Another Linux Newby

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Spirax

57 posts

Master Geek

#317577 27-Oct-2024 13:32

As a long term Window's user I am disappointed with W11 with all the AI intrusion.

I have just installed Linux Mint on a spare PC and to my surprise it talks natively to my networked printer (Brother MFC-J470DW) but in a basic fashion.

The Brother site offers two drivers - an RPM and a DEB. Are these for direct connection? And which one should I choose? Will they give me more functionality?

Thank you

cyril7

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#3302003 27-Oct-2024 13:40

Hi, you should not need to add any drivers for standard printing, cups (linux print system) should be fine, but if your wanting scan features etc then yes you will need drivers. LM is built on Ubuntu, which is inturn built on Debian, hence install the .deb using dpkg -i (package name)

Cyril

Edit, update, I checked the Brother website, the only driver is for PC-FAX, not sure what that means, havent seen a fax in decades. As mentioned the built in printer drivers in LM work just fine, well do via network, never tried by USB, and the SimpleScan or DocumentScan application iin LM should be able to see your scanner. I dont use a PC based scanner app, instead I scan from the printer directly to an SMB share.

Spirax

57 posts

Master Geek

#3302007 27-Oct-2024 13:50

That was quick Cyril. Thank you

So by using the DEB driver and direct USB connection I will get the same functionality as I have with my windows machine?

cyril7

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#3302010 27-Oct-2024 14:04

Hi, have you actually tried USB connection without any additional drivers, as mentioned I have never used USB, our printer is on the network so multiple desktops can use it.

A quick search of the LM forums indicates it should work, however network either via cable or WiFi is reported as superiour option.

Cyril

Edit, and as mentioned the driver on the Brother site only provides PC-Fax features, so once again I doubt its required.

Spirax

57 posts

Master Geek

#3302013 27-Oct-2024 14:17

Still a bit confused. My situation is me, my PC and a USB printer. The printer happens to be networked to a laptop in the lounge for occasional printing. The Linux PC found the network connection. Would I be better off connecting the Linux PC to the printer directly rather than creating a SMB share (whatever that is)?

cyril7

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#3302019 27-Oct-2024 14:32

Hi you don't need a USB connection if the printer has been found via the network then just use that.

I use an SMB network file share to scan to as it's convenient, I simply walk to the scanner load the job on the deck press the scan button and tell it via the onscreen display to scan to the SMB share, walk back to my PC and the job is sitting in the SMB network drive waiting for me.

The simpler way for you is to use the Document scan app that is part of LM, just like the printer was discovered the scan app should also discover the printer, you can then tell it to scan and put the job in your downloads folder.

Cyril

KiwiSurfer

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#3302088 27-Oct-2024 16:08

If it's the same as in Debian, then all you need to do is open the Document Scanner app in your GNOME desktop (hopefully Linux Mint also uses GNOME) and it should just appear (give it a minute or two though as sometimes it takes a while). If that still doesn't work, try going into Printer settings and add the printer properly -- I think I normally have to do this step for my HP printer.

In short it should really just work out of the box without any drivers etc. But then again I've only had this experience with HP -- hopefully it's the same for Brother.

nzkc

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#3302097 27-Oct-2024 16:23

KiwiSurfer:

hopefully Linux Mint also uses GNOME

Nope... Cinnamon by default.

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cyril7

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#3302107 27-Oct-2024 16:36

Hi, the common desktop scanner app is on LM just as mentioned in my previous comments, the Mint project ports many gnome desktop apps to run on Cinnamon, the scanner app is one of them.

Cyril

cddt

1548 posts

Uber Geek

#3302516 28-Oct-2024 16:41

Welcome to the Linux world. Joining was one of the best decisions I ever made...

My referral links: BigPipe | Mercury

eltheanine

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#3302561 28-Oct-2024 19:33

Very nice, I was surprised to see Mint instead of the usual Ubuntu, but even as an experienced Linux user I installed Mint Debian Edition (LMDE) recently and loved it so much I'll be moving my parents to it when time to update their Ubuntu installs rolls around.

I even replicated much of the Mint Cinnamon experience just this week in my fresh Arch install.
I found LMDE very slick, finding samba shares and network printers and connecting with zero issue. It is very well done. The only reason I moved to Arch was for the odd bit of new software, but I honestly didn't really need it for most things.

Great choice, welcome to Linux ❤️

cddt

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Uber Geek

#3302614 29-Oct-2024 07:52

eltheanine:

I even replicated much of the Mint Cinnamon experience just this week in my fresh Arch install.

My "go-to" distribution (daily driver now for 7 or 8 years) has been Fedora Cinnamon edition. :)

My referral links: BigPipe | Mercury

johno1234

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#3302653 29-Oct-2024 11:11

cyril7:

Hi, have you actually tried USB connection without any additional drivers, as mentioned I have never used USB, our printer is on the network so multiple desktops can use it.

A quick search of the LM forums indicates it should work, however network either via cable or WiFi is reported as superiour option.

Cyril

Edit, and as mentioned the driver on the Brother site only provides PC-Fax features, so once again I doubt its required.

If you use wifi make sure it has a static ip in your LAN otherwise it will keep getting lost from it's assigned port.

muppet

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#3302658 29-Oct-2024 11:38

KiwiSurfer

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#3302668 29-Oct-2024 12:13

johno1234:

If you use wifi make sure it has a static ip in your LAN otherwise it will keep getting lost from it's assigned port.

Printers can simply get their IP address via DHCP as normal. Don't bother with static IP addresses etc -- it's not necessary.

johno1234

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#3302701 29-Oct-2024 13:02

KiwiSurfer:

johno1234:

If you use wifi make sure it has a static ip in your LAN otherwise it will keep getting lost from it's assigned port.

Printers can simply get their IP address via DHCP as normal. Don't bother with static IP addresses etc -- it's not necessary.

I find that when I add my brother printer to windows it creates a spooler port using the current ip address of the printer. If DHCP subsequently assigns a different ip address the printer goes "offline" until the new ip address is set on the print spooler port. DHCP tries to maintain the same ip address for a MAC address but this still happens.

I mentioned WiFi but that's not relevant - also applies to wired LAN too.