Trouble with lpr and Brother wireless printer
Hi all, I'm having trouble getting printing to work using lpr(1) and a Brother wireless printer[1] that should support it. This seems to be a perennial topic on the list, but despite trying what I've found in the archives, I'm stumped. Here's my /etc/printcap: lp|brother:\ :rm=192.168.xxx.xxx:\ :rp=brother:\ :sd=/var/spool/output/lpd:\ :lf=/var/log/lpd-errs: (The `xxx`s are, of course, actually digits). But entering `$ lpr filename.ps` does nothing. The printer remains quiet. Nothing shows up in the queue. `lpq` gives this output: Printer Name: brother Jobs: No Jobs in Queue The output of `lpc status` is similarly unremarkable: lp: queuing is enabled printing is enabled no entries printer idle My permissions also seem fine: $ ls -la /var/spool/output total 12 drwxr-xr-x 3 root wheel 512 Jul 30 14:24 . drwxr-xr-x 6 root wheel 512 Apr 11 16:45 .. drwxrwx--- 2 root daemon 512 Jul 30 20:21 lpd Oddly, if I attempt to print something from Firefox, using the system dialog and setting lpr as the printer, the printer wakes up and starts spewing out blank sheets until I manually cancel it using the power button on the printer. So it seems that the issue is not connecting to the printer, but how I am invoking lpr ... maybe? What am I overlooking? - Ben [1] https://www.brother-usa.com/products/hll2350dw
Trouble with lpr and Brother wireless printer
I use an HL-L2370DW which only accepts PCL on BINARY_P1. I think it likely that yours acts the same. You'll have to tell lp to send the output through a filter, using (iirc) the vf= option in printcap. This is what i used for a filter: #!/bin/sh gs -sPAPERSIZE=letter -sDEVICE=pxlmono -sOutputFile=- -dBATCH -dNOPAUSE - Hope this helps.
Re: Trouble with lpr and Brother wireless printer
On Sat, Jul 30, 2022 at 08:40:59PM -0700, Ben Hancock wrote: > > Here's my /etc/printcap: > > lp|brother:\ > :rm=192.168.xxx.xxx:\ > :rp=brother:\ > :sd=/var/spool/output/lpd:\ > :lf=/var/log/lpd-errs: Hello, Brother MFC-L3770CDW wireless here. My /etc/printcap goes: lp:\ sd=/var/spool/lpd:lp=:rm=192.168.xxx.xxx:rp=BINARY_P1 Maybe it will help. Best regards, John
Re: Trouble with lpr and Brother wireless printer
On Sun, 31 Jul 2022 19:10:08 +0900 John Mettraux wrote: > Brother MFC-L3770CDW wireless here. > > My /etc/printcap goes: > > lp:\ > sd=/var/spool/lpd:lp=:rm=192.168.xxx.xxx:rp=BINARY_P1 > > Maybe it will help. Thanks very much John. I wasn't aware of the BINARY_P1 service option, which I found documented in a Brother Network Users Manual[1] after reading your mail, so thank you for suggesting that. However, trying this was unsuccessful for me, so I'm afraid I'm still stuck. - Ben [1] https://www.brother-usa.com/virdata/content/en-us/printers/consumer/networkusersmanual/num_hl_1270n_en_1310.pdf
Re: Trouble with lpr and Brother wireless printer
Seriously, get a printer that speaks PostScript and PDF. These exist, and are not too expensive. The just say lp::lp=:rm=aa.bb.cc.dd:rp=lp:sd=/var/spool/output/lpd:lf=/var/log/lpd-errs:sh: On Jul 31 13:34:18, grobe...@gmail.com wrote: > I use an HL-L2370DW which only accepts PCL on BINARY_P1. > I think it likely that yours acts the same. You'll have to tell lp to send > the output through a filter, using (iirc) the vf= option in printcap. > This is what i used for a filter: > > #!/bin/sh > gs -sPAPERSIZE=letter -sDEVICE=pxlmono -sOutputFile=- -dBATCH -dNOPAUSE - > > Hope this helps. >
Re: Trouble with lpr and Brother wireless printer
On 2022-07-31, John Mettraux wrote: > > On Sat, Jul 30, 2022 at 08:40:59PM -0700, Ben Hancock wrote: >> >> Here's my /etc/printcap: >> >> lp|brother:\ >> :rm=192.168.xxx.xxx:\ >> :rp=brother:\ >> :sd=/var/spool/output/lpd:\ >> :lf=/var/log/lpd-errs: > > Hello, > > Brother MFC-L3770CDW wireless here. > > My /etc/printcap goes: > > lp:\ > sd=/var/spool/lpd:lp=:rm=192.168.xxx.xxx:rp=BINARY_P1 > > Maybe it will help. Also try POSTSCRIPT_P1, my MFC-J4335DW shows that as a possibility in Network > Network > Service. (I use it with CUPS though, so I can control quality/duplexing/etc). -- Please keep replies on the mailing list.
Re: Trouble with lpr and Brother wireless printer
On Mon, 1 Aug 2022 07:50:19 - (UTC) Stuart Henderson wrote: > On 2022-07-31, John Mettraux wrote: > > Brother MFC-L3770CDW wireless here. > > > > My /etc/printcap goes: > > > > lp:\ > > sd=/var/spool/lpd:lp=:rm=192.168.xxx.xxx:rp=BINARY_P1 > > > > Maybe it will help. > > Also try POSTSCRIPT_P1, my MFC-J4335DW shows that as a possibility > in Network > Network > Service. (I use it with CUPS though, so I can > control quality/duplexing/etc). Thanks for all the helpful suggestions. I took some time to explore the web interface for my printer (a Brother HL-L2350DW, for those following along at home) and discovered the BINARY_P1, POSTSCRIPT_P1, PCL_P1, and TEXT_P1 services available. But thus far, none of them have worked for me -- with or without passing the data through a filter, as suggested earlier in the thread. I did make some changes to my printcap that seemed to take me in the direction of progress, notably to stop passing the printer host to the `rm` option and instead try passing port@host to the `lp` option. (I also added an /etc/hosts entry for ease). I did this after noticing that POSTSCRIPT_P1 and the other services were listed as being available on port 9100. So here's one test case: pstest:\ :lp=9...@brother.sannomo.home:\ :rp=POSTSCRIPT_P1:\ :sd=/var/spool/output/lpd:\ :lf=/var/log/lpd-errs:\ :mx#0: :sh: But no dice. When invoking `lpr filename.ps`, I consistently get a single blank page spit out from the printer and that's it. It's more than, well, nothing ... but it's unfortunately not printing. I also tried just sending a text file to the printer directly with nc(1); it showed "Receiving Data" on the printer LCD, but nothing more. Strangely (maybe?) I had to Ctrl-C out of netcat as doing ... $ nc brother.sannomo.home 9100 < test.txt ... just hung there. FWIW, I do know that the printer _works_, as I can print from machines running other OS'es via the usual ways. I don't seem to be the only one banging my face into a wall with this. I found an old thread on DaemonForums describing an issue with similar symptoms that was, it seems, ultimately unresolved: http://daemonforums.org/showthread.php?t=7253 Something I haven't tried -- thought I don't know if it will make a difference -- is connecting to the printer via WiFi Direct. This doesn't seem to be a connection issue though. I'm on the verge of just trying CUPS, although it seems to be much bemoaned. Thanks again. - Ben
Re: Trouble with lpr and Brother wireless printer
On 8/2/22 00:16, Ben Hancock wrote: On Mon, 1 Aug 2022 07:50:19 - (UTC) Stuart Henderson wrote: On 2022-07-31, John Mettraux wrote: Brother MFC-L3770CDW wireless here. My /etc/printcap goes: lp:\ sd=/var/spool/lpd:lp=:rm=192.168.xxx.xxx:rp=BINARY_P1 Maybe it will help. Also try POSTSCRIPT_P1, my MFC-J4335DW shows that as a possibility in Network > Network > Service. (I use it with CUPS though, so I can control quality/duplexing/etc). Thanks for all the helpful suggestions. I took some time to explore the web interface for my printer (a Brother HL-L2350DW, for those following along at home) and discovered the BINARY_P1, POSTSCRIPT_P1, PCL_P1, and TEXT_P1 services available. But thus far, none of them have worked for me -- with or without passing the data through a filter, as suggested earlier in the thread. I did make some changes to my printcap that seemed to take me in the direction of progress, notably to stop passing the printer host to the `rm` option and instead try passing port@host to the `lp` option. (I also added an /etc/hosts entry for ease). I did this after noticing that POSTSCRIPT_P1 and the other services were listed as being available on port 9100. So here's one test case: pstest:\ :lp=9...@brother.sannomo.home:\ :rp=POSTSCRIPT_P1:\ :sd=/var/spool/output/lpd:\ :lf=/var/log/lpd-errs:\ :mx#0: :sh: But no dice. When invoking `lpr filename.ps`, I consistently get a single blank page spit out from the printer and that's it. It's more than, well, nothing ... but it's unfortunately not printing. I also tried just sending a text file to the printer directly with nc(1); it showed "Receiving Data" on the printer LCD, but nothing more. Strangely (maybe?) I had to Ctrl-C out of netcat as doing ... $ nc brother.sannomo.home 9100 < test.txt ... just hung there. FWIW, I do know that the printer _works_, as I can print from machines running other OS'es via the usual ways. I don't seem to be the only one banging my face into a wall with this. I found an old thread on DaemonForums describing an issue with similar symptoms that was, it seems, ultimately unresolved: http://daemonforums.org/showthread.php?t=7253 Something I haven't tried -- thought I don't know if it will make a difference -- is connecting to the printer via WiFi Direct. This doesn't seem to be a connection issue though. I'm on the verge of just trying CUPS, although it seems to be much bemoaned. Thanks again. - Ben Are you sure that you're feeding the printer a valid postscript file? If there isn't something like (TimesRoman) findfont 48 scalefont setfont 200 300 moveto (text) show showpage nothing happens. geoff steckel
Re: Trouble with lpr and Brother wireless printer
On 2022-08-02, Ben Hancock wrote: > FWIW, I do know that the printer _works_, as I can print from machines > running other OS'es via the usual ways. One thing you could try is doing a packet capture on a working OS (e.g. with wireshark) and compare with what you're sending from lpr. > I'm on the verge of just > trying CUPS, although it seems to be much bemoaned. Certainly worth a try. -- Please keep replies on the mailing list.
Re: Trouble with lpr and Brother wireless printer
On Tue, 2 Aug 2022 02:09:37 -0400 gwes wrote: > Are you sure that you're feeding the printer a valid postscript file? > If there isn't something like > (TimesRoman) findfont 48 scalefont setfont 200 300 moveto (text) show > showpage > nothing happens. I believe so. The two samples I've tried were generated with man and enscript. I can open them both fine with ghostscript and zathura. - Ben
Re: Trouble with lpr and Brother wireless printer
The shortest postscript I know to test a printer: %! newpath clippath stroke showpage It will draw a line around the page clipping path (i.e., the outer most edge the printer can print at). Sean PS That’s also short enough to type at a printer if you connect to it with ’nc’. :-) > On Aug 2, 2022, at 06:11, Ben Hancock wrote: > > On Tue, 2 Aug 2022 02:09:37 -0400 > gwes wrote: > >> Are you sure that you're feeding the printer a valid postscript file? >> If there isn't something like >> (TimesRoman) findfont 48 scalefont setfont 200 300 moveto (text) show >> showpage >> nothing happens. > > I believe so. The two samples I've tried were generated with man and > enscript. I can open them both fine with ghostscript and zathura. > > - Ben
Re: Trouble with lpr and Brother wireless printer
Boy, I went down the rabbit hole on this one. I'll spare the list all the gory details, but for the sake of posterity I figured I'll try to close the loop on this thread. To make a long story short: After failing to get the printer working with just regular lpr, I tried CUPS to no avail. Along the way, however, I discovered a Perl script in a Linux package available on Brother's website that ostensibly could have served as an input filter for lpr (called, somewhat obviously, `lpdfilter`). After a bit of searching, I found a related thread [1] on a FreeBSD list and made some edits to this script, hoping that it would be the trick. Where I hit a wall was with a binary (also included in the package) called `rawtobr3`, that the Perl script expected. It appears to be proprietary Brother stuff and kept throwing an error, probably because it was built for Linux and not BSD. I did find a GitHub repo via a FreeBSD forum thread [2] that seemed to include _some_ version of this program, but it threw another error and the filter did not work. So, to wrap up: I do not recommend the Brother HLL2350DW for your OpenBSD printing needs. I may end up heeding the suggestions to simply buy a printer that speaks PostScript. Recommendations welcome. - Ben [1] https://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-questions/2017-July/277994.html [2] https://forums.freebsd.org/threads/port-for-brother-printer-drivers.78393/
Re: Trouble with lpr and Brother wireless printer
On Aug 04 21:27:09, b...@benghancock.com wrote: > So, to wrap up: I do not recommend the Brother HLL2350DW for your > OpenBSD printing needs. I may end up heeding the suggestions to > simply buy a printer that speaks PostScript. Recommendations welcome. I bought an HP LaserJet M608 for peanuts, works without any fuss as lp::lp=:rm=pr.stare.cz:rp=lp:sd=/var/spool/output/lpd:lf=/var/log/lpd-errs:sh: Jan
Re: Trouble with lpr and Brother wireless printer
> On Aug 4, 2022, at 21:27, Ben Hancock wrote: > > So, to wrap up: I do not recommend the Brother HLL2350DW for your > OpenBSD printing needs. I may end up heeding the suggestions to > simply buy a printer that speaks PostScript. Recommendations welcome. HP used to make freakin’ tanks, and I had a LasterJet 4MV or 4M+for something close to 15 years. Bought it rebuilt (AFTER they stopped manufacturing it). :-). I can’t speak to anything they produced after 2005, though. I’ve been extremely happy with my Canon — but I don’t use it from OpenBSD (though someday I will get around to it). They make engines that a lot of other companies use. I used to subscribe to the idea that buying a used “enterprise” printer was ideal (hence the used HPs — I had two, they both were awesome), but I’ve been seduced by short click-to-clack times. What I still believe: Get a printer that does one thing: Print. No gizmofrobs or wingdings. And get a laser printer. Ink is a nightmare. Sean PS I used to work at a printer company (actually two). I used to know a LOT about printers (particularly PostScript printers). I don’t anymore (I’ve been out of that space for . . . wow. 18 years now. . .). It wasn’t HP.
Re: Trouble with lpr and Brother wireless printer
On Thu, Aug 04, 2022 at 09:27:09PM -0700, Ben Hancock wrote: > Boy, I went down the rabbit hole on this one. I'll spare the list > all the gory details, but for the sake of posterity I figured I'll > try to close the loop on this thread. > > To make a long story short: After failing to get the printer working > with just regular lpr, I tried CUPS to no avail. Along the way, Did you happen to try CUPS with the brlaser package installed? I have a Brother HL-L2390DW, and once I found brlaser it just worked. -Ryan > however, I discovered a Perl script in a Linux package available > on Brother's website that ostensibly could have served as an input > filter for lpr (called, somewhat obviously, `lpdfilter`). After a > bit of searching, I found a related thread [1] on a FreeBSD list > and made some edits to this script, hoping that it would be the trick. > > Where I hit a wall was with a binary (also included in the package) > called `rawtobr3`, that the Perl script expected. It appears to be > proprietary Brother stuff and kept throwing an error, probably > because it was built for Linux and not BSD. I did find a GitHub > repo via a FreeBSD forum thread [2] that seemed to include _some_ > version of this program, but it threw another error and the filter > did not work. > > So, to wrap up: I do not recommend the Brother HLL2350DW for your > OpenBSD printing needs. I may end up heeding the suggestions to > simply buy a printer that speaks PostScript. Recommendations welcome. > > - Ben > > [1] > https://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-questions/2017-July/277994.html > > [2] https://forums.freebsd.org/threads/port-for-brother-printer-drivers.78393/ >
Re: Trouble with lpr and Brother wireless printer
On 2022-08-05, Sean Kamath wrote: > What I still believe: Get a printer that does one thing: Print. No > gizmofrobs or wingdings. And get a laser printer. Ink is a nightmare. OTOH I'm very happy with my Brother MFC-J4335DW inkjet. I haven't got scanning to work from OpenBSD but that works from my phone and non-OpenBSD boxes (and I mostly wanted that for making quick copies anyway). Printing via CUPS works great, ink is not ridiculously priced, duplexing works properly, doesn't take up too much space, etc.
Re: Trouble with lpr and Brother wireless printer
I'm sorry the filter didn't work for you. I'm not using OpenBSD as a desktop right now, but I abused my router a bit to test, and can confirm that with an HL-L2370DW, the following printcap entry works, along with the filter. I know you've basically already moved on, but if you feel like giving it a try again, here's at least something. I can't remember if I mentioned it, but the filter does require ghostscript to be installed. I'm not sure exactly how you're trying to print or from what, but this printed a standard PDF file using `lpr file.pdf' without issue. /etc/printcap: lp|HLL2370DW:\ :lp=:rm=printer.localdomain:rp=BINARY_P1:sd=/var/spool/output/lpd:\ :lf=/var/log/lpd-errs:of=/usr/bin/pclfilter /usr/bin/pclfilter: #!/bin/sh gs -sPAPERSIZE=letter -sDEVICE=pxlmono -sOutputFile=- -dBATCH -dNOPAUSE -dQUIET -
Re: Trouble with lpr and Brother wireless printer
On Fri, 5 Aug 2022 00:05:29 -0700 Ryan Freeman wrote: > Did you happen to try CUPS with the brlaser package installed? > I have a Brother HL-L2390DW, and once I found brlaser it just worked. You, sir, are a saint. It works!! I can't believe I didn't manage to find that package (((facepalm))). So I'll amend my report: Brother HL-L2350DW works fine with cups and brlaser Thanks all for the kind help. - Ben
