usb-parallel port adapter unable to print

[Dusty Phillips]

Binary package hint: cups

This bug is a possible duplicate of https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/cups/+bug/564917 but I am starting a new one as ubuntu-bug cups asked me to.

 I have an aged Canon LBP-4sx lser printer/ It is a parallel port printer connected to the USB port on the computer via a USB adapter. The workaround in https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/cups/+bug/491205 worked for a while, but appears to be no longer applicable. This printer and adapter combo worked fine in older versions, bu has cause grief in the last two or three ubuntu releases.

Cups does not detect the printer, giving the error:
"/usr/lib/cups/backend/usb failed"

possibly because lsusb is not providing an identifier with the ID. This is the line that gets added when the printer is plugged in:

Bus 002 Device 007: ID 1525:0011

however, /dev/usb/lp0 exists and if I run echo "blah" > /dev/usb0, the data light on the printer flashes as though it was receiving a job.

I have tried setting up a printer by uri manually (selecting scsi printer and then supplying a USB url). when I print a test page, I get this in /var/log/messages:

Aug 18 19:21:20 crivens kernel: [ 8852.082171] usb[5934]: segfault at 0 ip 00007febd09b4b44 sp 00007fffb5c4bd68 error 4 in libc-2.11.1.so[7febd092e000+17a000]

I'm not sure if that's due to the printer, or to the fact I had selected SCSI -- add usb printer is not an option, for some reason.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.04
Package: cups 1.4.3-1ubuntu1.2
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.32-24.38-generic 2.6.32.15+drm33.5
Uname: Linux 2.6.32-24-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
Architecture: amd64
Date: Wed Aug 18 19:08:31 2010
Lpstat: Error: command ['lpstat', '-v'] failed with exit code 1: lpstat: No destinations added.
Lsusb:
 Bus 002 Device 006: ID 1525:0011
 Bus 002 Device 004: ID 046d:c517 Logitech, Inc. LX710 Cordless Desktop Laser
 Bus 002 Device 003: ID 04d9:1503 Holtek Semiconductor, Inc. Shortboard Lefty
 Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
 Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
MachineType: Dell Inc. Inspiron 531
Papersize: letter
ProcCmdLine: root=UUID=2ac7f4b5-c81c-47f6-a864-906feb3f46dc ro quiet splash
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=en_CA:en
 LANG=en_CA.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: cups
dmi.bios.date: 11/09/2007
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: 1.0.7
dmi.board.name: 0RY206
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.board.version: ���
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.chassis.version: Chassis Version
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvr1.0.7:bd11/09/2007:svnDellInc.:pnInspiron531:pvr00:rvnDellInc.:rn0RY206:rvr:cvnDellInc.:ct3:cvrChassisVersion:
dmi.product.name: Inspiron 531
dmi.product.version: 00
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.

[Till Kamppeter (till-kamppeter)]

Can you try as a workaround if your printer works with the URI "parallel:/dev/usb/lp0"? Use the function to manually enter the URI in the add-printer wizard of system-config-printer.