Fedora Linux offers robust support for a wide range of printers and scanners, including those manufactured by HP․ Setting up a networked HP printer or scanner on Fedora can seem daunting at first, but with the right steps and a little patience, it’s a straightforward process․ This guide will walk you through the necessary steps to successfully install and configure your HP networked printer and scanner, ensuring seamless printing and scanning capabilities within your Fedora environment․ We will explore different methods and troubleshoot common issues to help you get your devices up and running quickly․

Discovering and Installing your HP Printer using CUPS

CUPS (Common UNIX Printing System) is the printing system used by Fedora․ It provides a web-based interface for managing printers․ Here’s how to use it to install your HP printer:

1. Open your web browser and navigate to http://localhost:631․ This is the CUPS web interface․
2. If prompted for authentication, you’ll need to enter your Fedora username and password․ Make sure you’re a member of the lpadmin group․ You might need to add yourself to this group using the command: sudo usermod -a -G lpadmin $USER and then log out and back in․
3. Click on the “Administration” tab․
4. Click on “Add Printer”․ CUPS will scan your network for available printers․
5. Select your HP printer from the list of discovered devices․ If your printer isn’t automatically detected, you might need to manually enter its IP address or hostname․
6. Follow the on-screen prompts to install the appropriate driver․ CUPS usually provides a list of recommended drivers․ Choose the one that best matches your printer model․
7. Give your printer a name and description․ This will help you identify it later․
8. Click “Add Printer”․
9. Set default options for the printer, such as paper size and orientation․

Installing HP Drivers using the Command Line

The hp-setup utility, part of the hplip package, is a powerful tool for installing and configuring HP printers and scanners․ Here’s how to use it from the command line:

1. Open a terminal․
2. Install the hplip package if it’s not already installed․ Use the command: sudo dnf install hplip
3. Run the hp-setup command: sudo hp-setup․
4. Follow the on-screen prompts․ The utility will guide you through the process of selecting your printer and installing the necessary drivers․ It will also ask about connection type (USB, Network, etc․)․
5. For networked printers, you will likely need to provide the printer’s IP address․

Troubleshooting Common HP Printer and Scanner Issues on Fedora

Sometimes, things don’t go as smoothly as planned․ Here are some common issues and their solutions:

Printer Not Detected

• Check network connectivity: Ensure your printer and computer are on the same network and can communicate with each other․ Try pinging the printer’s IP address from your terminal․
• Firewall settings: Ensure your firewall isn’t blocking communication with the printer․ You might need to open ports related to printing (e․g․, port 631 for CUPS)․
• Driver issues: Make sure you have the correct driver installed․ Try reinstalling the driver using hp-setup․

Scanner Not Working

• Install the hplip-gui package: This package provides a graphical interface for managing HP printers and scanners․ Use the command: sudo dnf install hplip-gui
• Run hp-scan: This command launches the HP scanning utility․ You may need to run it with root privileges (sudo hp-scan)․
• Check permissions: Ensure your user account has the necessary permissions to access the scanner․ You might need to add yourself to the scanner group․ Use the command: sudo usermod -a -G scanner $USER and then log out and back in․

Printing Garbled Output

• Incorrect driver: Ensure you have the correct driver installed for your printer model․ Try a different driver from the CUPS interface․
• Printer language settings: Verify that the printer’s language settings are compatible with your system․

Verifying Installation and Testing Functionality

After installation, it’s crucial to verify that your HP printer and scanner are working correctly․ Print a test page from CUPS or your application․ For the scanner, use a scanning application like Simple Scan or XSane to test scanning functionality․ If everything works as expected, congratulations! You have successfully installed your HP networked printer and scanner on Fedora Linux․

Remember to consult the HP Linux Imaging and Printing (HPLIP) website for the latest drivers and troubleshooting information․ The HPLIP project provides excellent support for HP printers and scanners on Linux systems․ By following these steps and utilizing the available resources, you can ensure a smooth and successful installation experience․ Enjoy your newly installed printer and scanner!