4 USB printers problem!

[daniel-strae]

Hi guys, forst of all sorry if my english is not perfect

Im started using ubuntu two months ago, and now im trying to switch my office's pc to ubuntu too.

Everythings works perfectly, the only problem i have is with the printers: i have 4 Epson usb printers, 2 R285 and 2 P50 linked to my pc.

Those printers works, but seem like ubuntu consider them as 2;

Printer A: Epson P50;
Printer B: Epson P50;
Printer C: Epson R285;
Printer D: Epson R285;

So, the first P50 i switch on is the one ubuntu see: if i switch on the A printer, ubuntu will print with it and completely ignore the printer B and viceversa, the same happen for the C and D printers.

I saw in system->Print->Printer A->Properties that the URI of the printers are the same for the model, so printers A and B have that URI:
usb://EPSON/Stylus%20Photo%20P50
C and D:
usb://EPSON/Stylus%20Photo%20R285

and i think that this is the problem.

There is a way to 'map' the printers, for example 'Printer A from the USB port #1, Printer B from USB #2, etc...'?

[daniel-strae]

This is the output of my `sudo printconf`:

 * Reloading Common Unix Printing System: cupsd
   ...done.
Printer on usb:/dev/usb/lp0 was detected by Debian using the ad-hoc method.  Please submit the following information to
foomatic-db@packages.debian.org:
<autodetect>
  <usb>
    <commandset>ESCPL2,BDC,D4,D4PX</commandset>
    <description>EPSON Stylus Photo R285</description>
    <manufacturer>EPSON</manufacturer>
    <model>Stylus Photo R285</model>
  </usb>
</autodetect>

Epson Stylus Photo R285 on USB Printer #1 is not currently supported by Debian.

Printer on usb:/dev/usb/lp1 was detected by Debian using the ad-hoc method.  Please submit the following information to
foomatic-db@packages.debian.org:
<autodetect>
  <usb>
    <commandset>ESCPL2,BDC,D4,D4PX</commandset>
    <description>EPSON Stylus Photo R285</description>
    <manufacturer>EPSON</manufacturer>
    <model>Stylus Photo R285</model>
  </usb>
</autodetect>

Epson Stylus Photo R285 on USB Printer #2 is not currently supported by Debian.

Printer on usb:/dev/usb/lp2 was not automatically configurable by Debian.  Please submit the following information to
foomatic-db@packages.debian.org:
<autodetect>
  <usb>
    <commandset>ESCPL2,BDC,D4,D4PX</commandset>
    <description>EPSON Epson Stylus Photo P50</description>
    <manufacturer>EPSON</manufacturer>
    <model>Epson Stylus Photo P50</model>
  </usb>
</autodetect>

Printer on usb:/dev/usb/lp3 was not automatically configurable by Debian.  Please submit the following information to
foomatic-db@packages.debian.org:
<autodetect>
  <usb>
    <commandset>ESCPL2,BDC,D4,D4PX</commandset>
    <description>EPSON Epson Stylus Photo P50</description>
    <manufacturer>EPSON</manufacturer>
    <model>Epson Stylus Photo P50</model>
  </usb>
</autodetect>

If printconf was unable to install all of your printers, please visit http://www.linuxprinting.org/ for printer information
and support from fellow users.

I tryed to put usb:/dev/usb/lp$X in the URI parameters of the printers, but it doesnt work!

[Fafler]

I think it could be fixed with udev. It's been a while, so i can't exactly remember what to do, but look at the info available to udev and look for a serial number or something else unique to each printer and use it to map the printer to a device name of your choice.

[wyliecoyoteuk]

Looks like the 285s are not being recognised as supported.

I would try opening CUPS directly and try reconfiguring, perhaps deleting and then reading the printers and selecting the drivers would help.

CUPS

http://localhost:631


My URIs for USB printers:

hp:/usb/Deskjet_F2200_series?serial=CN89O4Q0430534
hp:/usb/deskjet_3420?serial=HU28T3Q2M41J

So maybe you can add it thus:

usb://EPSON/Stylus%20Photo%20P50?serial=<serial number of your printer>

[daniel-strae]

Looks like the 285s are not being recognised as supported.

I would try opening CUPS directly and try reconfiguring, perhaps deleting and then reading the printers and selecting the drivers would help.

CUPS

http://localhost:631


My URIs for USB printers:

hp:/usb/Deskjet_F2200_series?serial=CN89O4Q0430534
hp:/usb/deskjet_3420?serial=HU28T3Q2M41J

So maybe you can add it thus:

usb://EPSON/Stylus%20Photo%20P50?serial=<serial number of your printer>

Thanks, i'll try to add the serial number..

@Fafler: i'll give a read to udev

The funny things is that via CUPS i can see two others R285 linked to an apple powermac, and i recognize them individually.. i suppose its a usb problem, and maybe i'll solve them easly if i put my 4 printers in the network.. but my pronters doesnt have the lan plugin -.-

[daniel-strae]

The ?serial= trick didnt work

And im getting crazy trying to map the printers with udev, googled a lot, but didnt find anythings for usb printers (but many tutorial for usb scanners -.-)

[Fafler]

http://reactivated.net/writing_udev_rules.html

I don't have any USB printers, so i can't be more specific, but feel free to ask any questions.

[Bungler]

Have you tried to plug 1 of them in at the back usb connector and 1 in the front one, or on a seperate USB card?
I have to admit it is a guess, but I tought the usb ports are grouped on the motherboard and if connect them on different groups might make a difference