Recipe 14.3. Serving Linux Clients

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14.3.1 Problem

You want to share the printers attached to your Linux PCs with other Linux clients on your LAN.

14.3.2 Solution

First, make sure CUPS is installed on all the computers with attached printers. These PCs must have static IP addresses and you'll need name resolution in place and working (/etc/hosts or a local DNS server).

Next, on the PCs with printers attached, edit /etc/cupsd.conf. This sample cupsd.conf shows how to make the printers accessible to the local subnet. You can use this as it's shown, using your own network values:

LogLevel info Port 631 <Location /> Order Deny,Allow Deny From All Allow From 127.0.0.1 Allow From 192.168.1.* </Location> BrowseAddress 192.168.1.255

Add this entry to restrict administrative access to the server only and not allow it from client machines:

<Location /admin> AuthType Basic AuthClass System Order Deny,Allow Deny From All Allow From 127.0.0.1 </Location>

Restart cupsd after editing cupsd.conf:

# /etc/init.d/cupsys restart

On Red Hat and Fedora, use:

# /sbin/service cups restart

Print a test page. If you get the infamous "client-error-not-found" message, stop and restart the printer from the CUPS web interface.

CUPS printers will now automatically broadcast themselves on the network. Make sure that TCP port 631 is not blocked on either the server or the client machines.

Open the CUPS web interface (http://localhost:631/documentation.html) on any of the Linux client PCs, and all CUPS printers should automatically appear on the Printers page. You can now print a test page and print from applications.

14.3.3 Discussion

If there is a sample cupsd.conf on your system, don't let its size scare you. Chances are you'll never need most of the directives; just hang on to it as a reference, and create your own cupsd.conf from scratch.

All of the directives in cupsd.conf are listed and defined in the CUPS Software Administrators Manual, at http://localhost:631/documentation.html.

LogLevel info: There are 10 levels of logging. info is the default; it logs errors and printer activity in /var/log/cups/error_log.
Port 631: This is reserved for IPP (Internet Printing Protocol).
<Location /></Location>: The Location directive specifies access control and authentication options. Note the positioning of the slashes make sure you get them right, or things won't work.
Order Deny,AllowDeny From AllAllow From 127.0.0.1Allow From 192.168.1.*: Your standard "deny all, allow as needed" scheme, limiting inbound connections to the local machine and the local subnet.

14.3.4 See Also

The "Printing System Management" section in the CUPS Software Administrators Manual (http://localhost:631/documentation.html)

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