Puppy Linux Discussion Forum

[The solution here was to use the 'PPD' file directly at install time. It saves a LOT of hassle.....irt definitely worked for me in this instance. Extract your printer driver package, hook the .ppd file out of it, and use that directly. Seems to play nice for Epsons, anyroad.]

YMMV, though.

See HERE.

----------------------------

Right, gang.

I'm trying to install the venerable Epson Stylus SX218 in EasyOS Buster 2.6.2. The drivers I have work in every other member of the kennels, despite being 6 or 7 years old. But in EasyOS, despite being installed correctly into /opt, trying - for instance - to launch the printer utility app, even pointing things directly at the binary I'm told in no uncertain terms that it doesn't exist!

What gives? Anybody else having issues with Epsons under Easy?

Mike.

Hi Mike!

You may want to take a look at what I have posted (believe it's on file#3) HP Printer Problems in Dunfell 2.7.3 - Update 9/28/21 'NOT SOLVED'

My printer is an HP and I wonder if our problem could be related in any way?

>>>---Indian------>

I was trying to run a program the other day.
It kept saying it wasnt there but it was.
Then I realised it was 32 bit.
I guess your drivers are 64 bit.
Maybe there are some updated drivers at Epson.

@Philh / @sszindian :-

Phil:-

Mm-hm. Definitely 64-bit. The very first Linux distro I used - 14.04 LTS 'Trusty' - was the 64-bit version. I didn't download the 32-bit drivers till nearly 2 years later.

SSZIndian:-

I'm half wondering, thinking about it, if this is related to the way Barry's built this whole OS around the concept of containerization....

Mike.

@ Mike

Hmmm... not to sure about that, I also run the EasyBuster 2.6.2 where there isn't any problem with setting up and 'keeping' the printer working after the initial cups setup, shutdowns or reboots... unless BK changed the container-thing in Dunsfell?

>>>---Indian------>

@mikewalsh Hi Mike!

Looking at /usr/lib/cups/filter at the other system - you do have epson filters listed over there, right?
If so, the same filter files have to be added over here too.

Same for the epson support libs being used at the other system they need to be moved over here too.

mikewalsh wrote: Tue Sep 28, 2021 4:50 pm

Right, gang.

I'm trying to install the venerable Epson Stylus SX218 in EasyOS Buster 2.6.2. The drivers I have work in every other member of the kennels, despite being 6 or 7 years old. But in EasyOS. despite being installed correctly into /opt, trying - for instance - to launch the printer utility app, even pointing things directly at the binary I'm told in no uncertain terms that it doesn't exist!

if the utility is a binary executable, try:

# ldd <full path to the utility>

See if ldd reports everything ok.

@FeodorF :-

The stupid thing is that EasyOS actually has all those files from the other Pups, plus more besides...

(*shrug...*)

@BarryK :-

Can't figure this one out at all, Barry.

Ldd says there's absolutely nothing missing. The "file" command gives this:-

# file /opt/epson-printer-utility/bin/epson-printer-utility
/opt/epson-printer-utility/bin/epson-printer-utility: ELF 64-bit LSB executable, x86-64, version 1 (SYSV), dynamically linked, interpreter /lib64/ld-lsb-x86-64.so.3, for GNU/Linux 2.6.15, BuildID[sha1]=0177bc54f2ebf6d0955b4b689ef87c5819b68f9f, not stripped, with debug_info
#

And yet

/opt/epson-printer-utility/bin/epson-printerutility

.....gives:-

# /opt/epson-printer-utility/bin/epson-printer-utility
bash: /opt/epson-printer-utility/bin/epson-printer-utility: No such file or directory
#

...and "cd"-ing gives this:-

# cd /opt/epson-printer-utility/bin
# ./epson-printer-utility
bash: ./epson-printer-utility: No such file or directory
#

It's a bloody mystery, mate.....and a weird one at that!

Mike.

mikewalsh wrote: Thu Sep 30, 2021 1:41 am

It's a bloody mystery, mate.....and a weird one at that!

No it's not.

For almost 10 years, Puppy community members have known how to deal with Epson printers. It is a measure of how far the community has devolved that no Puppy user is still willing/able to provide that information.

There are projects on this forum where printing is still actively supported, including Epson. Members of the Puppy inner circle know where they are.

@mikewalsh
Printers always have been a pain, whether on linux, windows or mainframes. I've been dealing with them since teletypes and batch printers were the norm in the 1970's.
I've used Hp exclusively for many years now, as I worked out their 'quibbles' years ago, others swear by other brands for the same reason.

However, from my point of view it looks like you have a permissions problem for the file, or in the structure of it's directory, or internally used and linked files that could be in some other directory.

So, lets take it from square 1 please>

on a console screen, please go into, and run ls -l
1- for /opt/epson-printer-utility/bin/ directory;
2- also for /opt/epson-printer-utility/ directory;
3- and also /opt/;
4- and finally /;
and report back with the replies please.

5- also a copy of /etc/groups is needed, and maybe /etc/passwd will also be needed.

6- what username is being printed from, is it root or something else?

Just because you can see a file, doesn't mean you can interact or use it.

And lastly, what is the contents of the package you installed, ie what is the contents of the root/.packages/$packagename_files.

and that should give us a starting point.

Can I take it you have checked if you can see the printer in CUPS, it's not blacklisted, and you can find it in dmesg? All when it's turned on of course.
?Where did you get the driver, Epson Inkjet Printer Driver (ESC/P) for Linux | AVASYS CORPORATION (http://avasys.jp/eng/linux_driver/downl ... kjet/escp/), or Printer: Epson SX218 Series | OpenPrinting - The Linux Foundation (http://www.openprinting.org/printer/Eps ... 218_Series) seems the recomended places, same package just 2 sites.
There seems to be a bit of hate against this one, but following the help cries, it all seems to be those users not installing the software correctly or stuffing up the configuration, not a printer to ignore.

EDIT: just noticed that there are separate drivers for the printer and scanner parts, you have the right one installed, and also it seems you need to install the printer one before the scanner one.

Anyway, lets have some replies and we'll take it from there.

@rcrsn51 :-

rcrsn51 wrote: Thu Sep 30, 2021 2:35 am

mikewalsh wrote: Thu Sep 30, 2021 1:41 am

It's a bloody mystery, mate.....and a weird one at that!

No it's not.

For almost 10 years, Puppy community members have known how to deal with Epson printers. It is a measure of how far the community has devolved that no Puppy user is still willing/able to provide that information.

There are projects on this forum where printing is still actively supported, including Epson. Members of the Puppy inner circle know where they are.

TBH, Bill, this is the first time I've ever had this issue with installing the SX218. Oh, I know where to find the printing info, but although I'd be more than happy to provide detailed information on how to deal with Epsons - I've used them for over 30 years, both under Windows AND in Linux - I have too many other irons in the fire (I have my own 'projects' to maintain as it is). There's a limit to the amount of time I can spend here on the Forum; I moderate both here and at BleepingComputer, and am fairly active on at least half-a-dozen other fora.....and that's when I manage to get "me-time" from full-time caring responsibilities.

Mike.

@scsijon :-

Well, let's have a "look-see", shall we?

1) ls -l /opt/epson-printer-utility/bin:-

# ls -l /opt/epson-printer-utility/bin
total 3424
-rwxrwxrwx 1 root root 3502377 Apr 20  2015 epson-printer-utility
#

2) ls -l /opt/epson-printer-utility:-

# ls -l /opt/epson-printer-utility
total 20
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Apr 20  2015 bin
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Apr 20  2015 doc
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Apr 20  2015 lib
drwxr-xr-x 4 root root 4096 Apr 20  2015 resource
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Apr 20  2015 rules
#

3) ls -l /opt:-

# ls -l /opt
total 8
drwxr-xr-x 8 root root 4096 May 31  2010 epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218
drwxr-xr-x 7 root root 4096 Apr 20  2015 epson-printer-utility
#

4) ls -l /:-

# ls -l /
total 40
drwxr-xr-x   6 root root  4096 Aug 31 02:14 audit
drwxr-xr-x   2 root root  2454 Jun 29 13:14 bin
drwxr-xr-x   2 root root     3 Jun 29 13:12 boot
drwxr-xr-x   4 root root    40 Jul 20  2018 clients
drwxr-xr-x  14 root root 14100 Sep 30 13:47 dev
drwxr-xr-x 112 root root  4096 Sep 29 15:47 etc
lrwxrwxrwx   1 root root    21 Sep 29 15:47 home -> /mnt/sdd2/easyos/home
-rw-r--r--   1 root root  2045 Sep 28 23:31 immodules.cache
drwxr-xr-x  16 root root  4096 Jan 29  2015 lib
lrwxrwxrwx   1 root root    20 Jun 29 13:08 lib64 -> lib/x86_64-linux-gnu
-rw-r--r--   1 root root  3513 Sep 28 23:31 loaders.cache
drwxr-xr-x  23 root root  4096 Sep 29 15:47 mnt
drwxr-xr-x   4 root root  4096 Apr 20  2015 opt
dr-xr-xr-x 240 root root     0 Sep 30  2021 proc
drwxrwxrwx  58 root root  4096 Sep 30 13:47 root
lrwxrwxrwx   1 root root     8 Aug 30 02:39 run -> /tmp/run
drwxr-xr-x   2 root root  4096 Sep 29 15:47 sbin
dr-xr-xr-x  12 root root     0 Sep 30  2021 sys
drwxrwxrwt  16 root root   900 Sep 30 14:32 tmp
drwxr-xr-x  17 root root  4096 May 14  2019 usr
lrwxrwxrwx   1 root root     8 Aug 30 02:39 var -> /tmp/var
#

5) ls -l /etc/groups:-

# ls -l /etc/groups
ls: cannot access '/etc/groups': No such file or directory
#

Doesn't exist here in EasyOS.

6) ls -l /etc/passwd:-

# ls -l /etc/passwd
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 620 Oct  6  2020 /etc/passwd
#

7) Contents of /etc/passwd:-

root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/sh
daemon:x:1:1::/:
nobody:x:65534:65534::/tmp:
spot:x:502:502:Linux User,,,:/root/spot:/bin/sh
bin:x:2:2:bin:/bin:
messagebus:x:503:503:Linux User,,,:/tmp:/bin/sh
ftp:x:1000:1000:Linux User,,,:/root/ftpd:/bin/sh
haldaemon:x:108:119:Hardware abstraction layer,,,:/var/run/hald:/bin/false
uucp:x:10:10:uucp:/var/spool/uucp:/bin/sh
sshd:x:33:33:sshd:/:
webuser:x:1002:504:Linux User,,,:/root/Web-Server:/bin/sh
fido:x:1001:500:Linux User,,,:/root:/bin/sh
rover:x:1003:1001::/clients/rover:/bin/sh
zeus:x:100:109:zeus:/clients/zeus:/bin/sh
pulse:x:101:116:Linux User,,,:/var/run/pulse:/bin/false

8) username being printed from is 'root'.

9) Contents of /root/.packages/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218_1.0.0.files:-

/opt/
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/watermark/
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/watermark/WEPCG06.EID
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/watermark/WEPCG07.EID
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/watermark/WEPCG02.EID
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/watermark/WEPCG05.EID
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/watermark/WEPCG03.EID
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/watermark/WEPCG01.EID
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/watermark/WEPCG00.EID
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/watermark/WEPCG04.EID
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/watermark/WEPCG08.EID
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/watermark/WEPCG09.EID
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/ppds/
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/ppds/Epson/
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/ppds/Epson/Epson-ME_OFFICE_520_Series-epson-driver.ppd.gz
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/ppds/Epson/Epson-Stylus_Office_BX305_Series-epson-driver.ppd.gz
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/ppds/Epson/Epson-TX220_NX220_Series-epson-driver.ppd.gz
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/ppds/Epson/Epson-TX320_WorkForce320_Series-epson-driver.ppd.gz
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/ppds/Epson/Epson-WorkForce_320_Series-epson-driver.ppd.gz
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/ppds/Epson/Epson-Stylus_TX220_Series-epson-driver.ppd.gz
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/ppds/Epson/Epson-Stylus_SX218_Series-epson-driver.ppd.gz
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/ppds/Epson/Epson-Stylus_Office_TX320F_Series-epson-driver.ppd.gz
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/ppds/Epson/Epson-ME_OFFICE_620F_Series-epson-driver.ppd.gz
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/lib64/
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/lib64/libEpson_WorkForce_320_SX218.MT.so.1.0.0
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/lib64/libEpson_WorkForce_320_SX218.so.1.0.0
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/cups/
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/cups/lib/
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/cups/lib/filter/
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/cups/lib/filter/epson_inkjet_printer_filter
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/doc/
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/doc/README
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/doc/Manual.txt
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/doc/AUTHORS
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/doc/COPYING.LIB
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/doc/COPYING.EPSON
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/doc/COPYING
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/resource/
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/resource/Epson_WorkForce_320_SX218.2.data
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/resource/Epson_WorkForce_320_SX218.MT.1.data
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/resource/Epson_WorkForce_320_SX218.MT.5.data
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/resource/Epson_WorkForce_320_SX218.MT.4.data
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/resource/Epson_WorkForce_320_SX218.MT.2.data
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/resource/Epson_WorkForce_320_SX218.MT.3.data
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/resource/Epson_WorkForce_320_SX218.1.data
/opt/epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-320-sx218/resource/Epson_WorkForce_320_SX218.MT.6.data

10) Contents of /root/.packages/epson-printer-utility_1.0.0.files:-

/opt/
/opt/epson-printer-utility/
/opt/epson-printer-utility/bin/
/opt/epson-printer-utility/bin/epson-printer-utility
/opt/epson-printer-utility/lib/
/opt/epson-printer-utility/lib/libEPSCommonLib.a
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Languages/
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Languages/utilitytr_ja.qm
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Languages/utilitytr_fr.qm
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Languages/utilitytr_ko.qm
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Languages/utilitytr_pt.qm
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Languages/utilitytr_ru.qm
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Languages/utilitytr_zh_TW.qm
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Languages/utilitytr_zh_CN.qm
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Languages/utilitytr_es.qm
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Languages/utilitytr_nl.qm
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Languages/utilitytr_it.qm
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Languages/utilitytr_de.qm
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Images/
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Images/STM.png
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Images/printer_status.png
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Images/Nozzle.png
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Images/warning.png
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Images/status_indicator_offline.png
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Images/Cleaning.png
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Images/printer_status_error_laser.png
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Images/Cleaning_small.png
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Images/printer_status_OLD.png
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Images/Inkout.png
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Images/printer_status_laser.png
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Images/Gap.png
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Images/printer_status_error.png
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Images/LFP2.png
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Images/Cleaning_small_old.png
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Images/Nozzle_small_old.png
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Images/Nozzle_small.png
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Images/printer_status_warning.png
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Images/Inklow.png
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Images/epson.png
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Images/status_indicator_online.png
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Images/Gap_small.png
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Images/printer_status_warning_laser.png
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Images/AppIcon.png
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Images/STM_small.png
/opt/epson-printer-utility/resource/Images/Inklow_.png
/opt/epson-printer-utility/doc/
/opt/epson-printer-utility/doc/AUTHORS
/opt/epson-printer-utility/doc/README
/opt/epson-printer-utility/doc/INSTALL
/opt/epson-printer-utility/doc/ChangeLog
/opt/epson-printer-utility/doc/NEWS
/opt/epson-printer-utility/rules/
/opt/epson-printer-utility/rules/79-udev-epson.rules
/usr/
/usr/lib/
/usr/lib/epson-backend/
/usr/lib/epson-backend/ecbd
/usr/lib/epson-backend/rc.d/
/usr/lib/epson-backend/rc.d/ecbd
/usr/lib/epson-backend/rc.d/init-functions
/usr/lib/epson-backend/rc.d/inst-rc_d.sh
/usr/lib/epson-backend/scripts/
/usr/lib/epson-backend/scripts/inst-cups-post.sh
/usr/lib/cups/
/usr/lib/cups/backend/
/usr/lib/cups/backend/ecblp

11) Yes, the printer is showing up correctly in CUPS.....but it's erroring out with 'filter failed' every time.

I think that's everything you asked for..! Gawd knows whether it'll help, mind.... Oh, while I think about it. No idea if this is relevant, but I have NEVER been successful in getting any Puppy to print when run from a flash drive (EasyOS is running from a 32GB SanDisk Ultra 'Fit' nano-sized thumb drive).

Does that give you any further clues..?

Mike.

yeah, lets have a look

5- It should of been contents of /etc/group, not groups sorry, different sources, use slightly different names and i didn't have mine free to load as a easypup to check.

I can't see anything wrong with permissions, owner or group, the usual cause of the problem, either

epson-printer-utility seems to be globally writable, even though it's suposedly a binary, strange, maybe it's a script, can you have a go at opening it as a text file please. I'll pull the packages down later today (it's 0521 her at present, I should be asleep) and see what i can see.

11 - according to epson's help system, getting a filter failed message in cups means either you are using the wrong driver (32bit, not64bit) or the driver package didn't install correctly

You are turning the printer on before the computer, aren't you, some usb ports don't like being late loaded, it's the chipset's problem not the o.s.

AND "No idea if this is relevant, but I have NEVER been successful in getting any Puppy to print when run from a flash drive (EasyOS is running from a 32GB SanDisk Ultra 'Fit' nano-sized thumb drive)." worries me, is this on any computer or a specific one, you have tried with it plugged in another one i take it. There use to be a bios setting to allow external devices such as usb to access other usb devices and not only just run programs, but that went out many years ago.

Also, have you tried setting up cups and printing to the printer using a generic printer, what resulted, you should get a blank page or error message at least.

and before I forget, what's in /var/log/cups/error_log, it might give a clue

Time i was in bed, starting to make too many typing errors!

@scsijon :-

Problem solved, Jon.

I uninstalled all the Epson stuff I'd installed. Had a look on the Epson downloads site; my printer driver - which is 9 years old - is still the newest one for that model. I did, however, update the IScan! scanner driver bundle to the newest version.

Did a re-boot.

Scanner stuff was installed following Epson's instructions that came with the tarball. That's working.

For the printer driver & printer utility, I remembered where I'd gone wrong! The 32-bit drivers for this model, the .debs install just fine.....and everything just 'works'. If I try to install the 64-bit .debs in the normal way - by clicking on 'em - everything installs, but nothing behaves itself. So; I used the 'Eppi' Epson installer utility Bill provided for the community a few years back, which runs from the command-line. This always works, good as gold.

At the last moment, however, I had a change of plan. I was 3 parts of the way through installing via the web-interface, when instead of using the drivers, I decided to try summat else. I'd always noticed the 'Use PPD file' button on the driver select page, but never tried using it. A few weeks ago, I extracted the 64-bit driver package, hooked the .ppd file out of it and saved it to its own sub-directory.....with the intention of trying it one day. Well, that day had come, and now was as good a time as any.

So; I used the PPD file instead. And Bang! everything was just suddenly there.....and behaving itself perfectly.

I'm going to remember that trick..!! Works a treat.

Mike.

mikewalsh wrote: Tue Sep 28, 2021 4:50 pm

[The solution here was to use the 'PPD' file directly at install time. It saves a LOT of hassle.....irt definitely worked for me in this instance. Extract your printer driver package, hook the .ppd file out of it, and use that directly. Seems to play nice for Epsons, anyroad.]

YMMV, though.

See HERE.

----------------------------

Right, gang.

I'm trying to install the venerable Epson Stylus SX218 in EasyOS Buster 2.6.2. The drivers I have work in every other member of the kennels, despite being 6 or 7 years old. But in EasyOS, despite being installed correctly into /opt, trying - for instance - to launch the printer utility app, even pointing things directly at the binary I'm told in no uncertain terms that it doesn't exist!

What gives? Anybody else having issues with Epsons under Easy?

Mike.

??????????????????

Are you suggesting that you solved the "doesn't exist" problem just by choosing the PPD file directly?

Using the PPD file is one way of sorting it out, that's all. Most of us, I belive, would at least have a go with the recomended driver packages first.

However, this morning I had been talking online to one of the epson girls about it, and she said that depending in what cups and ghostscript versions were being used, the older epson drivers packages were not working and to use the PPD.
Apparently CUPS and Ghostscript are having a love-hate with a number of brands older driver packages and they are all recomending to use the PPD files when available.

So at least your up and printing, the only last thing worth checking, is printing different size paper formats and print quality, a lot of PPD are set for 'business' quality only, the graphics can leave it somewhat to be desired.

Your fixed anyway, and that's the main point of the exercise, and anyone having the same problem can read this topic and see if it works for them.

Well done

@rcrsn51 :-

rcrsn51 wrote: Fri Oct 01, 2021 2:38 am

mikewalsh wrote: Tue Sep 28, 2021 4:50 pm

[The solution here was to use the 'PPD' file directly at install time. It saves a LOT of hassle.....it definitely worked for me in this instance. Extract your printer driver package, hook the .ppd file out of it, and use that directly. Seems to play nice for Epsons, anyroad.]

YMMV, though.

See HERE.

----------------------------

Right, gang.

I'm trying to install the venerable Epson Stylus SX218 in EasyOS Buster 2.6.2. The drivers I have work in every other member of the kennels, despite being 6 or 7 years old. But in EasyOS, despite being installed correctly into /opt, trying - for instance - to launch the printer utility app, even pointing things directly at the binary I'm told in no uncertain terms that it doesn't exist!

What gives? Anybody else having issues with Epsons under Easy?

Mike.

??????????????????

Are you suggesting that you solved the "doesn't exist" problem just by choosing the PPD file directly?

Not at all. I admit, it was a poor choice of thread title, which no doubt gave most people completely the wrong idea. I'm SO sorry if my English/grammar doesn't live up to your high standards of conciseness & clarity, Bill, but we can't all be perfect, y'know?

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@scsijon :-

However, this morning I had been talking online to one of the epson girls about it, and she said that depending in what cups and ghostscript versions were being used, the older epson drivers packages were not working and to use the PPD.
Apparently CUPS and Ghostscript are having a love-hate with a number of brands older driver packages and they are all recomending to use the PPD files when available.

Figures. CUPS & Ghostscript move on - probably implementing stuff in a new way - and printer manufacturers 'drop the ball' 'cos they haven't had time to keep up wi' things. On top of which, those of us running older hardware (which requires older software, in many cases) aren't really playing the game, are we? We're not the type to rush out & grab the very newest of everything the instant it hits the shelves....

Printers tend to be a medium-to-long term purchase for most of us, I think. So long as they keep working, and the consumables are still available, most folks will continue to use them.

As for the software, for this particular model that 9-yr old driver IS the newest that Epson produced. I prefer the "full-feature" driver, rather than the simpler, 'generic' one. I could get a much more up-to-date 'generic' one, but it doesn't offer half the features that I need. Which doesn't give me that much in the way of choice!

What can you do? If the PPD file "trick" will make everything work, that'll do for me...

Mike.