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Bo Dang Ren
Asked: 2016-08-14 18:22:54 +0800 CST

Using Windows VM as a print server for Linux clients?

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All Linux household with a nice-ish GDI laser printer (FujiXerox Docuprint p115w wifi) gifted to me. No Linux drivers are available.

How could I install a Windows VM and expose that to the network as a print server that works with Linux clients?

networking

2 Answers

  1. Methods I can think of:

    • Windows (server 2008 R2 or newer) VM + IIS to enable internet printing (IPP). This should allow you to print using the drivers stored on the server as IPP sends the job over as an encapsulated PDF file. TechNet article for this feature. I've never tried this method but it seems like it should work.
    • Windows (any) VM + "web print" server from printer management software inside windows. We use PaperCut for this purpose at my work. It's free for up to 5 users and will print PDF files with the web print feature with minimal configuration. This will require saving as PDF and using a web based service on the print server to send the document over to the printer. The server will use it's drivers to do the actual rendering of the print job.
    • Windows (any) VM + Google Cloud Print + Google Chrome. Similar to the above but uses Google's servers to do the web portion. Requires the VM to be logged in and running Chrome's background services app at all times.
    • Unless you have several spare toner refills buy a new printer that has good compatibility. Honestly, the level of effort and frustration you will likely go through to get a working solution is not worth it for these consumer printers.
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    1. Install Virtualbox, from the Oracle site preferably.

    2. Install the corresponding extension pack to get guest support for USB2 and USB3.

    3. Forward the USB port the printer is connected to, to the Windows vm using Virtualbox settings.

    4. From Virtuabox settings, change the guest's network setting to bridged so that you can connect to the guest easily from all other computers.

    5. Share you printer using Windows printer settings so that it's visible by all other computers.

    These are the main steps you need to take and you will find hundreds of posts for each one of them.

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