Local Apps and Network Printing

[M Rathburn]

> > Edubuntu 8.10
> > 
> > I have an environment set up with applications such as Firefox and 
> > Adobe Reader working smoothly running as a local app on 
> diskless thin 
> > clients that PXE boot.  However, I've run into a pickle 
> with network 
> > printing...
> > 
> > Our printers are on the network and use direct socket 
> printing (port 
> > 9100).
> > On the Edubuntu server the printers are configured and 
> working great - 
> > if you're not running a local app (ltsp-localapps).  If 
> you're running 
> > as a localapp, you don't get any printers.  So I installed 
> CUPS into 
> > the thin client chroot, and that actually works also, pending you 
> > don't log out after configuring a printer (via https).
> > 
> > What is the best method for printing to network printers 
> when running 
> > applications as local apps?  Should whatever is in 
> /etc/cups just be 
> > copied over to /opt/ltsp/i386/etc/cups and update the image?  I've 
> > actually tried that, but still don't see the list of 
> printers in the 
> > Printer Dialog Box - I suspect there's some Gnome applet update or 
> > something that needs to be updated (?).
> > 
> > Or, is there an alternative method such as samba shared network 
> > printing or something that could be set up in lts.conf/wherever?
> > 
> > Thanks.
-----------------------------

I'm getting somewhere on this.  On the server I made sure my printers were
set up for sharing on the network.  Then, in the thin client's chroot I
install CUPS and update the image.  Now, when running an application as a
localapp (ie firefox), the printers will auto-discover and show in the list
of printers.  WooHoo!

Still running into an issue with Acrobat Reader 8 running as a localapp and
printing.  Even though the printers will show in the list of printers in the
print dialog, it comes up with an error saying it can't print to the printer
because it doesn't exist.  However, printing from Evince is working (except
graphics don't print - that's an Evince issue).