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Print Server Emulation (Similar to HP PrintJet)

With print server emulation, printers connected to a thin client can be made available on the network — the thin client acts as a print server. The emulation is relatively simple and device-independent. Install the appropriate printer drivers on the computers from which printing will take place.

Installation

  1. Check whether the package printserver is installed; see Package Management.
  2. Select the Printers setting from the menu and click Add New.
  3. Assign a name and select the type Print Server Emulation (similar to HP PrintJet).
  4. Assign the printer to a ThinClient/location.
Configuration
Setting
 Value
 Explanation
TCP Port
Default: 9100
Port

Parallel

USB

To file (specify name)
File name

Device ID (udev)

Use the command

lsusb

or

udevadm monitor --environment --udev

If only one USB printer is connected, leave the field blank.
Printer Setup

After configuring printerserver set up, assigned, and restarted the thin client, access the printer over the network.

  1. Ensure a suitable printer driver for the system from which printing occurs, e.g., terminal server or CUPS server.
  2. Set up the printer on the Windows side by selecting "Add a network printer." Configure the printer using TCP/IP. Select 9100 or the port specified in the openthinclient Manager. To set up the printer on a CUPS server, enter the address in this format: socket://192.158.4.12:9100.
  3. Select the appropriate printer driver.

Connections

Parallel

Configuration settings for a parallel port (LPT) printer are fixed.

If multiple ports are available, connect the printer to the first one.

USB

Connect a single USB printer without further settings. Enter the device ID (udev) optionally.

If multiple USB printers are connected, distinguish them by their device ID (Device ID). To find the printer’s ID, proceed as follows:

  1. Open a terminal on the ThinClient using CTRL+ALT+T.
  2. Execute the command  
    lsusb
  3. Look for the printer in the output
  4. The Device ID has the format idVendor:idProduct — enter this in the Manager.

Assign each TCP port to only one printer at a time.

Advanced Settings

Experienced users, select the connection in the file to address any device. The print server runs as user lp It can therefore only write to paths accessible to that user.

Default values:

  • Parallel Port: /dev/lp0
  • USB port: /dev/usb/lp0 or /dev/usb/lp/<DEVICE_ID>
  • File output: /tmp/printserver.dmp
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