HPLIP HELP

HP Linux Imaging and Printing (HPLIP) Help

Troubleshooting setup and I/O issues

Troubleshooting HPLIP involves several steps depending on the problem. Here we will describe several things to check.

First things to check

Referencing on the product support page on the HPLIP website, verify that your printer is supported by HPLIP.

If you are using HPLIP from source or that came pre-packaged with your distro try using the HPLIP from source files available on the HPLIP website.

Run "hp-check" utility

hp-check displays the status the HPLIP install.

1. Open a terminal (command line) window.

2. Run:

            hp-check -t

Read through the output of the hp-check and fix any problems reported--this will resolve a large portion of any problems.

An important section to review is:

    # Following values are determined at configure time and cannot be changed.
    [configure]
    network-build=yes
    pp-build=no
    gui-build=yes
    scanner-build=yes
    fax-build=yes
    dbus-build=yes
    cups11-build=no
    doc-build=yes
    shadow-build=no
    foomatic-drv-install=yes
    foomatic-ppd-install=no
    foomatic-rip-hplip-install=yes

This section describes what is currently enabled or disabled. For example if you are having a problem setting up your parallel printer check to be sure that pp-build=yes--if it does not you'll need to reinstall hplip and enable parallel support.

I/O Problems (Printer is not detected)

If the printer is not being detected by hp-setup check the following items:

Is the printer supported by HPLIP?

Is the printer powered on?

Is the printer connected correctly with the proper type of cable?

Is the printer in an error state? (i.e. out of paper, out of ink, etc.)

Is the cable (usb/parallel/ethernet) in good working condition?

USB

If you run "/usr/lib/cups/backend/hp" you should get output similar to the following:

    direct hp:/usb/HP_Color_LaserJet_CP1515n?serial=00XXXXXXXXXX "HP Color LaserJet CP1515n" "HP Color LaserJet CP1515n USB                 00XXXXXXXXXX HPLIP" "MFG:HP;MDL:HP Color LaserJet CP1515n;CLS:PRINTER;DES:HP Color LaserJet CP1515n;SN:00XXXXXXXXXX;"

If you get instead, get output similiar to the following:

    direct hp "Unknown" "HP Printer (HPLIP)"

Check all of the questions stated above.

Are you using any usb hubs? If so remove them and plug the printer directly into the system.

If you run lsusb -v, is the printer detected? If not, there may be a hardware or usb subsystem problem.

Network

Does the network have the correct snmp ports open? port 161 (udp and tcp), port 162 (udp and tcp) and port 9100 (udp and tcp) need to be open for HPLIP to function correctly.

Can you ping the printer?

If you run hp-makeuri <printer.ip.address.here> you should get an output similar to:

    CUPS URI: hp:/net/Photosmart_3300_series?ip=192.168.1.12
    SANE URI: hpaio:/net/Photosmart_3300_series?ip=192.168.1.12
    HP Fax URI: hpfax:/net/Photosmart_3300_series?ip=192.168.1.12

If you do not get a response after running "hp-makeuri", try running:

    snmpwalk -Os -c public -v 1 xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx 1.3.6.1.4.1.11.2.3.9.1.1.7.0

Where xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx is the correct IP address of the printer.

The output should be similiar to the following:

    enterprises.11.2.3.9.1.1.7.0 = STRING: "MFG:Hewlett-Packard;CMD:PJL,MLC,BIDI-ECP,PCL,POSTSCRIPT,PCLXL;MDL:hp LaserJet                         3380;CLS:PRINTER;DES:Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 3380;MEM:23MB;COMMENT:RES=1200x1;"

If it does not there may be an snmp problem on your system and/or network.

Parallel

Was HPLIP installed with parallel support? Run hp-check -t and look in the for the following output:

    # Following values are determined at configure time and cannot be changed.
    [configure]
    network-build=yes
    pp-build=no
    gui-build=yes
    scanner-build=yes
    fax-build=yes
    dbus-build=yes
    cups11-build=no
    doc-build=yes
    shadow-build=no
    foomatic-drv-install=yes
    foomatic-ppd-install=no
    foomatic-rip-hplip-install=yes
    internal-tag=2.8.5.23

Find the section:

    pp-build=no

This should be "pp-build=yes".

Is the ppdev module loaded?

Look for the output results from the hp-check -t for the following:

    Checking for dependency: ppdev - Parallel port support kernel module....
    OK, found.

If you are missing the ppdev module you can try running:

    modprobe ppdev

Is your parallel port set to ECP mode in the BIOS?

If you run /usr/lib/cups/backend/hp do you should get an output similar to the following:

    direct hp:/par/HP_LaserJet?serial=00XXXXXXXXXX "HP LaserJet" "HP LaserJet PAR 00XXXXXXXXXX HPLIP" "MFG:HP;MDL:HP                         LaserJet ;CLS:PRINTER;DES:HP LaserJet ;SN:00XXXXXXXXXX;"

If the /usr/lib/cups/backend/hp does not detect the printer, HPLIP will not function.

Functionality Problems (print, scan, fax)

Is the printer on-line and not in an error state?

If you run hp-check -t, are there any problems reported?

In the "hp-check -t", verify that the printer is configured:

Verify in the section DISCOVERED USB DEVICES that the printer is displayed.

Verify in the section INSTALLED CUPS PRINTER QUEUES that the printer queue is displayed.

Verify on the line PPD: that the ppd file matches the printer model.

Example:

    --------------------------
    | DISCOVERED USB DEVICES |
    --------------------------

    No devices found.

    ---------------------------------
    | INSTALLED CUPS PRINTER QUEUES |
    ---------------------------------

    Photosmart_3300
    ---------------
    Type: Printer
    Installed in HPLIP?: Yes, using the hp: CUPS backend.
    Device URI: hp:/net/Photosmart_3300_series?ip=15.252.39.136
    PPD: /etc/cups/ppd/Photosmart_3300.ppd
    PPD Description: HP PhotoSmart 3300 Foomatic/hpijs, hpijs 2.8.2.10 - HPLIP 2.8.2
    Printer status: printer Photosmart_3300 is idle. enabled since Tue 27 May 2008 01:58:02 PM PDT
    Communication status: Good

Are you able to print from any application?

View the syslog and try to print do you see any errors?

Run:
            tail -f /var/log/messages

The possible errors presented in the "messages" log can be varied. You may need to reference your Linux distribution documentation for more information.

View the cups log and try to print do you see any errors?

To view the cups log:
Edit the file /etc/cups/cupsd.conf to change the loglevel to debug, then restart cups /etc/init.d/cups restart (or the command may be /etc/init.d/cupsys restart depending on your system configuration).

Scan

Is the printer on-line and not in an error state?

If you run hp-check -t are there any problems?

Within the "hp-check -t" output, verify that the sane is configured correctly in the SANE CONFIGURATION section. Here is an example of what you should see after running hp-check -t:

    'hpaio' in '/etc/sane.d/dll.conf'...
    OK, found. SANE backend 'hpaio' is properly set up.

    Checking output of 'scanimage -L'...

    No scanners were identified. If you were expecting something different,
    check that the scanner is plugged in, turned on and detected by the
    sane-find-scanner tool (if appropriate). Please read the documentation
    which came with this software (README, FAQ, manpages).

If you do not see this or get an error, edit the dll.conf file and add hpaio. If the scanner is not detect using the scanimage be sure that the printer is supported and working correctly.

Fax

Is the printer powered on and not in an error state?

If you run hp-check -t are there any problems?

If you run hp-check -t is there a fax queue installed? You should see output similar to the following after running hp-check -t:

    Photosmart_3300_fax
    -------------------
    Type: Fax
    Installed in HPLIP?: Yes, using the hpfax: CUPS backend.
    Device URI: hpfax:/net/Photosmart_3300_series?ip=15.252.39.136
    PPD: /etc/cups/ppd/Photosmart_3300_fax.ppd
    PPD Description: HP Fax
    Printer status: printer Photosmart_3300_fax is idle. enabled since Thu 22 May 2008 01:32:01 PM PDT
    Communication status: Good

Is the phone line connected to the multifunction printer?

Can you fax a different document? (i.e. ensure that this is not a document-specific problem)

Is the receiving fax machine or device on-line and able to accept faxes?