Setting up Network Printer Ports

Introduction

In Windows, printers must have a port assigned. This can be a local port, such as LPT1, or for example for a remote port, LPD Port Monitor. Per default, Samba auto-generates the Samba Printer Port for all shared printers. However, in certain scenarios, you require to use unique port names.

How Samba Provides Custom Ports to the Windows Hosts

Samba enables you to use a script that outputs only the port names:

• The script can only output the port names by using echo commands. For example:

#!/bin/bash
echo "DemoPrinter1"
echo "DemoPrinter2"
echo "DemoPrinter3"

• You can write a script that generates the port names from configuration files, databases, or other sources.

• It's possible to use the enumport script so that the windows driver can communicate with the printer (automatic discovery of the real printer model, automatic discovery of installed options on the printer or authentication on printer before printing, with snmp or other protocol used by the windows driver). For example:

#!/bin/bash
echo "Samba Printer Port"
echo "\\\\IP_address_of_DemoPrinter1"
echo "\\\\IP_address_of_DemoPrinter2"
echo "\\\\IP_address_of_DemoPrinter3"

The second line "echo "Samba Printer Port"" is optionnal if you want to keep this port in the list of possible choices.

And if you want that "My users and my boss must not know that they work with Samba", remove this line !

Every line the script outputs is used as a printer port. Make sure that the script does not output other content.

Setting up Printer Ports

To enable Samba to display individual printer ports:

• Create a shell script. For example, /usr/local/bin/samba-ports.sh that outputs each port in a new line. For details, see How Samba Provides Custom Ports to the Windows Hosts.

• Make the script executable:

# chmod 755 /usr/local/bin/samba-ports.sh

• Add the following parameter to the [global] section in your smb.conf file:

enumports command = /usr/local/bin/samba-ports.sh

• Reload Samba:

# smbcontrol all reload-config

The ports are now usable in the properties when preconfiguring a printer.

For details, see Preconfiguring a Printer.

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