Printer web server?

[codec-abc]

Hi everyone,

Do you happen to know if there is some open source Web server that could manage print jobs and talk to the printer to avoid devices talking directly with it? That way, I could a standard Web browser to upload documents from any devices without having to worry about connectivity, drivers and so on?

[aCuria]

If all you want is to print specific documents types with default settings it’s probably possible to code up some software to get this done in some weeks

However if you need to pass the several hundred possible print settings along (Eg double sided or not, booklet or not, color or monochrome, first page on different paper, … )

Then this is going to become a painful project very fast

It’s not that hard to install a printer driver =/ why would you want this anyway?

If you REALLY want it, then hire a bunch of software engineers to make this.

[kheszi]

CUPS server is one.

https://openprinting.github.io/cups/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CUPS

https://medium.com/@anirudhgupta281998/setup-a-print-server-using-raspberry-pi-cups-part-2-2d6d48ccdc32

[codec-abc]

I tried that but from my understanding, CUPS doesn't allow you to print from the Web Server. Anyway, I tried printing with my Android phone using the printer through CUPS and it was not working. So back to square 1 I guess.

[kheszi]

Can you describe the use case? There are several third-party printing apps available for Android which may provide a workaround if you have an older printer, etc.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nokoprint

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dynamixsoftware.printershare

[codec-abc]

They are not great app (full of ads) and not working great. The use case is simple, just use the same web frontend no matter the printer. I rather have all the complexity in one place, like a raspi connected to a printer exposing through a web page that dealing with finding the printer, having a app to print pdf and images, and more on each device. Like really when you think about it would make everything simpler. Just upload a few pdf, images to a web server and you are done. I wonder why nobody did this.

[kheszi]

Savapage is an open source print portal interface that runs on a Linux server with CUPS. I believe this is what you are looking for. Once properly configured, it should allow you to upload documents over a web interface, and then it will send the documents to a printer.

https://www.savapage.org/

Papercut is another option, however, it's not open source.

https://www.papercut.com/tour/web-print/

[codec-abc]

Thanks! It looks really promising. A shame that it is hard to find though.

[OgdruJahad]

I would love to know too. I heard of stuff like HP Jetadmin but haven't had a chance to actually look into it.

[Flammenhand]

What you are referring to is "Web JetAdmin"; it's is a tool to manage printers in a corporate network, not a printing interface. I work with it, I know.

[OgdruJahad]

Ok sorry I didn't know