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Printing Options
Get Printer Information 
Set up LPD

Printing Options

This document describes how to set up LPD printing under Mac OS X 10.5 and Mac OS X 10.6, so that you can print to printers within your own building and to printers connected to MITnet at other campus locations. These instructions assume the printer has been set up on MITnet. (The screenshots below show windows and dialog boxes from Mac OS X 10.6; corresponding windows in Mac OS X 10.5 will display the same information.)

LPD/IP printing is the recommended method for printers on MITnet. To print only within your building with Mac OS X 10.5, you may also try AppleTalk. For instructions on setting up AppleTalk printing, in the Macintosh Finder Help menu, open Mac Help and search for Adding a network printer. AppleTalk is not supported in 10.6.

Get Printer Information

Before setting up LPD printing as described below, you first need to determine the hostname of the printer and two related settings for the printer and its companion print server name. For instructions on how to do this, see: Mac OS X: Print Server Information

Printer Drivers/Software
Mac OS X includes printer drivers/software and PostScript Printer Description (PPD) files for many printers; see the Apple Support page:
Mac OS X 10.5: Included printer drivers
Mac OS X v10.6: Printer and scanner software

If your printer model does not appear in the list on the Apple Support page, or in the search at step 8 (below), you will need to install the correct printer driver/software from the CD that shipped with the printer, or download the driver from the manufacturer's web site.

Set up LPD

Set up LPD printing as described below.

1. Under the Apple menu, open System Preferences and click Print & Fax.
   Result: The Print & Fax window opens.
   Note: If the padlock in the lower-left corner is closed, click it and enter the Macintosh administrator name and password.
   
2. To add a printer, click the + (plus) sign.
   Result: The setup window opens.
   
3. In the setup window, if not already selected, click the IP button in the bar at the top.
4. In the Protocol field, if not selected by default, select Line Printer Daemon - LPD from the drop-down menu.
5. In the Address field, type the Spool host name of the printer from the Print Server Information (see above).
   Result: If the printer is found, the setup will state "Valid and complete address."
6. In the Queue field, type the Remote Printer Name from the Print Server Information.
7. From the Print Using drop-down menu:
   in 10.5, select Select a driver to use
   in 10.6, select Select printer software
   Result: A search box and scroll list should appear.
8. In the search box, enter the make or model number of the target printer (you may need to look at the printer itself or print a test page from it).
9. Select the printer model from the result list.
   Result: The completed setup window will look similar to the following.
   
10. Click Add.
11. After clicking Add in step #10, a window of Installable Options for the specified printer may be displayed. Check these as appropriate for the printer, especially if it will print Duplex, then click Continue.
    
    Result: The printer, under it's Spool host name, will be added to the Printer List in the Print & Fax window.
    
12. You may add other printers by clicking the + (plus) sign in the Print & Fax window, or quit System Preferences.

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