A "how to" for the Brother MFC210C printer.
Introduction
Setting up a Brother MFC210C might appear a bit daunting for a new Ubuntu user. Locating the drivers alone is a challenge (they're
not available on the Brother setup CD). And Brother's ambiguous instructions may leave you tempted to abandon Ubuntu.
For those of us who have this low-cost Multi Function Centre and have not been able to use it, here's a step-by-step instruction set to get it printing. A tutorial on how to get the scanner features going is welcome.
Preliminary procedures
Create a folder on your desktop and call it
mfc210c:
- Right-click the desktop and click Create Folder in the context menu
- Name it mfc210c (in lower case, this is important)
Step 1: Download from Brother
Click each of the following links. Click
I Accept when the browser loads the page:
Note: The browser will ask if you wish to open or download the file. Don't open it. Download and save it in the mfc210c folder on the desktop.
Step 2: Install the C Shell
Ubuntu does not come with the C shell pre-installed. It is necessary for this installation. The rest of the setup requires an open Terminal.
Applications → Accessories → Terminal
and enter the following (or copy the following command, paste it in and hit Enter):
Code:
sudo apt-get install csh
This command will require your password.
Don't close the Terminal. We'll need it again.
Step 3: Install the LPR Driver
Enter the following commands into the Terminal:
Code:
sudo mkdir /var/spool/lpd
Code:
sudo mkdir /var/spool/lpd/MFC210C
Code:
sudo dpkg -i ~/Desktop/mfc210c/mfc210clpr-1.0.2-1.i386.deb
Note: this tutorial is designed with the idea that both downloaded files are in the mfc210c folder on the desktop. The last command above will fail otherwise.
Step 4: Install the CUPS Wrapper
Enter the following commands into the Terminal:
Code:
sudo ln -s /etc/init.d/cupsys /etc/init.d/cups
Code:
sudo dpkg -i ~/Desktop/mfc210c/cupswrappermfc210c_1.0.0-1_i386.deb
Finalization
Open the printer panel to ensure the MFC210C is installed.
System → Administration → Printing
Right-click the printer and click “Properties”.
- Print a test page from the General tab.
- Click the Paper tab and adjust the paper size accordingly, possibly replacing A4 with Letter.
- Review the choices under the Advanced tab and make adjustments.
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If you encounter an error in these instructions or added several steps to make it more complete, please post your findings/additions and appropriate modifications will be made.
Explanations as to the above procedures are available upon request: the steps outlined above have been modified and expanded from those offered at the Brother website. Brother is a registered trademark.
(This HOWTO comes with absolutely no warranty. to the extent permitted by applicable law. However, the author will return on a regular basis to ensure the Brother files are still available and up-to-date.)