Cannot disable "Auto Power-Off"

[Tom Kiesel]

The Deskjet 2510 series includes a feature that the manual calls "Auto Power-Off" whereby the printer powers off after a period of inactivity to save power. When the printer is powered off, HPLIP doesn't seem to automatically power it up when a print job is received.

According to the manual this Auto Power-Off can only be disabled via the software driver. HPLIP (hp-toolbox) seems to lack this feature, or I cannot find it.

Relevant printer manual: http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c03333598.pdf

1. Your Linux Distribution and version.
Linux Mint 15 x86

2. Your printer make/model.
HP Deskjet 2512

3. If possible, run 'hp-check -t' and post the output.
--------------BEGIN LOG-----------------------
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: :HP Linux Imaging and Printing System (ver. 3.13.3)
hp-check[20258]: info: :Dependency/Version Check Utility ver. 15.1
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: :Copyright (c) 2001-13 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, LP
hp-check[20258]: info: :This software comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY.
hp-check[20258]: info: :This is free software, and you are welcome to distribute it
hp-check[20258]: info: :under certain conditions. See COPYING file for more details.
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: :Note: hp-check can be run in three modes:
hp-check[20258]: info: :1. Compile-time check mode (-c or --compile): Use this mode before compiling the
hp-check[20258]: info: :HPLIP supplied tarball (.tar.gz or .run) to determine if the proper dependencies
hp-check[20258]: info: :are installed to successfully compile HPLIP.
hp-check[20258]: info: :2. Run-time check mode (-r or --run): Use this mode to determine if a distro
hp-check[20258]: info: :supplied package (.deb, .rpm, etc) or an already built HPLIP supplied tarball
hp-check[20258]: info: :has the proper dependencies installed to successfully run.
hp-check[20258]: info: :3. Both compile- and run-time check mode (-b or --both) (Default): This mode
hp-check[20258]: info: :will check both of the above cases (both compile- and run-time dependencies).
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: :Check types:
hp-check[20258]: info: :a. EXTERNALDEP - External Dependencies
hp-check[20258]: info: :b. GENERALDEP - General Dependencies (required both at compile and run time)
hp-check[20258]: info: :c. COMPILEDEP - Compile time Dependencies
hp-check[20258]: info: :d. [All are run-time checks]
hp-check[20258]: info: :PYEXT SCANCONF QUEUES PERMISSION
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: :Status Types:
hp-check[20258]: info: : OK
hp-check[20258]: info: : MISSING - Missing Dependency or Permission or Plug-in
hp-check[20258]: info: : INCOMPAT - Incompatible dependency-version or Plugin-version
hp-check[20258]: info: :
warning: linuxmint-15 version is not supported. Using linuxmint-14 versions dependencies to verify and install...
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: :---------------
hp-check[20258]: info: :| SYSTEM INFO |
hp-check[20258]: info: :---------------
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: : Kernel: 3.8.0-19-generic #29-Ubuntu SMP Wed Apr 17 18:19:42 UTC 2013 GNU/Linux
 Host: gecko
 Proc: 3.8.0-19-generic #29-Ubuntu SMP Wed Apr 17 18:19:42 UTC 2013 GNU/Linux
 Distribution: linuxmint 15
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: :-----------------------
hp-check[20258]: info: :| HPLIP CONFIGURATION |
hp-check[20258]: info: :-----------------------
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: :HPLIP-Version: HPLIP 3.13.3
hp-check[20258]: info: :HPLIP-Home: /usr/share/hplip
warning: HPLIP-Installation: Auto installation is not supported for linuxmint distro 15 version
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: :Current contents of '/etc/hp/hplip.conf' file:
hp-check[20258]: info: :# hplip.conf. Generated from hplip.conf.in by configure.

[hplip]
version=3.13.3

[dirs]
home=/usr/share/hplip
run=/var/run
ppd=/usr/share/ppd/hplip/HP
ppdbase=/usr/share/ppd/hplip
doc=/usr/share/doc/hplip-doc/HTML
icon=no
cupsbackend=/usr/lib/cups/backend
cupsfilter=/usr/lib/cups/filter
drv=/usr/share/cups/drv
bin=/usr/bin

# Following values are determined at configure time and cannot be changed.
[configure]
network-build=yes
libusb01-build=no
pp-build=yes
gui-build=yes
scanner-build=yes
fax-build=yes
dbus-build=yes
cups11-build=no
doc-build=yes
shadow-build=no
hpijs-install=yes
foomatic-drv-install=yes
foomatic-ppd-install=yes
foomatic-rip-hplip-install=no
hpcups-install=yes
cups-drv-install=yes
cups-ppd-install=no
internal-tag=3.13.3
restricted-build=no
ui-toolkit=qt4
qt3=no
qt4=yes
policy-kit=yes
hpijs-only-build=no
lite-build=no
udev-acl-rules=yes
udev_sysfs_rules=no
hpcups-only-build=no
hpijs-only-build=no

hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: :Current contents of '/var/lib/hp/hplip.state' file:
hp-check[20258]: info: :Plugins are not installed. Could not access file: No such file or directory
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: :Current contents of '~/.hplip/hplip.conf' file:
hp-check[20258]: info: :[upgrade]
latest_available_version = 3.13.6
notify_upgrade = false
last_upgraded_time = 1373383096.65866
pending_upgrade_time = 0

[settings]
systray_visible = 1
systray_messages = 0

[last_used]
device_uri = "hp:/usb/Deskjet_2510_series?serial=CN3543NMFK05QX"
printer_name = Deskjet2512
working_dir = .

[commands]
scan = /usr/bin/simple-scan %SANE_URI%

[refresh]
rate = 30
enable = true
type = 2

[polling]
enable = false
interval = 5
device_list =

[fax]
voice_phone =
email_address =

[installation]
date_time = 07/09/2013 10:36:55
version = 3.13.3

hp-check[20258]: info: : <Package-name> <Package-Desc> <Required/Optional> <Min-Version> <Installed-Version> <Status> <Comment>
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: :--------------------------
hp-check[20258]: info: :| External Dependencies |
hp-check[20258]: info: :--------------------------
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: : gs Ghostscript REQUIRED 7.05 9.07 OK -
hp-check[20258]: info: : network Network-wget OPTIONAL - 1.14 OK -
hp-check[20258]: info: : error: dbus DBus REQUIRED - 1.6.8 MISSING 'DBUS may not be installed or not running'
hp-check[20258]: info: : scanimage Shell-Scanning OPTIONAL 1.0 1.0.23 OK -
hp-check[20258]: info: : policykit Admin-Policy-framework OPTIONAL - 0.105 OK -
hp-check[20258]: info: : error: xsane SANE-GUI OPTIONAL 0.9 - MISSING 'xsane needs to be installed'
hp-check[20258]: info: : error: cups CUPS REQUIRED 1.1 - INCOMPAT 'CUPS may not be installed or not running'
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: :-------------------------
hp-check[20258]: info: :| General Dependencies |
hp-check[20258]: info: :-------------------------
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: : reportlab Python-PDF-Lib OPTIONAL 2.0 2.6 OK -
hp-check[20258]: info: : error: libcrypto OpenSSL-Crypto-Lib REQUIRED - 1.0.1 MISSING 'libcrypto needs to be installed'
hp-check[20258]: info: : pil Python-Image-Lib OPTIONAL - 1.1.7 OK -
hp-check[20258]: info: : pyqt4-dbus PyQt4-DBUS REQUIRED 4.0 4.10 OK -
hp-check[20258]: info: : error: libjpeg JPEG-Lib REQUIRED - - MISSING 'libjpeg needs to be installed'
hp-check[20258]: info: : libpthread POSIX-Threads-Lib REQUIRED - 2.17 OK -
hp-check[20258]: info: : python-dbus Python-DBUS REQUIRED 0.80.0 1.1.1 OK -
hp-check[20258]: info: : error: python-devel Python-SDK REQUIRED 2.2 2.7.4 MISSING 'python-devel needs to be installed'
hp-check[20258]: info: : pyqt4 Python-Qt4 REQUIRED 4.0 4.10 OK -
hp-check[20258]: info: : error: cups-devel CUPS-SDK REQUIRED - - MISSING 'cups-devel needs to be installed'
hp-check[20258]: info: : error: sane-devel SANE-SDK REQUIRED - - MISSING 'sane-devel needs to be installed'
hp-check[20258]: info: : error: libusb USB-Lib REQUIRED - 1.0 MISSING 'libusb needs to be installed'
hp-check[20258]: info: : sane Scan-Lib REQUIRED - - OK -
hp-check[20258]: info: : error: cups-image CUPS-Image-Lib REQUIRED - - MISSING 'cups-image needs to be installed'
hp-check[20258]: info: : error: libnetsnmp-devel SNMP-Networking-SDK REQUIRED 5.0.9 5.4.3 MISSING 'libnetsnmp-devel needs to be installed'
hp-check[20258]: info: : python-xml Python-XML-Lib REQUIRED - 2.1.0 OK -
hp-check[20258]: info: : python-notify Desktop-notifications OPTIONAL - - OK -
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: :------------------------------
hp-check[20258]: info: :| Compile Time Dependencies |
hp-check[20258]: info: :------------------------------
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: : gcc gcc-Compiler REQUIRED - 4.7.3 OK -
hp-check[20258]: info: : error: libtool Build-tools REQUIRED - - MISSING 'libtool needs to be installed'
hp-check[20258]: info: : make GNU-Build-tools REQUIRED 3.0 3.81 OK -
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: :----------------------
hp-check[20258]: info: :| Python Extentions |
hp-check[20258]: info: :----------------------
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: : cupsext CUPS-Extension REQUIRED - 3.13.3 OK -
hp-check[20258]: info: : pcardext PhotoCard-Extension REQUIRED - 3.13.3 OK -
hp-check[20258]: info: : hpmudext IO-Extension REQUIRED - 3.13.3 OK -
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: :-----------------------
hp-check[20258]: info: :| Scan Configuration |
hp-check[20258]: info: :-----------------------
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: : hpaio HPLIP-SANE-Backend REQUIRED - 3.13.3 OK 'hpaio found in /etc/sane.d/dll.conf'
hp-check[20258]: info: : scanext Scan-SANE-Extension REQUIRED - 3.13.3 OK -
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: :------------------------------
hp-check[20258]: info: :| DISCOVERED SCANNER DEVICES |
hp-check[20258]: info: :------------------------------
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: :device `hpaio:/usb/Deskjet_2510_series?serial=CN3543NMFK05QX' is a Hewlett-Packard Deskjet_2510_series all-in-one

hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: :--------------------------
hp-check[20258]: info: :| DISCOVERED USB DEVICES |
hp-check[20258]: info: :--------------------------
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: : Device URI Model
hp-check[20258]: info: : -------------------------------- ----------------------
hp-check[20258]: info: : hp:/usb/Deskjet_2510_series?seri HP Deskjet 2510 series
  al=CN3543NMFK05QX
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: :---------------------------------
hp-check[20258]: info: :| INSTALLED CUPS PRINTER QUEUES |
hp-check[20258]: info: :---------------------------------
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: :Deskjet2512
hp-check[20258]: info: :-----------
hp-check[20258]: info: :Type: Printer
hp-check[20258]: info: :Device URI: hp:/usb/Deskjet_2510_series?serial=CN3543NMFK05QX
hp-check[20258]: info: :PPD: /etc/cups/ppd/Deskjet2512.ppd
hp-check[20258]: info: :PPD Description: HP Deskjet 2510 Series, hpcups 3.13.3
hp-check[20258]: info: :Printer status: printer Deskjet2512 is idle. enabled since Tue 09 Jul 2013 10:19:27 AM CDT
 ready to print
hp-check[20258]: info: :Communication status: Good
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: :--------------
hp-check[20258]: info: :| PERMISSION |
hp-check[20258]: info: :--------------
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: :error: groups user-groups Required - - MISSING lp
hp-check[20258]: info: :USB Deskjet2512 Required - - OK Node:'/dev/bus/usb/002/007' Perm:' root lp rw- rw- rw- rw- r--'
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: :-----------
hp-check[20258]: info: :| SUMMARY |
hp-check[20258]: info: :-----------
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: :Missing Required Dependencies
hp-check[20258]: info: :-----------------------------
error: 'libdbus-1-dev' package is missing/incompatible
error: 'libcups2' package is missing/incompatible
error: 'openssl' package is missing/incompatible
error: 'libjpeg62-dev' package is missing/incompatible
error: 'python-dev' package is missing/incompatible
error: 'libcups2-dev' package is missing/incompatible
error: 'cups-bsd' package is missing/incompatible
error: 'cups-client' package is missing/incompatible
error: 'libsane-dev' package is missing/incompatible
error: 'libusb-1.0.0-dev' package is missing/incompatible
error: 'libcupsimage2-dev' package is missing/incompatible
error: 'libsnmp-dev' package is missing/incompatible
error: 'libtool' package is missing/incompatible
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: :Missing Optional Dependencies
hp-check[20258]: info: :-----------------------------
error: 'xsane' package is missing/incompatible
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: :USER GROUPS
hp-check[20258]: info: :-----------
error: lp groups need to be added for tom user
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: :Total Errors: 13
hp-check[20258]: info: :Total Warnings: 0
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: :Re-run 'hp-doctor' command to prompt and fix the issues.
hp-check[20258]: info: :
hp-check[20258]: info: :Done.
---------------END LOG----------------------

4. A detailed explanation of your problem.
see above

5. Steps to recreate the problem.
see above

[Tom Kiesel (tom-nonotyet)]

I'm happy to perform any diagnostics and test sending any commands to the printer as needed.

I can hook a Windows machine to the printer and change the relevant setting to see if polling in Linux reveals a changed setting in the device. Whatever is needed, I would like to assist so that this printer functions more properly for me.

[Mark Aitchison (m-aitchison)]

It also affects my HP Deskjet 1510, and I believe there are other option settings (such as continue after ink low?) that can be set uder MS Windows but not Linux. Not sure about Macs. The auto-off is "hard" in that you have to go to the printer and press the power switch... nothing the computer sends via USB has any effect... so the scanner utility thinks no printer is there and printing won't happen (until some random time after the printer is switched back on again), so it is often annoying. There was some suggestion on the 'net that the problem was related to where the printer's power was plugged in.. is is not the case, it is a deliberate "feature".

I guess a work-around is to temporarily plug the printer into a Windows system to make the setting change. It is sad that so many of these features engineered into devices to save power end up being so annoying that customers find their only option is to completely diasble them and recommend to others to avoid the product. A better strategy from printer designers would be to power down a few seconds after the USB power stops so it would start saving power sooner at the end of the day, and only hibernate at other times unless the user really wants a more aggressive power-saving strategy.

[Konstantin (fre6lime)]

This problem occurs on my HP LaserJet M1132 MFP too. After some period of time printer goes to sleep mode (after ~ 4 hours, all leds off) and don't wake up wheh I try to print something.