Red Hat Linux

Overview

To use a campus network printer, you need to install the driver intended for that printer on your computer. Red Hat Linux can take advantage of Rensselaer's printers.win.rpi.edu server, however it will require some manual configuration.

Before installing the printer, you will need to know the name of the printer you want. Check the list of public printers, sorted by type and sorted by location, for reference.

Procedures

1. From the Start Menu button, select:
2. Start Menu  —> System Settings —> Printing
   1. You will be prompted for the root password, if you are not logged on as root.
3. The Printer configuration wizard will start.
   1. Click the New icon. The Add a new print queue window will appear.
   2. Click Forward. 
4. Enter the name of the print queue. It is best to use the real RCS printer name, for example, tr2012lw.
   1. Click Forward.
5. Select queue type Networked Windows and click the Specify button.
6. In the authentication window that pops up:
   1. Leave the Workgroup field blank
   2. Server is printers.win.rpi.edu. 
   3. Share is the name of the print queue; for example, tr2012lw.
   4. User name is your RCS user name. 
   5. Password is your RCS password. 
   6. Click OK.
7. You will be returned to the Queue type window. Click Forward, and the Printer model window should appear.
8. Under "Generic," scroll down and select PostScript. This printer model will work for most RCS public printers, including color.  However, if you know the printer model, you might be able to find an exact entry by choosing the manufacturer, and then a model close to what you actually have.
9. Click Forward, then click Apply. You will be asked if you want to print a test page; this is probably a good idea.
   Click OK.
10. You should now be back to the Printer configuration page.
11. You can change the printer settings if you want. For example, if the printer you chose is capable of two-sided printing, you can enable this feature:
    1. Right-click on the printer entry
    2. Click the Edit icon
    3. Select the "Driver Options" tab

    4. Enable double-sided printing

Last Reviewed: 27-Jul-2018