Printing on NSLU2 Unslung

Using a Linksys NSLU2, I've got it unslung using v6.10.

Originally I got the NSLU2 because it seemed like a good, cheap way of getting a big networked data drive on my home network.
I quickly realized that the factory firmware from Linux was rather limited.

You get A LOT more functionality when you use Unslung.

The real bonus was that I was also going to get a home print server AND a more powerful shared network drive.

I started by carefully following the instructions to get the NSLU2 working with Unslung.
I chose to use a 250GB external USB drive connected to Port 1 for my Unslung install.
Once Unslung was installed, I was able to use the drive as an networked storage device.

The next step was to install CUPS and get the NSLU2 working as a print server.
I have an HP Photosmart 7350 that I wanted to use with the NSLU2.
All the instructions to add CUPS are available here.

The actual CUPS installation when pretty smoothly - according to plan.

However, I got stuck once CUPS was installed, trying to get the printer to do anything.
I connected the usb cable to port 2. The port 2 light on the NSLU2 never lights up.
The CUPS instructions say that you should "just try printing" once you get CUPS installed.
I did this by trying to click the "Print Test Page" button for the default hp990c printer.
I got garbage out on my page.

DON'T TRY CHANGING ANY SETTINGS ON THE NSLU2 AT THIS POINT.

• I tried permissions changes, more software installs on the NSLU2... totally wrong approach.
• Just leave the base CUPS install and config alone.
  

The hp990c should be setup as a RAW printer in CUPS on the NSLU2 at this point. If it isn't (because you messed with it) - click "modifiy printer" and change the driver to RAW.


From either a Mac or Windows machine on your network you now setup an Internet Printer.
Windows

1. Add Printer
2. Networked Printer
3. URL - the address should be the entire link to the CUPS address on your NSLU2
• http://192.168.0.110:631/printers/hp990c
• make sure to include the "http://"
• also make sure to include the port ":631"
4. When prompted, select the print driver that matches your printer
• In my case for the Photosmart 7350 I had to click "Have Disk"
• This also required having ALREADY INSTALLED the printer as a local usb connected printer so that the drivers were installed by the HP software in the directory c:\program files\HP Photosmart 11\enu\drivers
5. Finish the Add Printer install and give it a try by printing a test page!

Mac

1. DO NOT USE THE SYSTEM PREFERENCES PANEL TO DO THIS
2. Open a web browser and go to http://localhost:631/admin
• This is the local admin control panel for the CUPS system that is built in to your Mac
3. Use the Add Printer wizard
4. Install using Internet Printing (HTTP)
5. when you're asked for the printer location, use the entire CUPS address on your NSLU2
• http://192.168.0.110:631/printers/hp990c
• make sure to include the "http://"
• also make sure to include the port ":631"
6. Finish the wizard and give it a try by clicking "print test page"
   

Desktop.ini hidden file attribute

This blog posting gets decent traffic, so let me preface everything by saying that if you're dealing with a file named

_desktop.ini

instead of just

desktop.ini

then you likely have a virus.  This posting deals with the scenario where you DO NOT HAVE A VIRUS.

---

I was recently faced with this confusing situation after doing some recent spyware & virus cleanup...

• Two notepad windows would open at startup with desktop.ini files
• ALL of the deskop.ini files on the entire computer were NOT hidden
• The Hidden checkbox on the file properties was unavailable (greyed out)

You can fix the notepad startup problem by simply deleting the desktop.ini files that have landed in the startup directories.
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=330132

The hidden attribute in the file properities is greyed out because desktop.ini is a "system" file.
So, you need to remove the system file attribute, then add the hidden file attribute. Here's what to do:

1. Open a command prompt (Start -> Run - "cmd")
   
   
2. Switch to the root of your C drive

   cd c:\

   
   
3. type

   attrib -s -h desktop.ini /s

   this removes the "system" attribute (-s) and the "hidden" attribute (-h) and does that to all desktop.ini files it finds in all subdirectories (/s)
   
   the hidden attribute is removed to avoid any error messages - we're going to add that attribute back to ALL files next.
   
   
4. now to make all those files hidden, type

   attrib +s +h desktop.ini /s

This essentially restores the file attributes for all desktop.ini file to what they should be.