How to Network Printers in Ubuntu

Networking printers is not complicated with Ubuntu.

Printing is a necessity for many people who use computers. Fortunately, the Ubuntu operating system has made connecting and networking printers a simple operation. Ubuntu uses the Common UNIX Printing System (CUPS) to manage networking printers. It has also integrated a simple graphical user interface for the printing system that allows you to point and click. Networking printers with Ubuntu is convenient and easy.

Instructions

1. Choose a computer to be your "print server." Plug the printer into that computer and power both on. Allow the computer to boot to Ubuntu.

2. Open the printer manager on your print server by clicking on the "System" menu and hovering over the "Administration" submenu. Click on the "Printer" application.

3. Click on the "Server" menu in the printer manager and select the "Settings" option. Check the boxes to indicate your requirements for the server. If you only need to share this printer with other computers on the network, click on the box that says, "Publish shared printers connected to this server." If you need to access other printers on the network from this computer, also check the box labeled "Show printers shared by other systems." Press the "OK" button.

4. Open the properties for the printer you want to share by right-clicking on the printer and choose the "Properties" option. Open the "Policies" option and check the box labeled "Shared." Press the "Apply" button and the "OK" button.

5. Boot the computer on the network you want to connect to the shared printer. Right-click on the network manager on the upper right-hand side of the screen and connect to the same network the print server is on. If it is a wired network without a wireless hub, plug a CAT-5 cable into the ethernet port on the computer and the wired hub. The network manager icon is three curved lines over a dot if you are using the wireless antenna. It is two arrows pointing in opposite directions if you are using a wired connection. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 on this computer to add the shared printer.

6. Open the document you want to print, click on the "File" menu and click on the print option. Select the networked printer from the list of available printers when the window with the printing options appears. Click on the "Print" button in the window.

References

• Ubuntu Documentation: Printing
• Ubuntu Documentation: Network Printing
• Ubuntu Documentation: Printers