Bug 540721

Summary:	HP setup and other utils don't prompt for root pw when needed
Product:	[Fedora] Fedora	Reporter:	Ed Greshko <ed.greshko>
Component:	hplip	Assignee:	Tim Waugh <twaugh>
Status:	CLOSED UPSTREAM	QA Contact:	Fedora Extras Quality Assurance <extras-qa>
Severity:	medium	Docs Contact:
Priority:	low
Version:	12	CC:	jpopelka, twaugh
Target Milestone:	---
Target Release:	---
Hardware:	All
OS:	Linux
Whiteboard:
Fixed In Version:		Doc Type:	Bug Fix
Doc Text:		Story Points:	---
Clone Of:		Environment:
Last Closed:	2010-04-21 11:54:23 UTC	Type:	---
Regression:	---	Mount Type:	---
Documentation:	---	CRM:
Verified Versions:		Category:	---
oVirt Team:	---	RHEL 7.3 requirements from Atomic Host:
Cloudforms Team:	---	Target Upstream Version:
Embargoed:

Description Ed Greshko 2009-11-24 00:28:06 UTC

Description of problem: The functions that require root privileges to function (add printer, delete printer, etc) don't prompt for the root password when run under a user's account.  The action, such as delete printer, will fail silently.


Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable):


How reproducible:


Steps to Reproduce:
1. Start hp-toolbox
2. Attempt to add printer
3. 
  
Actual results: Application appears to attempts to add printer but fails without giving adequate information


Expected results: Application should know it needs root privileges and prompt for it when needed.


Additional info: Could this be what bug 53852 really is?

Comment 1 Ed Greshko 2009-11-24 00:34:02 UTC

The bugid referenced in Additional Info should have read bug 538352

Comment 2 Tim Waugh 2010-04-21 11:30:32 UTC

Is there any reason you can't use system-config-printer (System->Administration->Printing) to configure your printer queues?

Comment 3 Ed Greshko 2010-04-21 11:37:48 UTC

(In reply to comment #2)
> Is there any reason you can't use system-config-printer
> (System->Administration->Printing) to configure your printer queues?    

Of course there is no reason.  However, if a utility is available that has the option to add printers, delete printers, etc. it should work.  Don't you think?

So, system-config-printer is "not broken" but the hp-toolbox utilities are broken.  

I hope you're not saying that since system-config-printer works then it is OK that the hp-toolbox stuff is broken is fine.

Comment 4 Tim Waugh 2010-04-21 11:54:23 UTC

I think that HPLIP shipping loads of HP-specific tools that duplicate functions already present in other software we ship is the wrong approach.

It isn't my goal to have a different printer set-up program for every different manufacturer's printers, but instead to have a single solution that works well for everyone.

Reported upstream.

Comment 5 Ed Greshko 2010-04-21 12:04:49 UTC

If that is the position of the fedora project, then HPLIP should be removed from the distribution.  However, I would hope that the tools that are provided can be as inclusive as the HPLIP utilities.  For an HP printer it is a one stop area to check the status of the printer's ink levels, start scanning, print test pages, align cartridges, etc.

Comment 6 Tim Waugh 2010-04-21 12:19:02 UTC

system-config-printer allows ink levels to be checked -- but HPLIP does not use the standard CUPS mechanism of allowing this.  Needs to be fixed in HPLIP.

system-config-printer allows test pages to be printed, including self-test pages.  This is all part of the standard CUPS-COMMAND mechanism.  HPLIP doesn't use it but should.

Similarly for aligning/cleaning cartridges: this should be done as a CUPS-COMMAND file.  HPLIP doesn't use it but should.  system-config-printer already supports this.

The point I am making is that there are already lots of ways that HPLIP could stop being its own special case and play along with how all the various drivers are supposed to operate.

As for HPLIP being removed from the distribution, the hpcups driver is the most useful part, followed by the hp backend.  Until HPLIP starts joining in and using the existing mechanisms for reporting supply levels and performing maintenance operations, it looks like we'll still have to ship the rest of it.