Linux Printing

This is what I'm doing at work to print to the network printers. I'm using CUPS and here's the steps I took:

• Install CUPS

 apt-get install cupsys cupsys-client cupsys−bsd

• Install Foomatic and HP drivers (foomatics is a database driven system to support printers hosted by linuxprinting.org and works with CUPS)

 apt-get install foomatic-bin foomatic-filters foomatic-db-engine foomatic-db-hpijs hplip

• Install postscript filters

 apt-get install ghostscript a2ps

• Using a HTML viewer, navigate to the following link (you can also use Applications->System Tools->Printers, but I prefer the browser method)

 http://localhost:631

• Click Add Printer
• Give it a name, location, and description (name and location seems to appear is most applications when printing)
• My device (printer) was found so I was able to choose it directly (I chose Dell Laser Printer 1710n.......)
  • You may need to chose AppSocket/HP JetDirect and manually tell it where the printer is addressed
• Chose a model / driver
• That's it.... go test!

NOTE: I see some guides claim I would need the package called "gtklp" to print from Thunderbird or Iceweasel, but this wasn't the case for me so I didn't install it.

NOTE: Generic and other PPD drivers are here: /usr/share/ppd/