From Bugzilla Helper: User-Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 5.5; Windows 95) Description of problem: I have been unable to configure my usb HP812C using printconf in Redhat 7.2. This is an upgraded 7.1 installation where this printer worked correctly. printconf cannot find device /dev/usb/lp0. I entered this device as a custom install but when I try and print the test page (after restarting lpd) nothing happens. As a further test I installed both 7.1 and 7.2 as fresh installs on another PC (two separate partitions). I connected the same printer and once again I can set it up in 7.1 but not in 7.2. It prints the test page correctly in 7.1 but rebooting to 7.2 I was still unable to setup the printer. I am able to print to /dev/lp0 on both local and remote linux printers under 7.2. I can also print to parallel port printers that are smb connected. I have only experienced problems trying to get the usb printer configured. All up2date patches for 7.2 have been applied including the last printconf patch. Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): How reproducible: Always Steps to Reproduce: 1. In X as root select Printer Configuration 2. Select New 3. Only /dev/lp0 is shown 4. Click rescan but still no other devices appear (should see /dev/usb/lp0) 5. Select Custom Install and enter /dev/usb/lp0 6. Complete rest of printer setup 7. Select Apply to restart lpd 8. Select Test and pick a test page to print 9. Window appears saying test page was sent to the printer 10. Nothing at all happens 11. Manually restarting lpd or rebooting gives a warning that there is no such device as /dev/usb/lp0 Actual Results: No test page is printed. The printer is not installed and cannot be used. Expected Results: Should see the test page and be able to use the printer Additional info: All up2date patches have been applied including the last rpm's for printconf and printconf-gui. I need a color printer and cannot get by much longer with only black and white unless I revert back to 7.1. I consider this to be a high priority problem.
The printer is now fixed. It appears that the print module is not being automatically loaded. I re-compiled the kernel turning on usb printing instead of having it loaded as a module. This has corrected the usb printing problem totally.
Reassigning to kernel component.
either kudzu or hotplug should load that component automatically...
I suspect it may be in the Trond's domain, but let me check.
I'm going from memory now but I believe the problem was that there is a choice of one of two different USB adaptors in the kernel config. One has to be selected. Either the config defaulted to the wrong one or no selection was made. The printing problem was resolved when I selected the normal USB adaptor. It really didn't have anything to do with whether it was loaded as a module or compiled inline.
I understand that there may be differences between uhci (CONFIG_USB_UHCI_ALT) and usb-uhci (CONFIG_USB_OHCI). In 90% of cases, usb-uhci works when uhci does not. This is why we ship it. It is possible that the non-default ALT/JE driver works better for you, I have to find out why and fix usb-uhci. Note that Linus personally prefers the ALT/JE driver, so default config for his kernel builds that instead. Anyhow, stock Red Hat 7.2 with updates must work. If it does not, I have to fix it. Make sure that you have got updated kernel (2.4.9-12 is current), initscripts, and hotplug RPMs. Please let me know how it works.
So, did the updates work? By now we were through a couple more kernel erratas. Don't forget other components.
I have now upgraded the system to 7.3 and am using the 2.4.18-4 kernel. However, I still cannot use the stock kernel and get it to work with my HP 812C USB colour printer. In fact, I've tried it on two Dell systems each running the 2.4.18-3 and 2.4.18-4 kernels as shipped by RH and physically moving the printer between the Dell's. On each system I get the same error that the kernel cannot find the printer located on /dev/usb/lp0. To get it to work I have to recompile the kernel making sure to disable the default USB driver choice and select the alternate driver. In fact, when using the stock kernel (without the alternative driver) nothing related to USB is found on either Dell. This I assume would follow since the default USB driver isn't working. If you wish I can move the printer over to an IBM system that's running the stock 2.4.18-4 kernel to see if it works there? However, I assume it will since that system has a working USB mouse and keyboard. Gerry
Please attach dmesg outputs from non-working stock kernel, and from the workaround kernel. Capture them after attempting to work with the printer. DO NOT DROP dmesg dumps into the comments box, please. Also, I would like to see /etc/modules.conf, to check what alias is set for "usb-controller".
Created attachment 60205 [details] Requested modules.conf file
Created attachment 60206 [details] dmesg output from working kernel
I have been trying for the last couple of days to get this bug to reappear. I have no idea why but I can't get it to fail. I have downloaded and installed fresh rpm's of the 2.4.18-4 kernel and source but it still works correctly. I haven't changed anything in the hardware on this system at all. The only change that I've noticed is that the module.conf file now has an alias for the USB controller that I never put there??? In any case, my usb printer is now happily working with the stock kernel and nothing I can do will cause it to fail.
Curious. But all is well that ends well.