How-to Install Brother Printer (HL5280DW on usb)
Posts: 3
Brother provides drivers for many of its printers in both rpm and deb packages, which is why I chose their 5280DW. There is a detailed wiki (which at first seemed like a good thing) at:
http://www.mepis.org/docs/en/index.php/Install_Brother_Printer_Drivers
with direct links to the correct Brother driver pages. I followed the instructions to the letter, which involved installing the LPR driver first, creating soft links, installing the CUPS driver, and then removing the links. I was able to add the printer with the KDE manager. However, any docs sent to the printer failed to print, there were no telling errors in the logs even in debug mode, and all of the print jobs listed as completed. I followed a workaround to gain access to CUPS administration via web browser (127.0.0.1:631), and added the printer that way. Same results, any print jobs (including test pages) listed as completed with no output. I did find one other person with a debian system whose only workaround was to print to ps-file, then print the ps-file, which did work with annoyance.
So after reinstalling MEPIS for other reasons, I tried a different approach. I simply used Kpackage to install the LPR driver, then Kpackage to install the CUPS driver. The printer automatically showed up in the print manager and worked fine. Not bad for two clicks with the mouse! Following the samba setup lets a winxp box on our lan print fine through the same printer--didn't even have to set up a raw queue like in Fedora.
This worked with both the stable 6.0_1 and now on 6.5_rc2. If you're having trouble with Brother's instructions on installing the drivers, maybe give this a try. Researching distro's I heard MEPIS made these things easy, but this was too easy. Cool points to Warren.
maybe check the PCLOS threads?
Posts: 3
I used the .deb packages, native to MEPIS so I would say preferable, but from what I understand, using alien for an .rpm should produce the same result (http://www.mepis.org/docs/en/index.php/What_package_format_to_download), which it seems you've had no problem with.
I'm not familiar with PClinux, except that it's mandriva-based (?), and so you'd be on target with the .rpms, which you probably already know. If you haven't already, try the page http://www.pclinuxonline.com/wiki/CompatiblePrinters -- there's a link to a thread on installing Brother printers, but you have to register first, which is not an instantaneous process, so I'm not able to access the thread yet. The only other forum thread I could find on the topic was this: http://linuxbasics.org/pipermail/qna/2006-October/003810.html . which also recommeneds the PCLinux wiki, but does mention a specific problem they had with the same printer.
Good luck!
Brother printer drivers
Posts: 1
I found using the Brother site, I needed to use the .rpm version of the lpr driver. I used alien to convert this to a .deb format and installed it. cupswrapper was not required. The printer, (DCP-110C, in my case), appeared on the printer list and installed normally.
Which driver should we be using: .rpm or .deb or convert .rpm? The above method worked. In PCLOS I needed cupswrapper and .rpm driver and the printer did not appear in the driver list.
Virg Wall