usb://unknown/printer

Okay so I have tried the brother site many times, I have also looked at the FAQs and many internet searches to solve this problem.

I am convinced that my drivers are properly installed for my Brother MFC8220 and the ppd file is specific to that printer.

When I try to use the CUPS web interface it is unable to find my printer connected via usb. when I try lpinfo -v I get a list of stuff and the very last item says direct usb://unknown/printer my print driver file is BR8220_2_GPL.ppd

I am somewhat new to linux and ubuntu (Zorin), and this has been my longest lingering problem and a deal breaker for converting to linux exclusively.

If you can help, I need it.

Hi,

have you opened Synaptic and typed "brother" in search?, there are several packages there which you might want to install!.

Have you also looked here?:

http://welcome.solutions.brother.com/bs ... d_prn.html

Regards Wolfman

Wolfman, Thanks for addressing my post. I am really new to ubuntu and Zorin. The link you provided take me to the brother site and I have carefully attempted to follow their procedures multiple times (with some success, which is why I think the actual driver for my printer is installed. However, from the terminal lpinfo I see mark@mark-Dell-DXP051:~$ sudo lpinfo -v
network lpd
file cups-pdf:/
network http
network ipp14
network ipp
network beh
network ipps
network socket
network https
network smb
direct hp
direct hpfax
direct usb://Unknown/Printer
mark@mark-Dell-DXP051:~$

The image link you provided form synaptic is interesting, are you recommending I install all of those, should I do that from the terminal or should I try the software manager? I hate to ask for step by step assistance but I greatly appreciate kindness.

I posted this on the askubuntu site and was scolded for asking an off-topic question. I see Zorin as a skin for Ubuntu 12.04 LTS but apparently there is a nuance I am not privy to.

Thanks in advance.
Mark

I think I have downloaded and installed the synaptic files.

I uploaded a screenshot but I do not know how to get it to show up like yours.

what version of Zorin are you using and is it 32 bit or 64?


BTW see how most of us have it in our signatures...it helps others help you...


if it is 32
here is a link to the drivers

http://welcome.solutions.brother.com/bs ... d_prn.html


if it is 64 and can't help you as I couldn't find them for myself either

Hi Mark,

if you install the packages I marked in Synaptic, your printer may just need to be set up, open System Settings (Ubuntu Control Center) > Hardware > Printers and see if it is there, click on "Add" if it isn't showing and see what happens.

Regards Wolfman

Wolfman, you were right that when I went to system settings, I was able to see the printer. I tried to test print and the printer was selected but when I selected print, nothing happened. Good infor Contra, I am 32 bit Zorin 6 LTS, but I have been to the brothers printer site many times, I tried to follow this procedure http://welcome.solutions.brother.com/bsc/public_s/id/linux/en/instruction_prn1c.html This is the step I got stuck on 5a-1. Open a web browser and go to "http://localhost:631/admin". When this opens and I try to add a printer or find one, it does not find mine.

Hi Mark,

I wouldn't rely on the test page print thingy from the system settings, open a new document with Libreoffice and type something then print it!.

You may have some missing dependencies, open a terminal and paste the following command:

Code:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade -f

Restart your PC afterwards, did you install all the packages available in Synaptic?.

Regards Wolfman

So here is an update.

1. Yes I thought I installed synaptic information you provided, because the ubuntu software center found some and updated them.

2. Then I thought perhaps I should try this from the terminal so I opened it up and typed sudo apt-get install with all synaptic packages you had highlighted. earlier. Some installed and some said they were already uptodated.

3. I typed sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade -f

4. I rebooted twice when the first try didn't work opened libreoffice and tried to print. Everything looked fine from there, however nothing printed

5. I opened the printers through system settings and it shows a document for my printer "pending"

6. I opened the terminal up and typed lpinfo -v and here is what is shows
mark@mark-Dell-DXP051:~$ lpinfo -v
network ipp
network lpd
network https
network ipp14
direct hp
file cups-pdf:/
network socket
network http
network ipps
direct hpfax
network beh
network smb
mark@mark-Dell-DXP051:~$

So, I no longer get the usb:unknown/printer but I do not get anything with a printer to show.

I really appreciate the support.

Hi Mark,

open a terminal and paste the following command and copy the info and paste it here please:

Code:

lsusb

You should end up with something like mine:

wolfman@fred:~$ lsusb
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 058f:6366 Alcor Micro Corp. Multi Flash Reader
Bus 001 Device 006: ID 03f0:8c11 Hewlett-Packard Deskjet F4500 series
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 046d:0807 Logitech, Inc. Webcam B500
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 046d:c018 Logitech, Inc. Optical Wheel Mouse
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 0461:0010 Primax Electronics, Ltd HP Keyboard
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
wolfman@fred:~$

On the 2nd line, you can see my USB connected printer!.

Is it a printer scanner and does it have a scanner lock on it?.

Regards Wolfman

mark@mark-Dell-DXP051:~$ lsusb
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0ace:1215 ZyDAS ZD1211B 802.11g
Bus 001 Device 037: ID 22b8:710f Motorola PCS
Bus 004 Device 064: ID 046d:c52b Logitech, Inc. Unifying Receiver
Bus 004 Device 065: ID 413c:1001 Dell Computer Corp. Keyboard Hub
Bus 004 Device 066: ID 413c:2001 Dell Computer Corp. Keyboard HID Support
Bus 001 Device 048: ID 04f9:0150 Brother Industries, Ltd MFC-8220 Port(FaxModem)
mark@mark-Dell-DXP051:~$

so I see it here but I cannot access it from system settings and CUPS using http://localhost:631/printers It is a multifunction scanner/Fax/printer

mark@mark-Dell-DXP051:~$ lpinfo -v
file cups-pdf:/
network ipp
network socket
network https
network ipp14
network http
network lpd
network ipps
network smb
network beh
direct hp
direct hpfax
direct usb://Unknown/Printer
mark@mark-Dell-DXP051:~$

Still getting this with lpinfo -v

Hi Mark,

go here and download the file after clicking on accept:

http://www.brother.com/cgi-bin/agreemen ... nglish_gpl

Right click the downloaded file and then on "Extract here", make a note of the file name and close your home folder, now reopen your home folder as root by pressing Ctrl + Alt + t and enter the following command "gksudo nautilus" which will make you "root" and a new "root" home folder will open, navigate to your normal user download folder and right click the file you downloaded and copy it, now navigate to "Computer (or file) > usr > > share > ppd" and paste the "Extracted" file (not the zipped one!) you just copied, close Nautilus and then restart your PC and see how things are with the printer.

Regards Wolfman

I had the file from brother already, but I downloaded again so that I follow you directions as close as possible.
ctrl+Alt+t opened a terminal and I added the gksudo nautilus command and as you described a new file manager type window opened. Navigation to my downloads folder was not available, my desktop folder showed 0 items and the only thing in the home folder is desktop.

If there is another way to navigate to it then I will be glad to try it. But since I have previously used this file I went to /usr/share/ppd and the brother BR8220_2_GPL.ppd file is there along with a folder of brother stuff that appears to contain 140 brother .ppd files.

So since eveything is there, I am going to close nautilus, and reboot and try again. I will report back.

Still nothing...

Hi Mark,

I will have to do more searching as I don't have another answer at the mo.

I will get back to you later today.

Regards Wolfman

Hi Mark,

do "gksudo nautilus" again then click on Computer > Home



Then on Home > Mark



then on Downloads which is where you will find the file you downloaded and need to copy to usr > share > ppd


Once you copied the files into ppd, right click that folder (ppd) and make sure your name also show in "Permissions".

Regards Wolfman

Hi Mark,

I also found these which might help you:

http://voices.yahoo.com/the-retail-deta ... 31276.html

http://welcome.solutions.brother.com/bs ... tml#f00090

Regards Wolfman

As you can see. I figured out how to take the screenshot and enter it. When I do the command gksudo nautilus, this is what the terminal shows, I cannot select the mark folder.

I am going to check out the links you provided, but I haven't yet.

Also shown is my printer from the system settings which interestingly enough is not actually connected to the USB port when the image was taken. .

This is a tricky one, I created a backup windows computer that I can print on in the meantime, but I do not like leaving things hanging so I will continue to pursue it as long as is practical.

I really appreciate your efforts to assist me.

Hi Mark,

I assume you are using Zorin 6, in your case you must click on "File System" as "Computer" (I did point this out in my earlier post) doesn't show up in Zorin 6, the other option is to install Zorin 8 which has far better hardware support!.

Let me know how you get on.

Regards Wolfman