Craig Strachan 10-07-09

Setting up Informatics printers under Windows

This web page describes how to set up Informatics printers on a computer running Microsoft Windows XP. Although these instructions are for XP only, I would expect the process to be similar on other Microsoft Windows operating systems.

The method of printing from Windows machines within the School has changed. We no longer recommend that you use Samba for printing and indeed the Samba service may be discontinued in the future. Instead, we now print from Windows via the CUPS printing system.

Setting up a printer to print via CUPS

Note that to find out information about a printer's name, location and so on, use the lpstat -l -p <printername> command under DICE.

• Open the Printers and Faxes control panel and click Add a printer
• When prompted on whether the printer is local or on a network, select A network printer....
• When asked which printer, select Connect to a printer on the Internet... and in the URL box enter http://infcups.inf.ed.ac.uk:631/printers/printername, replacing 'printername' with the name of the printer (e.g. if513m0). Click 'Next'.
• Next you'll be prompted to search for a printer driver for the printer - click OK and use the dialog box that appears to locate a driver for the Make and Model of printer. Make sure you select the PS postscript version of the driver. (You may have to download a driver from the manufacturer website)
• You should check the settings for the printer, e.g. it is recommended that you set the printer up to print double-sided.
• You can now print a test page for the printer.