Derek Jennings wrote: > On Sunday 01 May 2005 04:33, Robert Yu wrote: > >>OK, OK, I've asked this question before, been advised to keep both, >>but haven't found out why. >> >>Here are a couple of questions I'd like answered: >>1. What does Cups do? > > Cups is the printer server. It maintains a list of available printers and > other CUPS servers. It allows you to print to any of the known printers from > any application regardless of whether the printer is actually on line. It > will complete the print when the printer becomes available. There are other > print servers for Linux, but CUPS is the default one Mandrake have selected. > > >>2. What does Samba do with shared printers? > > Samba does not "do" anything with printers. It allows you to discover Windows > printers, and provides a means to communicate with them. > CUPS will use the Samba protocols to discover the Windows printers and send > them jobs. > > >>3. Should I use only CUPs if I have a printer connected to the Linux >>machine? > > For printing from a Linux computer to a Linux printer CUPS is not essential. > There are other printing applications. But your Mandrake system will default > to CUPS. Why bother changing it? > > You must run samba server for a Windows computer to see a printer on a Linux > computer. CUPS is not essential, but your Samba config files default to > using CUPS, and there is no compelling reason why you should want to change > it. > > >>4. Should I use Samba if I want to share such a printer? > > You have no choice. The only way for a Windows computer to find a printer > attached to a Linux computer is via Samba server. > By default the samba server will access the printer through CUPS, and so you > can view and manage the print jobs of the Windows users. > > > >>MOst of these questions are ridiculously easy to answer, I know, but I >>need to affirm my knowledge of dealing with this stuff. > > > It is not "Cups vs Samba" they both do different things. You need both of > them > if you have a mixed Linux/Windows environment. > > derek > Just one minor addition - if you do not want to run Samba, but you want to print to a printer connected to your Linux machine from Windows, there is software that will run on Windows and let you print to a CUPS printer. The software is more for printing to network printers and printservers that do not suport Windows networking, but do suport lpr style printer connections. (TCP/IP printer services.) On the other hand, it can be a pain to set up. The JetDirect software for HP printers is one example of this. I also have used a version that came with a one port printserver that attached directly to the Centronics printer port. But newer versions of the hardware support Windows printing directly. Probably because the older versions were not plug it in, and let Windows detect it, but required configuration...
Mikkel -- Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with Ketchup!
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