How to Setup Print-Server with a Raspberry Pi

H

Setting up a print-server with a Raspberry Pi is a great way to make printing more convenient for all the devices on your network. Whether you have a printer that lacks network connectivity or simply want a central printing hub for your home or office, a Raspberry Pi-based print server is a cost-effective solution that can be set up with minimal effort.

Get your Raspberry PI (Affiliate Links)

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started with setting up a print server with a Raspberry Pi:

Step 1: Choose the right Raspberry Pi

To begin, you need to choose the right Raspberry Pi model for your print server. Most models of the Raspberry Pi should work fine, but we recommend using at least a Raspberry Pi 2 as it has enough power to handle the print server software without any issues.

Step 2: Download and install the operating system

Once you have your Raspberry Pi, you’ll need to download and install the operating system. You can use any Linux distribution that is compatible with the Raspberry Pi, but we recommend using Raspberry Pi OS as it is specifically designed for the Raspberry Pi and is easy to set up.

Step 3: Connect to the network

After installing the operating system, connect the Raspberry Pi to your network via Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi. You can use the Raspberry Pi Configuration tool to set up the network connection.

Step 4: Install the print server software

The next step is to install the print server software. CUPS (Common Unix Printing System) is the most popular print server software for Linux-based systems, and it’s the one we’ll be using for this guide. You can install CUPS by running the following command in the terminal:

sudo apt-get install cups

Step 5: Configure CUPS

After installing CUPS, you need to configure it to work with your printer. First, you need to add your user account to the CUPS system group by running the following command:

Next, open a web browser on any device on your network and enter the IP address of your Raspberry Pi followed by “:631” (e.g. http://192.168.1.100:631). This will take you to the CUPS web interface, where you can configure your printer.

Step 6: Add the printer

Once you’re on the CUPS web interface, click on “Administration” and then “Add Printer.” Follow the instructions to add your printer to the print server. If your printer is connected to the Raspberry Pi via USB, it should be automatically detected by CUPS.

Step 7: Configure the printer settings

After adding the printer, you can configure its settings such as print quality, paper size, etc. These settings can be accessed by clicking on the printer name on the CUPS web interface.

Step 8: Test the printer

Once you’ve configured the printer settings, you should test the printer to make sure it’s working correctly. You can do this by printing a test page from the CUPS web interface.

Step 9: Add the printer on a computer

To add the printer on another computer, you’ll need to find the printer on the network. Open the printer settings on the computer you want to add the printer to, and select “Add a Printer” or “Add a Network Printer.” Follow the prompts to locate and connect to the printer. Once connected, you should be able to print to the printer from that computer.

Congratulations! You’ve successfully set up a print server with a Raspberry Pi. Now all the devices on your network can print to the same printer without having to connect to it directly. If you need to add more printers, you can repeat the process starting from Step 6.

Recent Posts

Categories

Archives