HP Printer and Print Drivers

[Sundar Nagarajan]

Brian McKee wrote:
> On Tue, Apr 28, 2009 at 1:54 PM, Rick <rick0009 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Well, thought I would ask group, I've just notice, that after installing
>> ubuntu 9.04 that we have cups, foomatic, openprinting, hpijs hplip,
>> Um, can someone explain to me, what is what?,
>> I thought we only needed was cups, and gutenprint-drivers....
>> Yes, we do have a HP C6150 All-in-One, Yes, I want to be able,
>> to use the scanner, and doc-feeder, and print, and print photos...
>> For what I can see, there seems, to be more than one standard?
>> which would be the best for our needs.?
> 
> Let me see here.  Foomatic and open print and gutenprint are used by CUPS.
> hplip replaces hpijs
> 
> The HP stuff is required to get the scanning and HP extra bits and
> chunks like ink levels, faxing etc. working.  It has worked well for
> me when I've used it.
> 
> HTH
> Brian
> 

Check out the wikipedia entry on CUPS:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Unix_Printing_System

Also check out this diagram:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9a/CUPS-block-diagram.svg/200px-CUPS-block-diagram.svg.png

It represents the different "layers" in CUPS printing. The different 
tools are part of different layers.

And scanning is totally separate from CUPS - that is accomplished by 
SANE and it's helpers. Check out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scanner_Access_Now_Easy
http://www.sane-project.org