General Connection Troubleshooting

Issue 1: There is no listing in CUPS or my printer installation tool for the exact model number of my printer.

Solution:

1. Check to see if there is another model in the list that is in the correct "series". For example, a "DeskJet 5510" will use a "DeskJet 5500 Series" driver. In general, you "round down" the model number that appears on the case of the printer to the next lowest number that is available in the software.
2. If this doesn't work, visit this page and follow the instructions to download and install a new PPD file for your printer: http://linuxprinting.org/

Issue 2: Printer still does not show up in CUPS after restarting.

Solution:

1. Check and make sure that the printer is connected to your system and powered on with no printer errors.
2. Unplug the printer from your computer, open a terminal/console window and enter this command.

tail -f /var/log/messages

then reconnect the printer. You should see the system display something like:

Mar 16 11:45:43 localhost kernel: [4298892.030000] hub 2-1.2:1.0: USB hub found
Mar 16 11:45:43 localhost kernel: [4298892.033000] hub 2-1.2:1.0: 4 ports detected
Mar 16 11:45:44 localhost kernel: [4298892.316000] usb 2-1.3: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 11
Mar 16 11:45:44 localhost kernel: [4298892.409000] hub 2-1.3:1.0: USB hub found
Mar 16 11:45:44 localhost kernel: [4298892.412000] hub 2-1.3:1.0: 4 ports detected
Mar 16 11:45:44 localhost kernel: [4298892.697000] usb 2-1.2.1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 12
Mar 16 11:45:44 localhost kernel: [4298892.798000] drivers/usb/class/usblp.c: usblp0: USB Bidirectional printer dev 12 if 1 alt 0 proto 2 vid 0x03F0 pid 0x4311
Mar 16 11:45:44 localhost kernel: [4298892.798000] scsi6 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
Mar 16 11:45:44 localhost kernel: [4298892.975000] usb 2-1.2.2: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 13
Mar 16 11:45:44 localhost kernel: [4298893.063000] usb 2-1.2.2: not running at top speed; connect to a high speed hub
Mar 16 11:45:45 localhost kernel: [4298893.077000] drivers/usb/class/usblp.c: usblp0: USB Bidirectional printer dev 13 if 0 alt 0 proto 2 vid 0x03F0 pid 0x8804
Mar 16 11:45:45 localhost kernel: [4298893.255000] usb 2-1.3.1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 14
Mar 16 11:45:45 localhost kernel: [4298893.342000] usb 2-1.3.1: not running at top speed; connect to a high speed hub
Mar 16 11:45:45 localhost kernel: [4298893.356000] drivers/usb/class/usblp.c: usblp0: USB Bidirectional printer dev 14 if 0 alt 1 proto 2 vid 0x03F0 pid 0x2817
Mar 16 11:45:45 localhost kernel: [4298893.360000] scsi7 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
Mar 16 11:45:45 localhost kernel: [4298893.539000] usb 2-1.3.3: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 15
Mar 16 11:45:45 localhost kernel: [4298893.624000] usb 2-1.3.3: not running at top speed; connect to a high speed hub
Mar 16 11:45:45 localhost kernel: [4298893.638000] drivers/usb/class/usblp.c: usblp0: USB Bidirectional printer dev 15 if 1 alt 0 proto 2 vid 0x03F0 pid 0x5711
Mar 16 11:45:45 localhost kernel: [4298893.638000] scsi8 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices

Then enter this command:

dmesg

You should see something like this displayed:

[4298893.638000] scsi8 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
[4298893.638000] usb-storage: device found at 15
[4298893.638000] usb-storage: waiting for device to settle before scanning
[4298897.802000]   Vendor: HP        Model: Officejet 74xx S  Rev: 1.00
[4298897.802000]   Type:   Direct-Access                      ANSI SCSI revision: 02
[4298897.816000] sd 6:0:0:0: Attached scsi removable disk sdb
[4298897.816000] sd 6:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg1 type 0
[4298897.817000] usb-storage: device scan complete
[4298898.366000]   Vendor: HP        Model: LaserJet 2840     Rev: 1.00
[4298898.366000]   Type:   Direct-Access                      ANSI SCSI revision: 02
[4298898.381000] sd 7:0:0:0: Attached scsi removable disk sdc
[4298898.381000] sd 7:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg2 type 0
[4298898.384000] usb-storage: device scan complete
[4298898.642000]   Vendor: HP        Model: Photosmart C4180  Rev: 1.00
[4298898.642000]   Type:   Direct-Access                      ANSI SCSI revision: 02
[4298898.657000] sd 8:0:0:0: Attached scsi removable disk sdd
[4298898.657000] sd 8:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg3 type 0
[4298898.660000] usb-storage: device scan complete

enter this command:

/usr/lib/cups/backend/hp

You should see something like this displayed:

direct hp:/usb/Photosmart_C4100_series?serial=XXXXXXXXXXXXXX "HP Photosmart_C4100_series" "hp:/usb/Photosmart_C4100_series?serial=XXXXXXXXXXXXXX"
direct hp:/usb/HP_Color_LaserJet_2840?serial=XXXXXXXXXXXX "HP HP_Color_LaserJet_2840" "hp:/usb/HP_Color_LaserJet_2840?serial=XXXXXXXXXXXX"
direct hp:/usb/Deskjet_6980_series?serial=XXXXXXXXXXXXXX "HP Deskjet_6980_series" "hp:/usb/Deskjet_6980_series?serial=XXXXXXXXXXXXXX"
direct hp:/usb/Officejet_7400_series?serial=XXXXXXXXXXXXXX "HP Officejet_7400_series" "hp:/usb/Officejet_7400_series?serial=XXXXXXXXXXXXXX"

These are several ways to confirm that the printer is connected and working with your system.

3. If any of the above steps failed try replacing the USB cable or there could be a hardware issue.