Trouble Networking Linux Mint 20 with a Windows 7 Printer

[RobertX]

I just found the problem last night that there is a problem with having CUPS or Linux Mint 20's system-config-printer 1.5.12 program connect a Window 7's printer, a Brother HL-2140, from the same network.

I had no problems sharing files from my computer or accessing computers that belong to the other computers. I should point out that I am working with three computers: one Linux Mint 20 and two Windows 7. The Linux Mint 20 and one of the two Windows 7 computers are printing off the other Windows 7 computer that is connected to a printer.

I should also point out that I am not using passwords on any of the computers except for the Linux Mint one; it uses a root password.

Now, the problem: whenever I go to system-config-printer on Linux Mint to access the printer by visiting the "Windows Printer VIA Samba" list item and then going to browse without typing anything on the provided text box, it would say "Three were no print shares found. Please check that the Samba service is marked as trusted in your firewall configuration." The thing is, I always keep the firewall (ufw or gufw) off, because I don't see myself needing it.

As far as security information goes, I don't really lock my computers up with passwords since the only people who are accessing my computers, well, one, is one that I trust.

Here are what I tried so far:

- install python3-smbc: that helped because it can at least try to detect the printer, not that it did much

- share the HL-2140 printer off the Windows 7 computer: the other Windows 7 computer can print without problems

- add the following lines onto the smb.conf file

name resolve order = bcast host lmhosts wins
server min protocol = NT1
client min protocol = NT1

I got this tidbit somewhere in a forum. tell me if I got it right. That blurb was able to help me share my files and access other files on the network. If it does matter, the workgroup is comprised of three characters: TNR.

- used localhost:631: the problem with that is, the tool does not identify the printer from the network; in fact, it did nothing, so it's just as good as dead

- sometimes, when I type the name of the computer that has the printer, it identifies it, but I have to type in the login information. In previous versions of Linux Mint (under 20), it would accept my Linux Mint login information when I typed it in, so I would assume it would fine here - but boy, was I wrong. So I tried to type that print server's login credentials (didn't have a password either), and that didn't help.

- crying about it: did nothing

- I checked the wires and the individual computers for their set up information and they check up, so I don't think that was the problem.

So I don't know. It seems that the best alternative of all these attempts is that I should plug the printer to the Linux Mint computer and share it off of there, but I'll only do that as last resort; it would be a mess to try to find a longer USB cable to connect to the Linux Mint computer as well.

It's not a big problem, but if the computer can't print its documents, it doesn't seem to be a point to use it anyways, is it? I can share files just fine, but it just can't print. Not crying, because I tried that (just kidding!), just looking for answers.

By the way, do any of you request that I put more information? What did I do wrong? What did I miss? Please help.

 

[Dimitris B]

I just found the problem last night that there is a problem with having CUPS or Linux Mint 20's system-config-printer 1.5.12 program connect a Window 7's printer, a Brother HL-2140, from the same network.

I had no problems sharing files from my computer or accessing computers that belong to the other computers. I should point out that I am working with three computers: one Linux Mint 20 and two Windows 7. The Linux Mint 20 and one of the two Windows 7 computers are printing off the other Windows 7 computer that is connected to a printer.

I should also point out that I am not using passwords on any of the computers except for the Linux Mint one; it uses a root password.

Now, the problem: whenever I go to system-config-printer on Linux Mint to access the printer by visiting the "Windows Printer VIA Samba" list item and then going to browse without typing anything on the provided text box, it would say "Three were no print shares found. Please check that the Samba service is marked as trusted in your firewall configuration." The thing is, I always keep the firewall (ufw or gufw) off, because I don't see myself needing it.

As far as security information goes, I don't really lock my computers up with passwords since the only people who are accessing my computers, well, one, is one that I trust.

Here are what I tried so far:

- install python3-smbc: that helped because it can at least try to detect the printer, not that it did much

- share the HL-2140 printer off the Windows 7 computer: the other Windows 7 computer can print without problems

- add the following lines onto the smb.conf file

name resolve order = bcast host lmhosts wins
server min protocol = NT1
client min protocol = NT1

I got this tidbit somewhere in a forum. tell me if I got it right. That blurb was able to help me share my files and access other files on the network. If it does matter, the workgroup is comprised of three characters: TNR.

- used localhost:631: the problem with that is, the tool does not identify the printer from the network; in fact, it did nothing, so it's just as good as dead

- sometimes, when I type the name of the computer that has the printer, it identifies it, but I have to type in the login information. In previous versions of Linux Mint (under 20), it would accept my Linux Mint login information when I typed it in, so I would assume it would fine here - but boy, was I wrong. So I tried to type that print server's login credentials (didn't have a password either), and that didn't help.

- crying about it: did nothing

- I checked the wires and the individual computers for their set up information and they check up, so I don't think that was the problem.

So I don't know. It seems that the best alternative of all these attempts is that I should plug the printer to the Linux Mint computer and share it off of there, but I'll only do that as last resort; it would be a mess to try to find a longer USB cable to connect to the Linux Mint computer as well.

It's not a big problem, but if the computer can't print its documents, it doesn't seem to be a point to use it anyways, is it? I can share files just fine, but it just can't print. Not crying, because I tried that (just kidding!), just looking for answers.

By the way, do any of you request that I put more information? What did I do wrong? What did I miss? Please help.

Have you set up CUPS to broadcast the printer share via Samba?