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<br/>
I recently learned where Linux stores the PPD created when you set up a
printer and how to copy it between PCs.&nbsp; I'd like to briefly share
that information with you.<br/>
<br/>


This is how to copy a printer definition file (equivalent of a printer
driver) from a system where the printer is already configured to
another system that you want to be able to access the same
printer.&nbsp; Reasons you might need to do this:<br/>
<br/>
a.&nbsp; The normal CUPS (Common Unified Printing System) set up
doesn't have the right definition file for your printer.&nbsp; In rare
instances, you might have to download a ppd from the manufacturer or
another source.&nbsp; If so, copying the ppd may be easier than
downloading it again.<br/>
<br/>b.&nbsp; You configure CUPS and find there are no pre-provided
printer
drivers.&nbsp; I thought this was the case when I first tried to
configure CUPS under Linaro on my ODroidX. &nbsp; For all intents and
purposes, Linaro is an Arm port of mainline Ubuntu (Unity
included).&nbsp; I installed CUPS via Aptitude and tried to configure a
printer as I would on any Linux system.&nbsp; When I got to printer
selection, the dropdown to select a
manufacturer (the next step would be to choose a model) was greyed out,
as was the field to enter a path to a ppd file.&nbsp; I closed the
browser and tried again, and the same thing happened.&nbsp; This is
what prompted me to find out where to find a PPD file on another system
and copy it.&nbsp; I never got to see how it would work, because when I
had the ppd file copied over and ready to install, the
manufactures and models in CUPS were already populated.&nbsp; There had
bee an update between my first and second attempts to configure CUPS on
the ODroidX, but I'd rather say it was a glitch the first time, instead
of the ppd's suddenly showing up in the repo.<br/>
<br/>
c.&nbsp; When I installed Arch on another system, I found there was far
less options for choosing models, in my instance, there was only one
selection for HP Deskjets.&nbsp; I suspect borrowing the model specific
ppd from another distro will increase the functionality of the printer.<br/>
<br/>
Copying the ppd<br/>
<br/>
1.&nbsp; On the computer where the printer is already configured, find
the .ppd (Postscript Printer Definition) file you generated (filename
will be the same as the printer name) in /etc/cups/ppd/model (or
possibly just /etc/cups/ppd, neither my ODroidX or my Fedora laptop
have the "model" folder).<br/>
2. Copy to your home folder on the new system (You can't place the file
in it's final destination yet, unless you are remoted in as root)<br/>
3. According to the post I found on LinuxQuestions.org, CUPS looks for
a GZipped file [ gzip -c myprinter.ppd &gt; myprinter.ppd.gz ; the '-c'
arguement creates a new file, rather than gzipping the old one, and you
use redirection to generate the new file.]&nbsp; Recall that I never
got to try this, because when I re-ran CUPS, the printer selections
were already populated.&nbsp; <br/>
4. Copy the archived file to /etc/cups/ppd/model on the machine that needs the printer driver<br/>
<br/>
Configure CUPS (IP Printer)<br/>
1. Open localhost:631 in a browser<br/>
2. Click Administration tab<br/>
3. Click "Add a Printer" button<br/>
4. Log in as an account with root priviledges<br/>
5. For Ethernet printers, select "AppSocket/HP JetDirect" button and click "Continue"<br/>
6. From the examples presented, " socket://PRINT_SERVER_IP_ADDRESS:9100&nbsp; " works for me, click continue<br/>
7. On the next page, fill in a printer name, this will be the file name
for the PPD generated as well as how the printer is labled in the
printer select dialog.&nbsp; The other fields are optional.&nbsp; Click
continue.<br/>
8. (I am assuming if the LinuxQuestions post was right, CUPS will find
the gz file and show the manuafacturer and model as options) From the
list, select a manufacturer, or input the path to your PPD file<br/>
9. Select the printer model<br/>
9a.I think you could copy over the ppd as is and type the path to it in the field where it asks for a ppd file.&nbsp; <br/>
10.Modify or accept the default printer settings<br/>
<br/>
Or just copy the ppd and compare the settings in /etc/cups/printers.conf<br/>
<br/>
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