Printing from MX Linux

[Jeffrey]

I’ve been given some old 32 bit laptops which I am loading with MXLinux for use by disadvantaged kids in schools. I know a local Councillor whose remit is working to alleviate poverty locally.

I’ve installed Gutenprint on the first one (I use this print app successfully on my own Linux Ubuntu installation). However, it recognises and sends to my printer but there is no print. Any ideas how to troubleshoot this please?

Also - is there a favourite print app that works with most printers?

If anyone has a view on good apps to pre-install for kids please comment.

Printer: Epson ET-2815 ecotank

Computer: Fujistsu/Siemens Amilo Li 1718

[j2mcgreg]

Will your target users have access to an Epson Ecotank?

[gimcrack]

Found the Linux driver for it here;

https://www.havedrivers.com/2021/10/eps ... nload.html

Not 100% sure about 32 bit support though.

[Jeffrey]

Hi j2mcgreg, gimcrack, No, it’s the only printer I have, so I’m testing with it. I used Gutenprint because it worked with my own installation and I’m trying to find something I can put out there on these MX units which has a good chance of working with whatever the new user can print to.

Thanks both for your input, ideas very welcome.

[gimcrack]

Hi j2mcgreg, gimcrack, No, it’s the only printer I have, so I’m testing with it. I used Gutenprint because it worked with my own installation and I’m trying to find something I can put out there on these MX units which has a good chance of working with whatever the new user can print to.

Thanks both for your input, ideas very welcome.

Not sure what you was trying to print out. But, if it was a .pdf file. You might need Ghostscript install as well.

[Jeffrey]

I just wrote “test” on a LibreWriter doc and tried to print it. I’ll install Ghostscript too now.

Thanks.

[CharlesV]

@Jeffrey First off - good on you for doing this! I used to run 12 to 20 machines a year out to boys homes, church groups and disadvantaged youth programs and its very rewarding!

gutenprint was the best all around printer drivers set I could find and seemed to work really well when I was doing this. ( MX17 - mx19 and Mint). Interestingly, your printer is not listed in the print lists for the current gutenprint ( 5.2.7 version.) However, I still think this is the best thing you can do for 'generic printer driver' that covers many printers.

As for programs... I loaded up the machines I donated with:
As many games as I could find
Various software from image work to document editing (scribus and inkscape etc)
Several music players and a spattering of music (ya, I know shouldnt really have done that.)
Some *simple* programming tools
And preloaded the web browsers with good safety utils and then a host of links to all kinds of interesting, educational web sites. (including lots of science things and linux links.)

[Jeffrey]

@Jeffrey First off - good on you for doing this! I used to run 12 to 20 machines a year out to boys homes, church groups and disadvantaged youth programs and its very rewarding!

gutenprint was the best all around printer drivers set I could find and seemed to work really well when I was doing this. ( MX17 - mx19 and Mint). Interestingly, your printer is not listed in the print lists for the current gutenprint ( 5.2.7 version.) However, I still think this is the best thing you can do for 'generic printer driver' that covers many printers.

As for programs... I loaded up the machines I donated with:
As many games as I could find
Various software from image work to document editing (scribus and inkscape etc)
Several music players and a spattering of music (ya, I know shouldnt really have done that.)
Some *simple* programming tools
And preloaded the web browsers with good safety utils and then a host of links to all kinds of interesting, educational web sites. (including lots of science things and linux links.)

Thanks for the kind words!

I’m not particularly well versed in Linux so feeling my way along really. I don’t yet know enough for some of the choices I could make. Which safety utils should I look for? Which simple programming tools? I’ve used Qwant as the search engine.

Do you know how I could troubleshoot Gutenprint - which works just fine on my Ubuntu Dell laptop.

Thanks again!

j

[CharlesV]

For safety extensions: AdBlock Plus or uOrigin, Then I move to DuckDuckGo.com as the home page and also add their extension. And then I remove all other search engines. ( especially yahoo )

For programming: python is all the rage, so a good place to start is to install the Wing Personal Python IDE. It has pretty much everything needed to learn and build Python.
https://wingware.com/downloads/wing-personal

There are others too - I personally think Pascal is a great language to learn first, and on linux it is very strong too. Lazarus would be the best ide for that.
https://wingware.com/downloads/wing-personal

If the person truly wants into programming and to work it all, then they will figure out the rest :-)

[CharlesV]

In my experience, most Gutenprint problems are between CUPS and Gutenprint, or not having a driver that really works with your printer.

Since I know that the EcoTank printers work in linux, yet I dont see a Gutenprint driver for that printer... I have to believe that is where the issue is. Personally, I would not work too hard at trying to get that printer working for machines you are going to send out, unless your wanting to ship out or recommend THAT printer.

If your wanting to get it working on your machine, then I would just use CUPS and set it up there, but make sure you install the epson ESC/P-R driver. ( MX Package Installer | Enabled Repos - search for printer-driver-escpr ) If it already installed then reinstall it. As I recall, that was all I needed to setup the EcoTanks.