HOWTO: Lexmark Printers

[black hole sun]

Hello everyone. This is a ubuntu-adopted version of the gentoo howto (which I originally wrote) http://gentoo-wiki.com/HOWTO_Lexmark_Printers

Printers that this howto covers (there are many, many others, but these are the printers that have been confirmed to work so far (also note that Dell's printers are merely rebranded Lexmarks):

Lexmark 5700 (black & white only) Lexmark X1100 Lexmark X1110 Lexmark X1130 Lexmark X1140 Lexmark X1150 Lexmark X1180 Lexmark X1185 Lexmark Z513 Lexmark Z515 Lexmark Z715 Lexmark Z55 Lexmark Z615 Lexmark Z705 Lexmark Z605 Lexmark Z600 Lexmark Z25 Dell A920 Z65 (z65 driver) Lexmark Z33 (z35 driver) Lexmark Z33 (z35 driver)

With that said, let's get to it!

The driver we'll be using is the z600 one, which can be found here. Even if your printer isn't a z600 this driver works with a LOT of Lexmark's, so try this driver first.

Download the driver, save it to a desktop folder such as `lexmark` (I say _folder_ because extracting the driver is a messy process!).

Obviously, exclude the comments to the right of the hash (#) marks, I include them only to explain the commands.

$ mkdir lexmark
$ mv CJLZ600LE-CUPS-1.0-1.TAR.gz lexmark # move the package to a folder. optional, but recommended. 
$ tar -xvzf CJLZ600LE-CUPS-1.0-1.TAR.gz # extract the driver.
$ tail -n +143 z600cups-1.0-1.gz.sh > install.tar.gz # the sh script is broken for newer systems. use `tail` to extract the binary portion of the script.
$ tar -xvzf install.tar.gz # extract the contents produced by tail
$ alien -t z600cups-1.0-1.i386.rpm # convert unusable rpm packages to tgz.
$ alien -t z600llpddk-2.0-1.i386.rpm # convert unusable rpm packages to tgz.
$ sudo tar xvzf  z600llpddk-2.0.tgz -C / # extract the tgz's to / putting the files in their right place
$ sudo tar xvzf z600cups-1.0.tgz -C / # extract the tgz's to / putting the files in their right place
$ sudo ldconfig # DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP or your printer backend won't find required libraries
$ cd /usr/share/cups/model
$ sudo gunzip Lexmark-Z600-lxz600cj-cups.ppd.gz # unzip the ppd, which should _not_ be gzipped

The driver is now installed. Restart the cups daemon:

/etc/rc2.d/S19cupsys restart

Check whether the printer backend works;

$ cd /usr/lib/cups/backend
$ ./z600

The output of the above command should be _similar_ to this:

direct z600:/dev/usb/lp0 "Lexmark Lexmark Z600 Series" "Lexmark Printer"

If you get no output, mount the usb filesystem.

Add this to your /etc/fstab file:

usbfs         /proc/bus/usb usbfs   devgid=14,devmode=0660 0 0

Then just type: sudo mount usbfs. That should fix it.

Now simply set up your printer through the System->Administration->Printing in gnome. Make sure you select the z600 driver, and you're golden.

For KDE users...well, you'll have to use whatever printer dialogue that KDE provides.

There you have it! If you need any help, post to this thread.

[michellembrodeur]

Originally Posted by black hole sun Hello everyone. This is a ubuntu-adopted version of the gentoo howto (which I originally wrote) http://gentoo-wiki.com/HOWTO_Lexmark_Printers Printers that this howto covers (there are many, many others, but these are the printers that have been confirmed to work so far (also note that Dell's printers are merely rebranded Lexmarks): With that said, let's get to it! The driver we'll be using is the z600 one, which can be found here. Even if your printer isn't a z600 this driver works with a LOT of Lexmark's, so try this driver first. Download the driver, save it to a desktop folder such as `lexmark` (I say _folder_ because extracting the driver is a messy process!). Obviously, exclude the comments to the right of the hash (#) marks, I include them only to explain the commands. $ mkdir lexmark $ mv CJLZ600LE-CUPS-1.0-1.TAR.gz lexmark # move the package to a folder. optional, but recommended. $ tar -xvzf CJLZ600LE-CUPS-1.0-1.TAR.gz # extract the driver. $ tail -n +143 z600cups-1.0-1.gz.sh > install.tar.gz # the sh script is broken for newer systems. use `tail` to extract the binary portion of the script. $ tar -xvzf install.tar.gz # extract the contents produced by tail $ alien -t z600cups-1.0-1.i386.rpm # convert unusable rpm packages to tgz. $ alien -t z600llpddk-2.0-1.i386.rpm # convert unusable rpm packages to tgz. $ sudo tar xvzf z600llpddk-2.0.tgz -C / # extract the tgz's to / putting the files in their right place $ sudo tar xvzf z600cups-1.0.tgz -C / # extract the tgz's to / putting the files in their right place $ sudo ldconfig # DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP or your printer backend won't find required libraries $ cd /usr/share/cups/model $ sudo gunzip Lexmark-Z600-lxz600cj-cups.ppd.gz # unzip the ppd, which should _not_ be gzipped The driver is now installed. Restart the cups daemon: /etc/rc2.d/S19cupsys restart Check whether the printer backend works; $ cd /usr/lib/cups/backend $ ./z600 The output of the above command should be _similar_ to this:If you get no output at all, you have problems. Now simply set up your printer through the System->Administration->Printing in gnome. Make sure you select the z600 driver, and you're golden. For KDE users...well, you'll have to use whatever printer dialogue that KDE provides. There you have it! If you need any help, post to this thread.

Thanks for trying though

I have a z35 and it didn't work. It initialized and move the paper but that was it.

also the last line
$ sudo gunzip Lexmark-Z600-lxz600cj-cups.ppd.gz # unzip the ppd, which should _not_ be gzipped

couldn't do because there was no .gz at the end
but z600 showed up in the folder where it was supposed to be
and the test came out ok with
"direct z600:/dev/usb/lp0 "Lexmark Inkjet color printer" "Lexmark Printer""

but no luck on my end.

thanks anyway.

[black hole sun]

Originally Posted by michellembrodeur Thanks for trying though I have a z35 and it didn't work. It initialized and move the paper but that was it. also the last line $ sudo gunzip Lexmark-Z600-lxz600cj-cups.ppd.gz # unzip the ppd, which should _not_ be gzipped couldn't do because there was no .gz at the end but z600 showed up in the folder where it was supposed to be and the test came out ok with "direct z600:/dev/usb/lp0 "Lexmark Inkjet color printer" "Lexmark Printer"" but no luck on my end. thanks anyway.

Did you try the z600 or z35 driver? Your printer should be able to work!

[newage]

thanks dude!! i have lexmark z615 and it really helped me!!! thanks a lot again

[Spudgun]

Hmm, I can't select another driver to use in the Gnome printer tool, anyone know why this is?

Thanks in advance.

[black hole sun]

Originally Posted by Spudgun Hmm, I can't select another driver to use in the Gnome printer tool, anyone know why this is? Thanks in advance.

What do you mean by "another driver"? You mean the lexmark one?

Have you re-started CUPS?

[michellembrodeur]

I found this for the z35 somewhere else on these forums.

it work no problem for a Z35

OK, this will take some skill on your part, but it can be done.

First, log in as root and download the drivers from

http://downloads.lexmark.com/cgi-per...e=&fileID=1242

Make a directory and put the Lexmark driver in it... Let's assume we named it LEX, and that folder is sitting in /root OK? (in all of the commands, you do not type the # key, this is just to signify the prompt)

OK, so we have moved the driver into the folder now, and we will go into the folder by opening a command prompt and typing:

# cd /root/LEX

We will now extract the archive by typing the following command:

# tar -xzvf CJLZ35LE-CUPS-2.0-1.TAR.GZ

This now leaves us with a shell script rpm installer called lexmarkz35-CUPS-2.0-1.gz.sh... not very useful to a Debian distribution like Xandros, so now comes the fun part...We will make another directory now, and extract the files into it...

# mkdir lextemp

# tail -n +143 lexmarkz35-CUPS-2.0-1.gz.sh | gzip -cd | tar xvf - -C lextemp

Now we will enter the lextemp directory and convert the rpm files, since Xandros should not use rpms unless absolutely necessary.

# cd lextemp

# alien -t *.rpm


Next, we will use the tar command to extract the files to their proper place.

# tar -zxf lexmarkz35-CUPS-2.0.tgz -C /

# tar -zxf z35llpddk-2.0.tgz -C /

Now for some editing... type the following commands in the order shown below..

# cd /usr/local/z35llpddk/utility

# ln -s auckUS.lut bnsi1.lut

# cd /usr/lib

# ln -s liblexz35core.so.0.0.0 liblexz35core.so.0

# ln -s liblexz35printer.so.0.0.0 liblexz35printer.so.0

# ln -s liblexz35printjob.so.0.0.0 liblexz35printjob.so.0

Now to test and see if the driver is working...

# /usr/lib/cups/backend/z35

Output should not error out, and give an output similar to this...

direct z35:/dev/usb/lp0 "Lexmark Inkjet color printer" "Lexmark Printer"

OK, if all is well, we allign the print heads by typing;

# /usr/lib/cups/backend/z35 utilities

Now that the heads are aligned, we can select the printer in the control center by following Launch > Control Center. Once in there in the Periphrial devices section there chould be a setting called printers... highlight printers and then go to add >local printer > Lexmark inkjet color printer and now under the model number one should see an entry for Z35 v 2.0-1... Select that, and then do your test page... Congrats, You're finished!

Hopefully Xandros will eventually make a Debian installer for this driver, but until then this works pretty well... Best of Luck, and hope this helps..

the howto worked really find under hoary.
only problem i have is that i am able to print the testpages with the utility software, but when i add the printer via cups to use it with other applications nothing will happen.

perhaps someone can help me
---------------------------------------

Do not thank me. someone else came up with it.

Something to remember, you need both b&W and colour catridages. I have only colour and it will not print black. But windows can use the colour to make black, but not linux. someday hope that willb e fixed.

[jerrybme]

@black hole sun

Your How-to worked fine for me, I get the following output at your last step:

jerry@Tuxbox:/usr/lib/cups/backend$ ./z600 
direct z600:/dev/usb/lp0 "Lexmark  Lexmark 510 Series" "Lexmark Printer"
jerry@Tuxbox:/usr/lib/cups/backend$

I use the gnome utility to configure the printer & chose the Z600 driver but when I send a test page to my Lexmark Z515, nothing happens

The gnome utility doesn't show any pending jobs. I'm at a loss.

Any suggestions? Also don't think it'd make a difference but I'm running the 64 bit Hoary version

[black hole sun]

Originally Posted by jerrybme @black hole sun Your How-to worked fine for me, I get the following output at your last step: jerry@Tuxbox:/usr/lib/cups/backend$ ./z600 direct z600:/dev/usb/lp0 "Lexmark Lexmark 510 Series" "Lexmark Printer" jerry@Tuxbox:/usr/lib/cups/backend$ I use the gnome utility to configure the printer & chose the Z600 driver but when I send a test page to my Lexmark Z515, nothing happens The gnome utility doesn't show any pending jobs. I'm at a loss. Any suggestions? Also don't think it'd make a difference but I'm running the 64 bit Hoary version

I have no idea why it's not working for you. It might be due to your 64 bit environment but i doubt that...

When you typed in the printer location did you put in /dev/usb/lp0? I am not in gnome at the moment and i cant quite remember what i did to get my printer working but i remember having to manually enter a /dev/ location for my printer; perhaps you didnt do that?

Also make sure you have ghostscript installed (search for in synaptic)

[jerrybme]

Well, it turned out to be a 64 bit library linkage problem. I created a 32 bit chroot and the printer driver works fine. I'll puzzle it out at a later time. Now I don't have to boot into windows to print