hplip: Install required plugin fails

[Xenophon]

Hi,

  I upgraded a Lucid LTS box to Precise-beta1 using an alternate install ISO primarily in order to upgrade to a newer version of hplip to support a new printer - HP Laserjet Pro P1108. The printer was not detected at all in Lucid. In Precise, the printer was detected fine from within hp-toolbox. I could even successfully add it and when I tried to print a test page, I even got the printer to do so albeit all it printed was a blank sheet of paper.

  Checking hplip's device manager displayed the printer entry's icon with a cross indicating that something was not right. The page also offered an option to Install Required plugin. Clicking on it took me to a new dialog where I could download the file from HP's server. I followed the instructions and the download appeared to proceed successfully as I was prompted to agree to a set of terms and conditions. However, when I did so, all I got was a message dialog stating that "plugin install failed". I tried to do this repeatedly to no avail.

  Since I wasn't prompted for a username or password during the driver installation process, I decided to try to install it as a superuser. Running hp-setup as root ran me through the same steps and at the end I was even informed that the plugin had been installed successfully. But when I checked the device manager, nothing had changed and I was told that I still needed the binary driver. A test print also failed. A reboot did not help either.

  After googling a bit, I have also used hp-check -r to ascertain if I was missing anything. There were none. A warning mentioned that I was not a member of the lp group. I fixed this and reran the check and all was well with no errors reported. None of this helped matters.

Please advise.
Thanks!

[Till Kamppeter (till-kamppeter)]

It seems that the firmware does not get correctly loaded into the HP Laserjet Pro P1108. Can someone at HP have a look? Thanks.

[Xenophon (email-xenophon)]

Thank you Till. Here's the output of hp-check -t if it helps any. The errors and warnings only pertain to "COMPILE-TIME" dependencies. RUNTIME dependencies are all satisfied.

While this is being resolved, could somebody please point me to the .ppd file for this printer?

My thanks!

----------------
hp-check[24426]: info: :
Initializing. Please wait...
Ubuntu

12.04

scheduler is running

1.5.2

Linux ender 3.2.0-20-generic #32-Ubuntu SMP Thu Mar 22 02:23:36 UTC 2012 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux

hp-check[24426]: info: :
hp-check[24426]: info: :---------------
hp-check[24426]: info: :| SYSTEM INFO |
hp-check[24426]: info: :---------------
hp-check[24426]: info: :
hp-check[24426]: info: :Basic system information:
hp-check[24426]: info: :Linux ender 3.2.0-20-generic #32-Ubuntu SMP Thu Mar 22 02:23:36 UTC 2012 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux
hp-check[24426]: info: :
hp-check[24426]: info: :Distribution:
hp-check[24426]: info: :ubuntu 12.04
hp-check[24426]: info: :
hp-check[24426]: info: :Checking Python version...
hp-check[24426]: info: :OK, version 2.7.3 installed
hp-check[24426]: info: :
hp-check[24426]: info: :Checking PyQt 4.x version...
hp-check[24426]: info: :OK, version 4.9.1 installed.
hp-check[24426]: info: :
hp-check[24426]: info: :Checking for CUPS...
hp-check[24426]: info: :Status: scheduler is running
hp-check[24426]: info: :Version: 1.5.2
hp-check[24426]: info: :error_log is set to level: warn
hp-check[24426]: info: :
hp-check[24426]: info: :Checking for dbus/python-dbus...
hp-check[24426]: info: :dbus daemon is running.
hp-check[24426]: info: :python-dbus version: 1.0.0
hp-check[24426]: info: :
hp-check[24426]: info: :
hp-check[24426]: info: :------------------------------------
hp-check[24426]: info: :| COMPILE AND RUNTIME DEPENDENCIES |
hp-check[24426]: info: :------------------------------------
hp-check[24426]: info: :
note: To check for compile-time only dependencies, re-run hp-check with the -c parameter (ie, hp-check -c).
note: To check for run-time only dependencies, re-run hp-check with the -r parameter (ie, hp-check -r).
hp-check[24426]: info: :
hp-check[24426]: info: :Checking for dependency: CUPS - Common Unix Printing System...
hp-check[24426]: info: :OK, found.
hp-check[24426]: info: :
hp-check[24426]: info: :Checking for dependency: CUPS devel- Common Unix Printing System development files...
hp-check[24426]: info: :OK, found.
hp-check[24426]: info: :
hp-check[24426]: info: :Checking for dependency: CUPS image - CUPS image development files...
error: NOT FOUND! This is a REQUIRED/COMPILE TIME ONLY dependency. Please make sure that this dependency is installed before installing or running HPLIP.
hp-check[24426]: info: :
hp-check[24426]: info: :Checking for dependency: DBus - Message bus system...
error: NOT FOUND! This is a REQUIRED dependency. Please make sure that this dependency is installed before installing or running HPLIP.
hp-check[24426]: info: :
hp-check[24426]: info: :Checking for dependency: gcc - GNU Project C and C++ Compiler...
hp-check[24426]: info: :OK, found.
hp-check[24426]: info: :
hp-check[24426]: info: :Checking for dependency: GhostScript - PostScript and PDF language interpreter and previewer...
hp-check...

[Amarnath Chitumalla (amarnath-chitumalla)]

Hi,

From the logs, observed that following dependencies are not installed. Please install following packages and try.
1) CUPS image
2) DBus
3) libJpeg
4) libnetsnmp-devel
5) libtool
6) libusb
7) Python devel
8) sane

(Or)
Currently, Auto installation of HPLIP for Ubuntu 12.04 is not supported. This will be supported in next HPLIP release. Please wait for next HPLIP release.

Thanks & Regards,
Amarnath

[Till Kamppeter (till-kamppeter)]

Amarnath, are you sure that the dependencies you are listing are runtime dependencies? Ubuntu users get the HPLIP package as already compiled binary code. They are only running the code and AFAIK all the dependencies you are listing are fulfilled as runtime dependencies on our standard installation. -dev or -devel packages are not needed to run a binary package of HPLIP.

Amarnath, is the auto-installation support for the plugin already completely developed at HP? Could you post a patch for the current version of HPLIP, so that I can use that for Precise? Thanks.

[Till Kamppeter (till-kamppeter)]

Xenophon, problem is that your firmware does not get loaded into the printer when you connect the printer. The current plugin seems not to support it yet.

[goutam kodu (goutam-hplip)]

Hi,

We will have the auto installation support for ubuntu 12.04 in the next release of hplip which will be releasing very soon.

Xenophon,

Can you please run command "sudo hp-plugin -i -g" in terminal and post us its output here.

Thanks & Regards,
Goutam

[Xenophon (email-xenophon)]

Hi Amarnath,

  As Till mentioned, all runtime dependencies are satisfied. Do you want me to uninstall and compile from source?

---------
Hi Till,

  Thank you for following this up! Seeing as to how hplip is not Precise friendly yet, does that still make this issue invalid?

---------
Hi Goutam,

  The output is as follows:

$ sudo hp-plugin -i -g
[sudo] password for sandhya:

HP Linux Imaging and Printing System (ver. 3.12.2)
Plugin Download and Install Utility ver. 2.1

Copyright (c) 2001-9 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, LP
This software comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY.
This is free software, and you are welcome to distribute it
under certain conditions. See COPYING file for more details.

hp-plugin[12259]: debug: Locking: /var/hp-plugin.lock
(Note: Defaults for each question are maked with a '*'. Press <enter> to accept the default.)

hp-plugin[12259]: debug: Unable to open file installer/distros.dat for reading.
hp-plugin[12259]: debug: []
hp-plugin[12259]: debug: Plug-in version=3.12.2
hp-plugin[12259]: debug: Plug-in=hplip-3.12.2-plugin.run

-----------------------------------------
| PLUG-IN INSTALLATION FOR HPLIP 3.12.2 |
-----------------------------------------

hp-plugin[12259]: debug: plugin is installed
The driver plugin for HPLIP 3.12.2 appears to already be installed.
Do you wish to download and re-install the plug-in? (y=yes*, n=no, q=quit) ? n
hp-plugin[12259]: debug: Unlocking: /var/hp-plugin.lock

------------------

If autoinstallation of the plugin is not currently possible, is there an alternate manual option? I would also appreciate clarification on how "soon" the next version will be ready; I realise that I will only be getting a rough estimate :)

Thank you all!

[Till Kamppeter (till-kamppeter)]

Xenophon, I have marked the bug as invalid for the Ubuntu package as the current plugin does not contain firmware for your printer model. Your model will most probably get supported in a later HPLIP version.

[Xenophon (email-xenophon)]

Thanks Till. Does your statement imply that auto-installation works for other HP printers?

[goutam kodu (goutam-hplip)]

Xenophon,

hp-plugin command shows that you have installed the plug-in files already. Are you getting plugin missing error ?
Can you try deleting the print queue created for this printer in "system-config-printer": and use "hp-setup -g" command to setup your printer and post me the terminal output of "hp-setup -g".

Let us know if you are able to print the HPLIP test page.

[Xenophon (email-xenophon)]

Hi Goutam,

  The plugin is installed fine. It's the printer driver/firmware that is not being installed using hplip. When I print a test page, I just get a blank sheet of paper back. The HP printer manager also displays the printer icon with a cross as well as an option to "Install required plugin" which does not work as in my original post.

Thanks.
P.S. Are there manual steps that can be followed to install the firmware?

[goutam kodu (goutam-hplip)]

This printer does not require a firmware install from hplip . You can check its entry in /usr/share/hplip/data/models/models.dat file. The
fw-download=False and
plugin=1
plugin-reason=1

It requireonly plug-in file for printing.

Please follow the below steps to provide us some logs on this to check its failure case

1.Open the file /etc/cups/cupsd.conf in write permissions.
$sudo gedit /etc/cups/cupsd.conf
 Change LogLevel warn to LogLevel debug and below that line add hpLogLevel 15.

2. Restart the cups
$sudo /etc/init.d/cups restart

3. Empty the message file and error_log file.

$ sudo cat /dev/null > /var/log/syslog
$ sudo cat /dev/null > /var/log/cups/error_log

4. Print a test page.

5. Capture the message and error_log files

$ sudo cat /var/log/syslog > ~/Desktop/syslog.txt
$ sudo cat /var/log/cups/error_log > ~/Desktop/error_log.txt

Attach the files syslog.txt and error_log.txt

6. In /tmp folder you will find files with name starting with hpcups like, hpcupsfilterc_1.bmp, hpcupsfilterk_1. bmp, hpcups_jobX.out.

Can you please attach these files too.

And also provide us the complete terminal output of "hp-check -t" command.

Regards,
Goutam kodu

[Xenophon (email-xenophon)]

hi Goutam,

  Please find the requested files attached. Not all the files you've mentioned were present in the /tmp folder. I've attached what I did find.

Thanks!
Xenophon.

[goutam kodu (goutam-hplip)]

Thank you for the logs

You are using hpijs driver. Recommend you to use hpcups drivers.

Latest HPLIP 3.12.4 is released now and it has the auto installation support for ubuntu 12.04. Please download the file from http://hplipopensource.com/hplip-web/gethplip.html and install it by running command "sh hplip-3.12.4.run".
 It has by default hpcups drivers enabled.

Hope installing latest hplip 3.12.4 will resolve your problem

Please let us know on the same

[Xenophon (email-xenophon)]

Hi Goutam,

  I've installed 3.12.4 and run it. Prior to doing so, I removed the existing printer entry and also unplugged the printer until required. Everything went smoothly and the hpcups driver appears to be installed. hp-setup did prompt me to download the proprietary plugin, which it did and installed successfully. However, my situation has not changed as my print test page still ends up blank.

My printer model is now listed in the system printer applet as "HP LaserJet Professional p1108, hpcups 3.12.4, requires proprietary plugin". Moreover, the HP Device Manager continues to display the printer with a red cross, and retains an entry asking me to "Install required plugin". Clicking "Print test page" gives me an error "Unable to communicate with printer HP_LaserJet_Professional_P1108. Please check the printer and try again." The test page from the system applet does work, but as mentioned above, only prints a blank page.

So while it is using the hpcups driver, the situation has not changed remarkably. Furthermore, I am still confused as to whether I require a "proprietary plugin" or not. Please advise.

Thanks again.

[goutam kodu (goutam-hplip)]

Thank you for letting us know on the same. We shall have the setup of this printer in our lab and have it reproduce.
If its possible for you, can you provide us the same logs as asked in comment #12 for hpcups.

Sorry for the inconvenience that you are getting from us.

Best Regards,
Goutam Kodu

[Xenophon (email-xenophon)]

Please find the requested files attached. My apologies for the delay in my reply.

I've also added a screenshot of the hp-toolbox screen which repeatedly states that I need a proprietary plugin for the printer to work. Could you perhaps also direct me to a location where I can find the PPD file for this device?

Thanks.

[goutam kodu (goutam-hplip)]

Thank You Xenophon for the logs. The logs tell that Plugin is installed succussefully. Even the screenshot also show the same. Your device is configured properly. The driver is able to generate the correct bmp image and i tried flashing the .out file into the p1008 printer here. It printed fine without any error.

As per the driver it is able to generate the **.out file and the **. bmp correctly.

In syslog file it shows that printer is returing 40017 status id which means :
40017 - cartridge E-LABEL is unreadable . This you can check in the file hplip-3.12.4/prnt/backend/hp.c source file.

May be there is some problem with the Toner/Catridge of the printer (Hardware Issue).
Can you have it checked it once in the windows system. If the issue appears same let us know.

Sorry for the inconvenience you are getting from us. But we are not able to reproduce this issue in our lab. I believe this could be an hardware issue.

Rgds,
Goutam kodu

[Xenophon (email-xenophon)]

Thank you Goutam. I removed the cartridge and the head (?) from the printer and reinserted it. The test print page came through fine! Thank you for your time and patience.

hardware error: should the printer not emit an error signal of some kind?

Thanks again.