SOLVED: Brother MFC-255CW Printer - no driver in Cups?

[tigerflag]

How can I get drivers for my Brother MFC-255CW printer? It worked great in PCLOS-2010, but the version of CUPS in v.2012 doesn't have a driver for it. I tried checking Synaptic, but the repository seems down. Reloading Synaptic give the following error messages:

http://ftp.heanet.ie/pub/pclinuxos/apt/pclinuxos/2010/base/pkglist.kde4: 404 Not Found [IP: 193.1.193.64 80]

The repository might be no longer available or could not be contacted because of network problems. If available an older version of the failed index will be used. Otherwise the repository will be ignored. Check your network connection and the correct writing of the repository address in the preferences.

W: Release file did not contain checksum information for http://ftp.heanet.ie/pub/pclinuxos/apt/pclinuxos/2010/base/pkglist.kde

Then I checked the Brother site. They have LPR and cupswrapper drivers, but their installation instructions aren't specific for PCLOs so I'm hesitant to try.

What do I need to download to get this printer working again?

Thanks.

[The Chief]

First you need to change the kde4 section in Synaptic to just plain kde and try again.

[tigerflag]

Thanks, Chief. I did that and reloaded Synaptic. It says my Cups and LPR drivers are current. Since they wouldn't be updated if I upgrade, I'm not going to upgrade right now.

I just need the Cups and LPR drivers for the Brother MFC-255CW printer. Can't understand why they were dropped- the printer isn't that old and Brother is really good about providing drivers for Linux...

[wedgetail]

tigerflag
Inb a root konsole do following:

Code: [Select]

[root@localhost ~]# lpstat -t
Post result and I will give you two further instructions   

[tigerflag]

Thanks, wedgetail.

[root@localhost ~]# lpstat -t
scheduler is running
system default destination: Brother-MFC-255CW
device for Brother-MFC-255CW: usb://Brother/MFC-255CW
Brother-MFC-255CW accepting requests since Thu 23 Aug 2012 02:19:03 PM MST
printer Brother-MFC-255CW is idle.  enabled since Thu 23 Aug 2012 02:19:03 PM MST
        Rendering completed
[root@localhost ~]#

[wedgetail]

tigerflag

In root konsole, these two should be correct, exuse any mistakes I am rather struggling for time, so I give very few comments.   

Post result

Code: [Select]

lpoptions -p Brother-MFC-255CW | tr " " "\n"

Code: [Select]

lpoptions -p Brother-MFC-255CW -l

[tigerflag]

Here is the output. Note that the printer is associated with the driver for model DCP-1200, which doesn't work. That was the default driver that Cups assigned it, but it's not the correct driver. The correct driver isn't in Cups.

[root@localhost ~]# lpoptions -p Brother-MFC-255CW | tr " " "\n"
auth-info-required=none
copies=1
device-uri=usb://Brother/MFC-255CW
finishings=3
job-hold-until=no-hold
job-priority=50
job-sheets=none,none
marker-change-time=0
number-up=1
printer-commands=none
printer-info='Brother
MFC-255CW'
printer-is-accepting-jobs=true
printer-is-shared=false
printer-location=localhost.localdomain
printer-make-and-model='Brother
DCP-1200
-
CUPS+Gutenprint
v5.2.7
Simplified'
printer-state=3
printer-state-change-time=1345756743
printer-state-reasons=none
printer-type=2232324
printer-uri-supported=ipp://localhost:631/printers/Brother-MFC-255CW
scaling=100
[root@localhost ~]#

[root@localhost ~]# lpoptions -p Brother-MFC-255CW -l
PageSize/Media Size: A4 *Letter Legal Executive Statement
ColorModel/Color Model: *Gray Black
InputSlot/Media Source: *Standard ManualAdj Manual MultiPurposeAdj MultiPurpose UpperAdj Upper LowerAdj Lower LargeCapacityAdj LargeCapacity
StpQuality/Print Quality: None Draft *Standard
Resolution/Resolution: *301x300dpi 150dpi 300dpi
StpiShrinkOutput/Shrink Page If Necessary to Fit Borders: *Shrink Crop Expand
StpColorCorrection/Color Correction: *None Accurate Bright Hue Uncorrected Desaturated Threshold Density Raw Predithered
StpBrightness/Brightness: 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 *None 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 Custom.REAL
StpContrast/Contrast: 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 *None 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 2100 2200 2300 2400 2500 2600 2700 2800 2900 3000 3100 3200 3300 3400 3500 3600 3700 3800 3900 4000 Custom.REAL
StpImageType/Image Type: None Text Graphics *TextGraphics Photo LineArt
[root@localhost ~]#

[wedgetail]

tigerflag

You have demonstrated the danger of describing in words what is going on, leaving out the fact, that the driver involved was a:

'Brother DCP-1200 - CUPS+Gutenprint v5.2.7 Simplified'

actually this is the reason that I ask for these two important statements, these are facts.  there is a small problem with the first statement, I would have liked the above line to show automatically when running the first statement, the above line is inside a pair of quote marks, if you look hard spread out over multiple lines.  The result is however far better than me having to parse a long single line.

I am at a cross road here and will cheat to save some time.

Do you still have a PCLOS 2010 version available with the proper driver installed?

[tigerflag]

My apologies for the confusion. This is not my best day ever.

I do not have an old copy of PCLOS, and just realized that I actually had to download these drivers before. Even found the old thread about it!

http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,77629.msg640033.html#msg640033

As we get older the mind is the first thing to go, and I can't remember what the second thing is.

Thanks for all your help.

[wedgetail]

tigerflag
Congratulations, very nice as I was hoping this was not going to be too long a session.  

The recording of the lpstat -t and lpoptions -p statements are a good subliminal message to other people to add this when starting a printer problem post.  

Enjoy the feeling of solving a problem.