Printers: Adding printers in Ubuntu

Overview

To set up a printer on Linux it is recommended to use OpenPrinting, this is installed by default on Ubuntu and most Ubuntu-based distributions. OpenPrinting is usually called Printers in the GUI, or can be opened with the system-config-printer command in the terminal.

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

Installing a Printer

1. Connect to the campus network via either a wired or wireless connection.

2. Run OpenPrinting (Printers program in GUI, or system-config-printer from terminal)

3. Click on the Add button (Alternatively: Server>New>Printer)

4. Expand the Network Printer drop-down and select Windows Printer via SAMBA
   
   [New Printer - Select Device dialog box highlighting "Windows Printer via SAMBA" under the Network Printer area. Under Connection on the bottom right, "Windows Printer via SAMBA" is selected]

5. In the URL window type smb://‹YourRCSuserID›:‹RCSpassword›@win.rpi.edu/printers.win.rpi.edu/‹PrinterName›

   • Note: Omit smb:// if it is already included.

   • You may also type your RCS ID and Password in the Authentication box if it is supplied, in which case the URL should look like smb://win.rpi.edu/printers.win.rpi.edu/‹PrinterName›

6. Click the Forward button to proceed to driver selection.

7. Choose Select Printer from Database, and select Generic as the make. Then click Forward.
   
   [New Printer - Choose Driver window highlighting Generic under the Makes area below]

8. In Models select Postscript, and then click Forward.
   
   [PostScript highlighted under Models within the Choose Driver area within the New Printer dialog box along with Generic PostScript Printer Foomatic/Postscript highlighted under Drivers on the right column]

9. In the next box you may set a name for the printer. Set it to something that will let you remember which printer it is. When finished click Apply.

   • It might ask you if you would like to print a test page, this is in color by default, if the printer you just set up supports color it will print in color. Color printing charges are not included in your free printing allocation. If you would like to avoid the charge, press cancel.

   • You can always print a test page later from the printer's properties, and if you want to print it in black and white, you can set the printer's default mode to monochrome from the Job Options menu.

   • You can access a printer's properties by double-clicking it in the main menu of OpenPrint.
     
     [Job Options highlights on the left navigation bar]

Now your printer should be installed and ready to use. Repeat the above process as needed to add more printers.

Removing a Printer

If for whatever reason you need to remove a printer, simply open the OpenPrint program, right click on the desired printer, and click on Delete.

References/Links

Last Reviewed: 01-Oct-2025