Linux Printing for Newbies
Printing in Linux isn't altogether different from printing in Windows. Most printers connect to Linux without issue, either locally or over a network. The biggest point of contention is what distribution you're using. Linux is not a single system, but defines about a dozen major distributions and even more niche systems based on those. Consider checking your distribution's documentation for more details on printing on your system.
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USB Printers
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A USB printer connected to your computer should be detected without problem. To set up a new printer in Ubuntu, first connect the printer to your computer. Click the "Power" icon in the upper-right corner on the top panel. Select the "Printer" option and click "Add" to set up your printer. With Fedora, just connect the USB cable. If you need any additional drivers, Fedora will alert you automatically.
Network Printing
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Printers connected to your network via Wi-Fi are also compatible with Linux, though they take a little bit more effort to setup. In both Ubuntu and Fedora, which use the same printer interface, you will need the printer's IP address, which you can obtain on your printer itself. Open the printer setup dialog window and choose "Add," and select "LPD/LRP Host or Printer." Fill in the IP address for your printer under "Host" and click "Apply." Follow the prompts to name your printer, and click "Apply" again.
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Shared Printers
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If you want to use a printer that's shared from another computer, you can select "Windows Printer via SAMBA," even if the printer isn't on a Windows computer. You'll need the hostname for the host computer; the hostname is usually the computer name, but check it by opening a new terminal window and entering "hostname." In the "Printer" window, enter the hostname followed by the printer name in the format "hostname/printer."
Printer Drivers
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If you need drivers for your computer, you will have to use Linux-specific drivers; drivers for Windows won't cut it. Linux-drivers.org offers several drivers divided by distribution, such as Debian, Ubuntu, Mandriva and Fedora, or by driver type, such as "Printer and Scanner." If you're searching for a printer that's Linux-friendly out of the box, Brother offers Linux drivers for their printers. The Ubuntu documentation offers a community-compiled list of printers that function in Ubuntu.
Printer Software Suites
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The printing software suite that came with your printer probably isn't compatible with Linux. These software suites are usually built to work along with your printer, help you manage printed documents and deal with other features in your printer, including scanning, copying and faxing. The good news is these functions are still usable even without this software. Most Linux distributions have some software for these tools. You may also be able to run your preferred software using Wine, a program that creates basic compatibility for Windows programs.
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