Several people on this list have been quick to condemn CUPS without knowing what they are talking about. Read below.

First, I would like to thank all those who have tried to help me with my ongoing printer problem.

Second, is there anyone at SuSE who can step me through debugging my printer problem? Once again, here are the symptoms:

- I cannot print from the command line (lpr <filename>), or from programs. - When I try to print, I get a mail message stating:

jim@yoda:~ > mail Mail version 8.1 6/6/93. Type ? for help. "/var/mail/jim": 1 message 1 new >N 1 jim@yoda Mon May 7 17:56 14/485 "apsfilter: printer fault during job reply_of" &

- When, as root, I cat a file to /dev/lp0, the file prints. - When I try to print a file, the light on my HP 4L flashes once before the print fails.

This is driving me crazy. The printer was working after upgrading from 6.3 to 7.1. It stopped working around the time I did an auto-update from Yast 2.

This is very important to me as I have lost my job and I need to generate resumes.

Thanks in advance,

-- Jim Sabatke SuSE 7.1 Linux Kernel - 2.4.0 http://www.execpc.com/~jsabatke

My response to Jim: I have noticed several posts about this problem. So, let's take it one step at a time. 1. Determine if cups is installed. If it is, the readme says that it replaces your printing system, which will no longer work even if you uninstall cups. which cupsd --> yields a file name and location rpm -qf "the file name from above" If you have cups installed, use a web browser and enter location "http://localhost:631" or "http://localhost:631/admin"

From here you should be able to install at least a generic hp laserjet print to get you going.

From http://localhost:631, you configure printers, modify printers, manage

2. If you don't have cups, get it, regardless of what some experts may say. It is easy software from www.easysw.com, and it is free. This is a tarred file which includes an install script file that works very well. Forget Yast and Yast2. Write me back if you need help. print jobs, etc. The distribution includes a laserjet.ppd file to act as controller. These ppd files are not platform specific--just have to be in right place. Microsoft has them, Adobe has them, etc. Jim's Results -- Simple and Quick. CUPS installed just like you said and in 10 minutes I was printing. Everyone else was telling me to kill CUPS. Many thanks, Jim Ed Harrison broadcasting on ----/ / _ ---/ / (_)__ __ ____ __ --/ /__/ / _ \/ // /\ \/ / -/____/_/_//_/\_,_/ /_/\_\ by SuSE(6.4), Kernel 2.4.4, X 4.0.3 or Warp 4, FP12 or Windows98 (running in vmware 2.0.4 for fun) PolarBarMailer 1.1.19a with IBM JDK 1.1.8