printing from XP to Linux printer server



Greetings -

For the first time in 10+ years of using Linux, I decided to take one of my Linux machines (running CentOS 5.4) and configure it to be a print server, so that I can print from the net to it (typically, from a Windows machine printing to the machine I want to use as the print server).

1. plugged printer (Lexmark Optra) into the CentOS box - its a USB-based printer. hal picked it up fine. Did some print tests from said box - worked fine. So far, so good.

2. went into printer configuration - see the printer as a local printer.

3. click on 'Server settings' - select 'share published printers connected to this system'

4. highlite the locally attached printer. Under the 'Settings' tab, select 'shared' (and accepting jobs, and enabled).

5. under the 'Access control' tab, allow printing for everyone

Over on Window box...running XP SP3

a. point browser at

http://<server name>:631/printers/

Brings up CUPS console fine (1.3.7). Works with any of 4 browsers I tried....

b. in CUPS console, see the printer attached to server (right printer, right driver, etc). Its a Lexmark, attached via USB.

c. from CUPS console, try a test print. Works fine

d. double-click the printer, and copy the URL:

http://<server name>:631/printers/Lexmark_Optra_E310

e. go into Windows XP (SP3) AddPrinter Wizard. On the 'specify a printer' window, select 'Connect to a printer on the Internet or on a home or office network'. In the URL box, simply paste in

http://<server name>:631/printers/Lexmark_Optra_E310


e. Groan in dismay as I get the following error popup:

'Windows cannot connect to the printer. Either the printer name was typed incorrectly, or the specified printer has lost its connection to the server. For more information, click Help'.

Tried it after turning XP firewall off. Didn't help.

Suggestions (that don't involve samba)? Thanks in advance...
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