Canon PIXMA MG4250 unhandled by system-config-printer

[Alexis Scheuer]

Let us start by the beginning, and describe my printer’s configuration: it is a Canon Pixma MG4250, connected by Wi-Fi to my internet box, and thus available on my local network.

On XUbuntu 18.04.1 LTS (as returned by 'lsb_release -rd'), it is detected by system-config-printer (1.5.11-1ubuntu2, from http://fr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic/main amd64 Packages, as said by 'apt-cache policy system-config-printer'), which by default chooses automatically the corresponding driver, by fails at last step to define the new printer and returns cups-error-internal-error. My first reaction was of course to check the Web for others having a similar problem, and the way they solved it if any did, but I did not find anything relevant.

I then tried something else: instead of choosing the automatically detected printer, I gave the URI found on XUbuntu 16.04, which is cnijnet:/ followed by (what I think to be) the MAC address of the printer. I then have to choose a driver (where system-config-printer automatically did it in previous method), but adding the printer still fails at last step, this time with cups-error-not-possible.

I found a turnaround, but it is not straightforward: I applied the method which worked on XUbuntu 16.04, which is to use Canon driver (from https://www.canon.fr/support/consumer_products/products/fax__multifunctionals/inkjet/pixma_mg_series/pixma_mg4250.aspx?type=drivers). I choose the Debian archive from their page (https://www.canon.fr/support/consumer_products/products/fax__multifunctionals/inkjet/pixma_mg_series/pixma_mg4250.aspx?type=drivers&language=&os=Linux%20(64-bit)), and tried to install it. However, it needed three packages (libpango1.0, libpng12 and libtiff14) while only the first is still available on 18.04 (the two others are obsolete). A web search indicated that older packages can be used, I thus got those of the previous LTS (xenius) on the Ubuntu archive site (https://packages.ubuntu.com - but the last one, libtiff14, needs a direct access to tiff directory of the French archive site (http://fr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/main/t/tiff), as the library is not referenced, only its dev part). Once those package are saved and installed (with a sudo dpkg -i ...), Canon’s installation script works fine, and adds the printer. I still have to verify whether printing works (but it should be OK). I applied the method which worked on XUbuntu 16.04, which is to use Canon driver. I choose the Debian archive from their page, and tried to install it. However, it needed three packages (libpango1.0, libpng12 and libtiff14) while only the first is still available on 18.04 (the two others are obsolete). A web search indicated that older packages can be used, I thus got those of the previous LTS (xenius) on the Ubuntu archive site (but the last one, libtiff14, needs a direct access to tiff directory of the French archive site, as the library is not referenced, only its dev part). Once those package are saved and installed (with a sudo dpkg -i ...), Canon’s installation script works fine, and adds the printer. Everything then works fine.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 18.04
Package: system-config-printer 1.5.11-1ubuntu2
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.15.0-34.37-generic 4.15.18
Uname: Linux 4.15.0-34-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: 8723de
ApportVersion: 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.2
Architecture: amd64
CurrentDesktop: XFCE
Date: Sat Sep 29 17:23:26 2018
InstallationDate: Installed on 2018-08-10 (50 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Xubuntu 18.04 LTS "Bionic Beaver" - Release amd64 (20180426)
Lpstat: Error: command ['lpstat', '-v'] failed with exit code 1: lpstat: No destinations added.
Lsusb:
 Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
 Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0bda:b009 Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
 Bus 001 Device 002: ID 04ca:707e Lite-On Technology Corp.
 Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
MachineType: HP HP Laptop 14-cf0xxx
PackageArchitecture: all
Papersize: a4
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-4.15.0-34-generic root=UUID=72197e8c-0319-4e27-a20b-00aab768871f ro quiet splash vt.handoff=1
SourcePackage: system-config-printer
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 07/27/2018
dmi.bios.vendor: Insyde
dmi.bios.version: F.14
dmi.board.asset.tag: Type2 - Board Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: 84B2
dmi.board.vendor: HP
dmi.board.version: KBC Version 74.22
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: HP
dmi.chassis.version: Chassis Version
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnInsyde:bvrF.14:bd07/27/2018:svnHP:pnHPLaptop14-cf0xxx:pvrType1ProductConfigId:rvnHP:rn84B2:rvrKBCVersion74.22:cvnHP:ct10:cvrChassisVersion:
dmi.product.family: 103C_5335KV HP Notebook
dmi.product.name: HP Laptop 14-cf0xxx
dmi.product.version: Type1ProductConfigId
dmi.sys.vendor: HP

[Alexis Scheuer (alexis-scheuer)]

Once the turnaround applied, 'lpstat -v' returns "matériel pour Maison-Canon_MG4250 : cnijnet:/00-BB-C1-90-A8-B4".
The computer is a HP Laptop 14-cf0013nf.

[Alexis Scheuer (alexis-scheuer)]

I also had the same problems (and same solution) with a Dell laptop Latitude E6430s, with the same system (fresh install, as upgrade from 16.04 did not work).

lsb_release -rd:
Description: Ubuntu 18.04.1 LTS
Release: 18.04

apt-cache policy system-config-printer:
system-config-printer:
  Installé : 1.5.11-1ubuntu2
  Candidat : 1.5.11-1ubuntu2
 Table de version :
 *** 1.5.11-1ubuntu2 500
        500 http://fr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic/main amd64 Packages
        500 http://fr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic/main i386 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

[Alexis Scheuer (alexis-scheuer)]

I left a message on Canon site, in a survey, about the obsolete dependencies in their Debian package.