Connecting CentOS to a Windows Printer

CentOS can access Windows file and printer shares.

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CentOS includes support for networked Windows printers via Samba, an application included with CentOS by default. Samba provides interoperability with Windows file and printer shares. You can add a shared Windows printer on your business network from within CentOS’s included printer configuration tool. The Windows printer will appear as an option in every application’s print dialog, alongside any local printers. You can only add Windows printers if your CentOS Linux system is connected to the same local network as them, or if you’re connected to your business network via a virtual private network, or VPN.

Step 1 Launch the printer configuration tool by clicking the “System” menu on the panel at the top of the screen, pointing to “Administration” and selecting “Printing.” You can also type “system-config-printer” (without quotes) into a terminal window and press “Enter” to launch the tool.

Step 2 Click the “Server” menu at the top of the printer configuration window, point to “New” and select “Printer.”

Step 3 Type the system's root account password into the Authenticate dialog box that appears and press “Enter.”

Step 4 Expand the “Network Printer” category in the Select Device list and select “Windows Printer via SAMBA” in the list.

Step 5 Type the printer’s address into the box at the top of the window. For example, if the printer is shared by a computer named “computer” and the printer share’s name is "printer," type "computer/printer" (without quotes) into the box. You can also click the “Browse” button to browse for a printer available on the network.

Step 6 Select the “Prompt User if Authentication is Required” option to have CentOS prompt for a password when a user prints a document. Alternatively, select “Set Authentication Details Now” to save the required username and password combination. Type the username and password required by the Windows printer share into the appropriate boxes. The username and password will be stored in the CentOS system.

Step 7 Click “Verify” to connect to the printer and verify your details.

Step 8 Click the “Forward” button to continue.

Step 9 Select the printer’s make, model and driver from the lists on the subsequent screens.

Step 10  Enter a name for the printer in the “Printer Name” box on the Describe Printer screen and click the “Apply” button to save the printer’s details