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What flavor of Linux to act as a print server?

C

ctowle

Golden Member
Hello All-

This is what I need to do:

I have an existing LAN that I want to have a parallel port laser printer added to as a network printer. I want to have the printer in the other room, and I have a LAN drop in there.

I don't want to buy any new HW, and I happen to have an old box laying around that is capable of running most flavors of linux. This is what it is:

P2300, 96MB Ram, Video, 6 GB HD, Network connection.

What I would like to know is what distro of linux will allow me to host this printer so that I can have the rest of the LAN print from it. I would like to have it work off of DHCP, and I would like it to be headless, no mouse or keyboard. This machine will do nothing else, but sit under the table and host the printer.

I have experience using Solaris at work, but I have never really ventured off into the world of linux. I know there are many distros out there, I want to know what would be the most effective solution to my situation.

If I haven't provided enough info, please feel free to ask me 🙂

Thanks in advance-

Chris
 
i recommend debian, i use it, and its totally flexible. you can have a desktop system with a big fancy GUI and all that, or you can have a real old machine running as a server or something, and use up hardly any disk space.

all you really need to make sure of before installing, is what chipset your nic(s) use. for dhcp i use pump.
 
Thanks for the response.

I have a few NIC's laying around, I was gonna use a 3com 905, I figured that would be supported.

If not, I have a netgear 311 and a Linksys or something in the drawer.

The printer is an HP Laserjet 5M. Is there a way to see if that is supported by Debian?
 


<< Thanks for the response.

I have a few NIC's laying around, I was gonna use a 3com 905, I figured that would be supported.

If not, I have a netgear 311 and a Linksys or something in the drawer.

The printer is an HP Laserjet 5M. Is there a way to see if that is supported by Debian? >>


i'm sure all of those nic's would work, the printer i'm not sure on, search around for "CUPS" ("CUPS is the Common Unix Printing System") and gimp-print (at gimp-print.sourceforge.net, i looked and it includes your printer under "supported printers" and lists it as "fully operational")

i dont even own a printer so i really dont know much about using them under linux, but that should give you a start on where to look =)
 
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