Request to add support for Muratec MFX-2550 laser Printer/MFU

[Heavygrass]

I'm running Ubuntu 24.04.

Please find attached snmp result files: snmpwalk_Output.log snmp_debug_output.log

Muratec MFX-2550 does not print neither via USB nor via any of IPP, LPR, APPSOCKET over network (all devices are inside/behind 1 simple router). Since there's no Linux driver for Muratec MFX-2550, I tried setting it as both HP LaserJet 4250n and Xerox Phaser 5500 listed in "emulation" section of specs - still no reaction from the MFU. No reaction from MFU for any combination of network protocols/drivers I tried. MFU's IP address is always fixed/the same. I can ping MFU by IP without any issue.

I deleted MAC and some IP addresses from logs as its clearly unsafe to post online (no other modifications to log files). No modifications to snmp_debug_output.log at all.

On Win7 both USB and "RAW"network printing protocol works without any issue (there's drivers for Windows). No sure what Windows "RAW" protocol corresponds to in CUPS terms?

This is from printer manual specs: Printer Language: GDI Option: PCL 5e, PCL XL, XPS, PostScrip 3, PDF (PDF1.7 Compatibility)

Emulation: HP LaserJet 4250n (PCL5e / PCLXL), Xerox Phaser 5500 (PostScrip 3 /PDF)

Data Transfer Protocol: TCP/IP (LPR, Port9100, IPP)

MFX-2550 page on Muratec site

Please let me know if additional information may be usefull. Thank you very much.

[jschwender]

Note that this is a GDI printer. This will never supported by anything the manufacturer does not want to provide drivers for. To work with CUPS the printer must provide standards. Your description lists IPP protocol and PDF as options. That may mean it can support it or not depending on which version you bought? That simple specification may mean it supports IPP 1.0, which is completely outdated, and in many cases incompletely implemented in the printer. If you bought the version without options, your only option is to scrap it and buy one which does support openprinting. If your printer supports all these options, it should generally work with CUPS. It it is behind a router, this is an obstacle, place it in the same network as your ubuntu box.

[Heavygrass]

It it is behind a router, this is an obstacle, place it in the same network as your ubuntu box.

Thank you for your prompt response. Sorry if I wasn't clear on this, both MFU and ubuntu box are in the same very simple network (both use the same router). Network is not an issue here.

Your description lists IPP protocol and PDF as options. That may mean it can support it or not depending on which version you bought?

Please let me post exact copy of the specs page slightly later to avoid miscommunication. Do you have any recommendation on how to check whether it supports IPP etc and what version?

CUPS does detect the printer (as HP) and also detects multiple ?queues? over network in the 'probe' printer setup. E.g. there's a 'ps' ?queue?. I'm new to CUPS and don't know what info to really look for.

[Heavygrass]

Printer Specifications right from the manual: Printer_Specifications_only.pdf

It mentions Mac OS X support, not sure if it matters.

[jschwender]

MAC OSX 10.5 means cups version something like 1.4. Very old, Ubuntu 24 comes with CUPS 2.4.6 which is very different. Try installing avahi-daemon, as this is responsible for mDNS. run as root: avahi-browse -a | grep Printer run also : lpstat -l -e which should list ipp printers in your network. run lpinfo -v to get a list of url. Make sure your firewall does not interfere.

At the end you may try to manually configure a print queue by issuing something like: lpadmin -h localhost -p "PrintQName" -v "socket://192.168.1.19:9100" -m everywhere adjust the IP address to your needs.

[Heavygrass]

Make sure your firewall does not interfere.

Thank you for your help! Does CUPS require any INCOMING connections on Ubuntu? My firewall only blocks all INCOMING connections and all outgoing are allowed. In my setup its tricky to only shut off internet while keeping router on. Printer doesn't have any firewall I believe.

I'll surely run your suggestions and report results.

[jschwender]

mDNS works by multicast, this should be incoming allowed, ipv4 and ipv6.

[Heavygrass]

@jschwender Have you seen anybody using CUPS unsupported/GDI printer via Windows Print Server? I'm hoping Windows Print Server might provide some generic abstract device, but never used it before. Or CUPS will still require device specific driver?

[jschwender]

I have no idea about windows printing today. I used to be responsible for a bunch of windows print qeues on windows 2017 server. In a nutshell: a disappointing admin nightmare. If your printer is only GDI, yes you will have to get a proprietary driver even in CUPS.

[Heavygrass]

mDNS works by multicast, this should be incoming allowed, ipv4 and ipv6.

Is there a page that describes required OUTPUT ports/protocols for CUPS? (for firewall) From above its clear 9100 output port needed, is it on TCP protocol? Any other output port needed?