Is ipp-usb active or is HPLIP active for the next print?

[Golddouble]

My printer: HP printer. Connection: via USB My system: MX Linux 19.3 (Debian 10 based, 64 bit); Xfce

My printer works also without HPLIP installed. (-> But bad quality.) It also works with HPLIP installed. (-> But bad quality.) It also works with ipp-usb (-> Better quality.) (I use this ipp-usb-version for Debian 10: https://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/pzz/Debian_10/amd64/)

My question: How can I find out, whether the next print will be made with ipp-usb or HPLIP, without first have to made a test print?

I have made several experiments:

Some experiments (all in a VM):

Initial state: HPLIP is installed and I have a ppd in "/etc/cups/ppd/" for my HP-printer. I also have in Xfce settings ->printer-settings a printer symbol, where I can change the settings of my printer.

Experiment 1: I just leave all as it is and install https://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/pzz/Debian_10/amd64/ . Then I start my VM new. Linux has NOT automatically created an additional printer symbol in Xfce-settings -> printer-settings . I make a print. The question is: How was this print made? With HPLIP or with ipp-usb? I do not know. But according to the quality of this print, it looks like the print was made with HPLIP and not with ipp-usb.

Experiment 2: I first go into -> Xfce-settings -> printer-settings. There I delete the symbol of my printer, where I can configure the printer settings. Then I install https://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/pzz/Debian_10/amd64/ Then I start my VM new. Linux has now automatically created a new printer-settings-symbol in Xfce-settings -> printer-settings . I make a print. The question is: How was this print made? With HPLIP or with ipp-usb? I do not know. But according to the quality of this print, it looks like the print now was made with ipp-usb.

So as you can see: In both examples HPLIP was installed, but ipp-usb was installed in a different way.

Questions: I would like to know, weather ipp-usb or HPLIP would be active for the next print, without first have to make a test print. How can I find this out? Can a run any command in a terminal to check this? Can I add a particular line to any config file to ensure that the printer will safely use the HPLIP driver the next time it prints? Can I add a particular line to any config file to ensure that the printer will safely use the ipp-usb non-driver the next time it prints?

Has the printer-symbol-file, we can find in -> Xfce settings -> printer-settings any information in it, weather it will be printed with HPLIP or ipp-usb? Why do I think so? As you can see in the experiments above: When these symbols are created new after the installation of ipp-usb (experiment 2), then ipp-usb is active. When they are not created new, then HPLIP seems to remain active.

Thank you.

[alexpevzner]

What lpstat -v prints?

[Golddouble]

Thank you. This helps a lot.

For experiment 1:

$ lpstat -v
device for ENVY_5540: hp:/usb/ENVY_5540_series?serial=TH58Q1N1SQ0671

For experiment 2:

$ lpstat -v
device for ENVY-5540-series: usb://HP/ENVY%205540%20series?serial=TH58Q1N1SQ0671&interface=1

It looks like "hp:..." means that it will print with HPLIP and "usb:..." that it will print driver less.

---

Has the printer-symbol-file, we can find in -> Xfce settings -> printer-settings, any information in it, weather it will be printed with HPLIP or ipp-usb?

Answer: Yes, I think so. You can find it in print-settings in the section "settings" of your existing printers. Field "Device URI". When this line starts with "usb:", then it will print driver less, when taking this printer. When this line starts with "hp:" it will print with HPLIP, when choosing this printer:

There is no need for deleting existing printers first (from Xfce print-settings). Just plug in the printer via usb. Go into Xfce-print-settings and press the "add" button. You will find the printer on the left side. Select it. On the right side you now can choose between usb (driverless) or HPLIP:

So it looks like you can keep your existing printers that print via HPLIP and at the same time have a new created printer, that prints driverless.

[Golddouble]

Further question:

On https://wiki.debian.org/CUPSDriverlessPrinting#summary I found this:

Quote:

ipp-usb is not provided for buster. However, its author distributes a package that functions provided the device is exposed to the local network by editing /etc/ipp-usb/ipp-usb.conf and having ... "interface = all"

I do not understand for what the line ... interface = loopback # all | loopback ... is good for. I don't notice any difference between "interface = loopback" and "interface = all"

My system: Debian 10 based. My printer: connected via usb

[alexpevzner]

interface = loopback -- printer is exposed only to the host, the device is connected to

interface = all -- printer is exposed to the network.

[Golddouble]

Ah I see. I have no network. Thank you.