[SOLVED] install HP LaserJet Pro M12a with Debian Mate 9.5

[rudar]

Three days ago I committed an unpardonable error and broke down my Debian system. So, never again sit before your PC when you lose someone close to you

Anyway, I made a fresh installation of Debian 9.5, with Mate as DE. While I'm still recovering after my personal loss, I seem unable to think clearly and I desperately need your help, people. I admit it makes me feel rather ashamed of myself , but I see no other way out in my present condition...

So, just before this tragedy happened, I bought a new printer, HP LaserJet Pro M12a. While I was still a happy user of Debian 9.4, I managed to make it work with http://foo2zjs.rkkda.com/

Unfortunately, I cannot make my printer work again. I've passed all the steps described on the link above, but I stuck when I get to that web-site. The approach is forbidden, as I get a clear message when I try to write down my user name and my root password. And I don't understand why do I need this web approach at all, because I am the only user of this printer and it's connected with my PC through the USB.

Since I know I managed somehow to install it before, while I was having 9.4, I can't figure out what did go wrong and what do I miss. I am familiar with this topic viewtopic.php?f=7&t=136965&p=669461&hilit=laserjet+pro#p669461 but it did not work for me, as I can't see any settings/print settings. I also downloaded HPlip and HPlip GUI, but it's useless. It does not see the printer, which is connected through the USB port.

Well, before I hang myself (which appears as a better solution, than to throw away this useless piece of garbage called HP LaserJet), I am making this final attempt to ask for your help.

[arochester]

https://dflinux.frama.io/thebeginnersha ... ur-printer ?

Scroll down to "Simplified graphical method with system-config-printer"

[rudar]

I apologise if I'm missing something; I must be already half-crazy, but I did install HPlip GUI and it did not find my printer. Nothing at all. What is the difference with this option? I must be missing some driver; this driver should be available at the link I mentioned before, but it does not work with my fresh installation of Debian 9.5, DE Mate, while it did work with the previous version, Debian 9.4.

[shep]

This is a complex printer that uses a printing protocol supported by HPLIP or foo2zjs. It also requires firmware that needs to be uploaded to the printer each time it is powered up.
See http://foo2zjs.rkkda.com/

[rudar]

As I said in my first post, I know for the link you mention, but I got stuck at that web page. It said the approach was forbidden, I could not go any further after giving my user name and my password. The entrance was forbidden.

I did try to install the driver from that link (the option number 2 you mention), but I failed when I got to the 631 and had to register my printer on line.

[rudar]

If I add HPlip from the Backport, would it bring some success?

[shep]

Sorry, I edited my post while you were writing your F/U.
It sounds like your are having issues getting the latest foo2zjs code from upstream. One work around is to go to Debian's package site for foo2zjs
- they have archived the original source.
https://packages.debian.org/sid/printer-driver-foo2zjs

[shep]

If I add HPlip from the Backport, would it bring some success?

That is another (more bloated) approach that should work.

I also just tested

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wget -O foo2zjs.tar.gz http://foo2zjs.rkkda.com/foo2zjs.tar.gz

and was able to download the latest source code.

Are you having problems with the ./getweb shell script, which downloads the firmware? You can work around this by looking at the contents of the shell script - it should specify the download site. The script should also tell you where the firmware is to be written (/lib/firmware/xxx). Or to do something dangerous and run ./getweb as root.

[rudar]

So I tried to install the driver you gave me from Debian Sid, but it turned out:

Error. Dependency is not satisfiable: printer-driver-foo2zjs-common (above or equal 20171202dfsg0-1)

As far as this

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wget -O foo2zjs.tar.gz http://foo2zjs.rkkda.com/foo2zjs.tar.g

is concerned, I can also download it easily and everything goes well until I have to go to http://631. I cannot register my printer there, although I give my username and my root password (everything according to instructions). It says that access is forbidden,

When I managed to put this drive to work few weeks ago, With Debian Mate 9.4, I did not have to go to that web page, with Cups 631.

[shep]

http://localhost:631 is a web gui that is provided by the cups package. https://localhost:631 is also valid but slower the first time it is implemented. To verify, cups needs to be installed and started by systemd. This should happen automatically with cups installation. If not, try rebooting. If that fails, I would trouble shoot the systemd cups service. Note that the service has been renamed recently.

[rudar]

I am sorry, it seems I did not send the last message I wrote. My head is in deep mess...

Anyway, you did the trick, it works perfectly! So, I first installed system-config-printer by

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sudo apt-get install system-config-printer

It's funny this little device does not exist by default in Mate DE, while it apparently exists in Gnome. So, if Mate developers read these lines, I'd like to ask them to add it to further versions. It may save some trouble to other users...

As soon as I did it, my printer was recognised. Just enter the root password and here it is. I printed the test page, and, among other less relevant information, I got also this:

Driver: FOO2ZJS-.PPD
Driver Version: 1.1
Make and Model: HP LaserJet Pro M12a Foomatic/foo2zjs-z2 (recommended)
Printer: HP-HP-LaserJet-Pro-M12a

After this, I printed another page from a document, at my random choice, and it went perfectly well. My thanks goes to @arochester and @shep. You have saved one (un)worthy life. Thank you, fellows There may be some problem with subsequent versions of Stretch (9.6, 9.7 etc), but I will be more confident in the future. So, in brief, HPLIP was useless here, while foo2zjs is THE driver we need. Cheers!