USB Local Printer attaches in qui-devices - but not showing in Print Settings or Applications

User Support
1

Qubes is a new adventure for me - which is challenging and enjoyable. Thank you.

My local printer (no cups or networking needed) is a Brother HL-L2310D laser.
I have installed it in a Template VM (not an AppVm) using the .deb provided by Brother.
The command in the TemplateVM:
dpkg -l | grep Brother
shows that the printer is installed with output message:
i386 Brother HL-L2310D printer driver (lpd/cups)

The printer then does show in ‘qui devices’ under 'USB Devices ‘sys-net:2-2’; it can be attached to the Template VM (and AppVMs).

After attachment however it does not show in the ‘Print Settings’ dialogue: system-config-printer. Nor does the printer show in any applications for printing: pdf apps or word processors.

I have looked at many solutions on this forum but unfortunately without always understanding and then resolving the issue.

Any help would be very welcome.

Thank you.

2

I have a similar problem. I’m also sitting here in front of a Brother laser printer. It works under Linux, macOS, and Windows without having to install any drivers. So far, we’ve been using it via USB under LinuxMint and Debian without any problems.

Now I’d like to use it under QubesOS via USB as well, and to be honest, I’m pretty clueless. It doesn’t show up at all in either the Debian or Fedora templates. I can’t see it in an AppVM or in sys-usb, let alone install/use it.

I would be very grateful for any rough guidance on how to set up and use a USB printer under QubesOS 4.3! So far, I haven’t been able to find any helpful information in the forum or documentation that solves my problem.

Happy New Year!

3

Hey @snorkelcake

  1. Can you check if you have linux-firmware and qubes-usb-proxy installed in a template of your sys-usb?
  2. Aren’t you by chance using a minimal template for your sys-usb?
  3. Have you checked if all controllers are connected to sys-usb?
  4. Are you able to see other devices attached to sys-usb?
  5. If you see other devices - can you attach a device to an AppVM? Like a USB stick for example.
  6. Can you run these with your printer attached and send the outputs:
    — qvm-usb (in dom0)
    — journalctl | grep -iE ‘fail|error|policy|denied’ (in dom0)
    — lsusb -v -t (in sys-usb)
    — sudo journalctl | grep -iE ‘fail|error|warn|driver|firmware|print’ (in sys-usb)
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4

Thank you very much for the numerous suggestions. Based on the error messages I received from the diagnostic steps you suggested, I was finally able to get my printer working. First, I installed the manufacturer’s driver in a Fedora template and then activated the CUPS service in the template settings (as well as in the PrintAndScan-AppVM based on it) under “Services”. Now it works. Thank you @brain_frog for your quick and helpful response. That was the nudge I needed :slight_smile:

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