuff comes with more headaches than just keeping the old stuff, for as long as it keeps working so well. I did update my uefi Bios firmware, and crossed my fingers! So far so good. I hate breaking stuff that just works! LOL

 

[deb_user]

Brothers have always worked well for me. You do need to install the Brother drivers, and they do provide them for Linux. If the printers work driverless, as many newer ones do, you just need to provide the proper address in CUPS. If you don't have CUPS installed, install it, it's the way to go. Common Unix Printing System. Available in most distro repositories.

 

[Deleted member 197709]

Brothers have always worked well for me. You do need to install the Brother drivers, and they do provide them for Linux. If the printers work driverless, as many newer ones do, you just need to provide the proper address in CUPS. If you don't have CUPS installed, install it, it's the way to go. Common Unix Printing System. Available in most distro repositories.

Yep. Went that rout. I could've gotten through it and been a happy camper I'm sure. Hiccups happened, and running a script to install the brothers driver, created a glitch concerning 32 bit libraries, which I avoid with a passion.

Shit, 128 bit will be common before 32 bit disappears i can imagine. At any rate, instead of carrying on, i dug out the Cannon and was pleasantly surprised. Had cups installed from the get go. Connon seems to be natively supported in such a way, it was stress free, were as Brother requires their 2nd party install process alongside cups, it seemed. Certainly not to diminish Brother's. I was just kinna like Ugh.. Lets see if this Cannon will be less troublesome kinna thing is all. My Brother is there when I have Cannon MB2100 troubles.

 

[deb_user]

If you're running a 64-bit system, use 64-bit drivers. 32-bit drivers are for 32-bit operating systems.

 

[Deleted member 197709]

If you're running a 64-bit system, use 64-bit drivers. 32-bit drivers are for 32-bit operating systems.

Exactly my point hehe... It's all good. Adding 32 bit libraries / i386 architecture to a 64 bit system is just a work around that I avoid. Very doable, but dang!! We aren't Windows holding on to 32 bit like it's gold.

It's been a little while, and maybe it's my Brothers Model, but the driver required 32 bit and actually instructed the 64 bit systems to add "I386 / 32 bit" arch, for the driver to work on 64 bit systems. Even providing a script to simplify the workaround for the 64 bit system... I was like ugh! Not going to break out bandaids, unless I need to, so to speak. I think it's pretty much the same for Brother printers in general, and maybe I'm wrong. I'm just not into adding the 32 bit arch. to my system. So I put Brothers on hold, and broke out the old Cannon. Problem solved.

 

[garyn]

Julyrc, my three PC's (two workstations and one laptop) now work perfectly with my HP printer, but it was challenging when the printer was connected by WiFi two rooms away from my main PC and laptop.

 

[MikeWalsh]

@Leigh :-

In other words, the folks at Brother only ever wrote a 32-bit driver for that machine.....and couldn't be bothered to write a 64-bit one, after discovering it was possible to run it on 64-bit systems using 'multilib'.

How old is this Brother printer? Does it date back to before 64-bit systems became commonplace? Might explain it, I guess....

(shrug...)


Mike.

 

[Deleted member 197709]

How old is this Brother printer? Does it date back to before 64-bit systems became commonplace? Might explain it, I guess....

No it's not that old. This was a few years ago and I chose a popular model that many use on Linux. It wouldn't work with generic drivers. I thought no biggy, I'll just get Brothers driver for that model. Then realized what their 64bit driver was, requiring multi lib integration.

It Kind of irked me as the Brothers printer was brand new, never used. I fiddled around trying to get it to work generically without adding 32 bit multi lib. If I didn't have the Cannon, despite it being pretty outdated, I would have just said a few bad words and added the multi lib to get the dang thing to print.

Anyway, I do remember being rather perturbed at the Driver situation at Brothers website. I guess most using that printer don't have a problem adding the multilib to get it to work. I did have a problem with it though. I have been successful in keeping my system 64 bit without the ancient 32 bit arch, thus far anyway. I'm not religious about it, but dang! 128 bit is a thing, and around the corner. 32 bit drivers? Disguised as 64 bit, even worse! Ugh!

Maybe it's the mech engineer in me that makes me say WTF at times. hehe

Anyway, The old Cannon prints like a champ, even beautiful color photos on paper designed for it. Works over wifi without a hitch. The only drawback for me was it's tiny little screen, and me being so dang farsighted. I struggled even with a magnifying glass LOL. Cannon seems so well supported with Linux and 64 bit drivers. Probably many others too. Brothers, although advertised as being Linux compatible, I found troublesome.

 

[garyn]

Leigh, it's good to know that Canon printers are supported in Linux. Even though my HP printer is (for the time being) working fine, knowing I can go to Canon is good.