Supporting printer portion of MF-4270, was:[Re: Document Scanners that work with F9]

[Jeff Maxwell]

On Thu, 2008-11-06 at 21:06 -0500, Todd Denniston wrote:
> Sam Varshavchik wrote, On 11/06/2008 06:29 PM:
> > Todd Denniston writes:
> <SNIP>
> >> The actual printer _device_ driver for CUPS is often gutenprint[1].
> > 
> > I already have gutenprint installed. I'm not sure how gutenprint is 
> > supposed to interface with CUPS, but when I try to select the printer, 
> > this Canon model is not listed.
> > 
> 
> Often times the driver is supported by a similar models driver so you could 
> either pick one that seems similar and try it, or you could ask on the list
> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/gimp-print-devel
> 
> <SNIP>
> > 
> > Well, I still don't see this Canon model listed as supported in the 
> > documentation in the latest, a fairly recent, release.
> Although you are correct in that gutenprint does not seem to support the 
> device... <go rummaging for Linux printer information> ...
> http://www.linuxfoundation.org/en/OpenPrinting
> indicates:
> http://www.openprinting.org/show_printer.cgi?recnum=Canon-MF4270
> there is a binary driver for it on one of canon's websites
> 
> Sorry to confuse you, by trying to lead you towards getting an Open Source 
> driver going.
> 
> > 
> > The only reason I could hack sane is because its supported for the 
> > scanner was already there, it just had some bugs. A complete absence of 
> > support for the entire printer is quite a different beast.
> again, printer families often use the same or similar control protocol, and a 
> similar driver might at least 'work' but not give nice results, and knowing 
> that would help the devs know what they would need to change. however for this 
> device there is a working (closed source) solution from the manufacturer, at 
> least until Fedora upgrades to a point where it can't find a old library.
> 
> It is too bad so few folks know about the nice databases that have been put 
> together for devices that work with Unix:
> http://www.linuxfoundation.org/en/OpenPrinting/Database/DatabaseIntro
> http://www.openprinting.org/printer_list.cgi
> http://www.sane-project.org/sane-supported-devices.html
> http://www.sane-project.org/cgi-bin/driver.pl
> 
This is great information.  I do not know if my question fits this
thread or not, but, I have an issue where I have been able to install
and access an HP parallel OfficeJet printer via the "root" sign on but I
am not able to access the printer via a local user sign on.  Any
suggestions would be much appreciated.

thanks.
> -- 
> Todd Denniston
> Crane Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC Crane)
> Harnessing the Power of Technology for the Warfighter
>