Setting up a printer on a Debian GNU/Linux PC using CUPS
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4. Install a printer using cups

4.1. Log into cups using a web browser

NoteBrowser variations
 

You can find login instructions for various browsers (both X and console based) in the appendix on using various browsers. The following instructions are as generic as possible.

Use a web browser to visit the cups Admin web page. Enter the name and password of the Root user when you are prompted. 

http://localhost:631/admin
User name: root
Password:  *******
OK

4.2. Install the printer

Navigate to the Printers menu in the Admin main menu page. Choose to add a printer. 

Admin main menu
   Printers menu
   Add printer

Enter a name, a location and a description for your printer.

The printer name may only contain letters, numbers, and the underline character. If this is your first (or only) printer, the name defaults to lp. This is a sensible choice because lp is recognised by cups as the default printer. The location is probably only useful if you have a network with printers in several places. It can be left blank. The description identifies the printer to people. Manufacturer and model number would be good choices here.

This is how you would add a new printer called printer-name. The model is printer-model, the manufacturer is printer-make and you are using the first parallel port on your computer (lp0). 

Add New Printer dialog
   Name: printer-name
   Location:
   Description: printer-make printer-model
   Continue

The Device is the name of the printer port on your computer. This is often the parallel port but may be a USB port. Further detail on configuring your computer's ports is in the appendix about kernell printer support. Specify the make of your printer. If your printer is not listed, either install the foomatic package or supply a .ppd file from the manufacturer's web site or from www.linuxprinting.org/. (See the section on installing a .ppd file.) 

Device for printer-name dialog
   Device: Parallel Port #1
   Continue
Model/Driver for printer-name dialog
   Make: printer-make
   Continue
   Model: printer-model
   Continue

Printer printer-name has been added successfully.
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