General: How setup multiple CUPS servers

[David]

I am confused about setting up a tiny network with two CUPS servers.
With a client I would be able to print on two different CUPS servers. As far as I know I would need to set the ServerName in /etc/cups/client.conf on the client so that the client finds the server. Since I can only set one ServerName I would need to change that file every time the other printer is wanted. Is there another solution that makes it possible to choose the printer?
How would I need to proceed for the following setup, so that the Notebook can print on both printers without changing /etc/cups/client.conf?:

Notebook ---------> CUPS1 -> Printer1
Š
Š
----------> CUPS2 -> Printer2

Thanks for any hint!
Greets

[David]

you can use browsing on both cups-servers and on the client an
ipp-browsing-tool (or cups as client if both servers are in the same
subnet) - The printers of both servers should show up.
Greets
Flo

Great! What I understand is about setting browsing on the server, herefore I can set Browsing in cupsd.conf. Is it correct that I only need to start the cups daemon on the clients as well in order to "see" the printers on the servers?
Thanks a lot!

[Florian Doersch]

Hi,

Post by David
How would I need to proceed for the following setup, so that the Notebook
can print on both printers without changing /etc/cups/client.conf

you can use browsing on both cups-servers and on the client an
ipp-browsing-tool (or cups as client if both servers are in the same
subnet) - The printers of both servers should show up.

Greets
Flo

[Kurt Pfeifle]

Hi,

Post by David
How would I need to proceed for the following setup, so that the Notebook
can print on both printers without changing /etc/cups/client.conf

you can use browsing on both cups-servers and on the client an
ipp-browsing-tool (or cups as client if both servers are in the same
subnet) - The printers of both servers should show up.

Sorry, you don't need a specific "ipp-browsing-tool" on the client. (Which ones did you have in mind, specifically?)

The only "ipp-browsing-tool" you need is a locally running CUPS daemon. If configured with "Browsing On" (and not denying any incoming browse information), it will automatically make available all printers shared by CUPS daemons on other hosts.

Cheers,
Kurt

--
Kurt Pfeifle
System & Network Printing Consultant -- Linux/Unix/Windows/Samba/CUPS
Infotec Deutschland GmbH - A RICOH Company ........ Stuttgart/Germany

[Florian Doersch]

Post by Kurt Pfeifle
The only "ipp-browsing-tool" you need is a locally running CUPS daemon. If
configured with "Browsing On" (and not denying any incoming browse
information), it will automatically make available all printers shared by
CUPS daemons on other hosts.

yes of course, cups as a ipp-client. I had "slpd" in mind, but you can relay
between subnets with cups either.

Greets
Flo

[Kurt Pfeifle]

Post by David
I am confused about setting up a tiny network with two CUPS servers.
With a client I would be able to print on two different CUPS servers.
As far as I know I would need to set the ServerName in
/etc/cups/client.conf on the client so that the client finds the
server.

No!

That's a common misunderstanding.

The client.conf file is not *needed* at all. (It is only meant to be used for specific environments [or "thin clients"] when/where a CUPS daemon running on the local workstation is not feasible [or not desired for whatever reason].)

If you have cupsd running on your local client, configure it with the following parameters (lines with '#' are meant to be commented out!):

#ServerName
Browsing On
#BrowseAddress www.xxx.yyy.zzz
BrowseAllow All
BrowseDeny None
Port 631

This will make your local cupsd automatically pick up all printers whichare shared and published by other CUPS servers in your network neighborhood. (And since it does not use a "BrowseAddress" it will not publish its own printers).

Post by David
Since I can only set one ServerName I would need to change that file
every time the other printer is wanted.

That's right.

Post by David
Is there another solution that makes it possible to choose the
printer?

If you use KDE, you may have a winner here. When the KDEPrint dialog ("kprinter") is up....

(1) ...make sure the dialog is "expanded" (click "Options >>" on
lower left corner)
(2) ...click "System Options", open the "CUPS Server" page
(3) ...fill in your current CUPS server information (and possibly
the account information as well, if needed)

This will leave your general CUPS configuration unchanged, and will be valid only for kprinter as a CUPS client. On the surface, it also is not a "change a file" approach, so you may find it more convenient. (And you can use it any time you need to access/use a different CUPS server without you wanting to fiddle with your CUPS configuration).

If you don't use KDE, you can still configure "kprinter" to be your print command for most applications.

Post by David
How would I need to proceed for the following setup, so that the
Notebook can print on both printers without
Notebook ---------> CUPS1 -> Printer1
Š
Š
----------> CUPS2 -> Printer2
Thanks for any hint!
Greets

Cheers,
Kurt

--
Kurt Pfeifle
System & Network Printing Consultant -- Linux/Unix/Windows/Samba/CUPS
Infotec Deutschland GmbH - A RICOH Company ........ Stuttgart/Germany

[Kurt Pfeifle]

Post by David
What I understand is about setting browsing on the server, herefore
I can set Browsing in cupsd.conf.

The CUPS client needs to have a cupsd running. Its cupsd.conf must contain a "Browsing On" statement, and not any statement that does "BrowseDeny From ...".

The CUPS server (obviously) needs to have a cupsd running too. Its cupsd.conf must contain a "Browsing On" plus a "BrowseAddress @LOCAL" statement (other variations are possible).

CUPS client and CUPS server should be on the same LAN (so the server's UDP browsing broadcast packages do reach the client).

Post by David
Is it correct that I only need to
start the cups daemon on the clients as well in order to "see" the
printers on the servers?

Basically yes. (And remove any contents from the client.conf file).

Cheers,
Kurt

--
Kurt Pfeifle
System & Network Printing Consultant -- Linux/Unix/Windows/Samba/CUPS
Infotec Deutschland GmbH - A RICOH Company ........ Stuttgart/Germany

[David]

Thanks very much!!!!
Greets