Zebra Software Note

ApplicationNote:

ZSN108111v2

Date:

June8,2011

Product(s)Affected:

ZebraprintersusingCPCL,EPLandZPLcommandlanguages.

Task:

InstallingtheCUPSZebraprinterdriveronaLinux/UnixorMacOSXoperating
system.

Overview.

Zebra does not provide a driver for use on Linux/Unix or Mac OS X operating systems but instead
suggeststheuseoftheCommonUnixPrintingSystem(CUPS)driver.

This document describes how to use CUPS to print to Zebra printers on a Linux/Unix or Mac OS X
operatingsystem.TheCUPSdriverswithZebraprintersupportareincludedinsomeLinuxdistributions
andMacOSX10.6SnowLeopard.

Zebrastechnicalsupportstaffcanprovidelimitedassistancewiththefollowingactionsrelatedtothe
1.4andlaterversionsofCUPS:
DownloadingtheCUPSdriver.
InstallingaCUPSZebraprinterdriver.
ConfiguringtheCUPSZebraprinterdriver.
PrintingatestpagetoaZebraprinter.

ZebrasupportsCUPSonthefollowingplatforms:
RedHat
SUSE
Ubuntu
MACOSX(SnowLeopard)

Support is limited to general inquiries relating to the above operating systems and providing existing
documentation for the actions described above. Zebra support representatives are not available to
providestepbystepinstallationviathetelephone.Inordertoprovidesolutions,anyinquiriesorissues
shouldbereproducibleinoursupportlab.
Clickhereandsearchourknowledgebaseforadditionalinformationoneachoftheabovelistedactions.
For further information, support above and beyond what Zebra provides and latest versions of CUPS,
visitwww.cups.org

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Procedure
ThisproceduredescribeshowtoinstallaCUPSdriverandconfigurethesettings.
TheexamplesarebasedonCUPSv1.4.4.

1. Openawebbrowser(typicallySafariforMacOSXorFireFoxforLinux)andenter
http://localhost:631intheaddressbartoaccesstheCUPSconfigurationwebpage.

2. FromtheHomepageselectAddingPrintersandClasses.

3. UnderPrinters,selectAddPrinter(Classesareawayofgroupingsimilarprintersifyoudesire).The
systemwillsearchforprinters.

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4. CUPSwillcompleteasearchforprintersanddisplayalistofdiscoveredprintersandportsunderthe
followingcategories:

Localprinters

DiscoveredNetworkPrinters

Othernetworkprinters

Anexampleisshownbelow.Thelistofportsandprinterswillvarydependingonyoursystem.

5. Networkconnectedprinters.
5.1. Foranetworkconnectedprinter,selectAppSocket/HPJetDirectandclickcontinue.
5.2. Whenpromptedtoenterconnectioninformation,entertheprintersIPaddressandport
numberinthisformat:socket://<ipaddress>:<port>.
ThedefaultportforZebraDesktopandTabletopprintersis9100.
ThedefaultportforZebraMobileprintersis6101.
Example:
socket://10.3.9.55:9100

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5.3. Clickcontinue.EnterName,DescriptionandLocationinformationfortheprinter.Checkthe
Sharethisprinteroptioniftheprinteristobeshared.Clickcontinue.

5.4. Selectthemakeofprinter.ScrollthroughthelistandselectZebraandclickcontinue.IfZebra
doesnotappearinthelistofprintermanufacturers,itmaybenecessarytoperformasystem

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updatethatincludesanupdatetotheCUPSdriver.ZebradoesnotprovidesupportwhenaPPD
fileisusedtoaddaprinter.

5.5. TheCUPSdriverdoesnotprovideafulllistofZebraprintermodels.Instead,selectthe
commandlanguageusedbytheprinterfromCPCL,EPL1,EPL2orZPLandclickAddPrinter.

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5.6. Continuetostep8fordetailsonconfiguringthedefaultprinteroptions.

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6. USBconnectedprinters.

6.1. Withtheprinterconnectedandpoweredon,theprinterwillbedetectedandlistedunderLocal
Printers.Selecttheprinterandclickcontinue.

6.2. Iftheprinterisconnectedandturnedonafterthesearchhascompleted,afoundnewprinter
dialogboxwillappearandyouwillbeaskedtochooseadriverfromadatabase.

6.3. ChoosetheSelectprinterfromdatabaseoptionandselectZebrafromthelistofprinter
manufacturers.IfZebradoesnotappearinthelistofprintermanufacturers,itmaybe
necessarytoperformasystemupdatethatincludesanupdatetotheCUPSdriver.Clickthe
forwardornextbutton.

6.4. TheCUPSdriverdoesnotprovideafulllistofZebraprintermodels.Instead,selectthe
commandlanguageusedbytheprinterfromCPCL,EPL1,EPL2orZPLandclickAddPrinter.

6.5. EnterPrinterName,DescriptionandLocationinformationfortheprinter.Thenameand
descriptionboxeswillbeprepopulatedbythePnPinformationandcanbechangedifdesired.
ClickApply.

6.6. Atestpagedialogwillbedisplayed.Printatestpageifrequired.

6.7. Continuetostep8fordetailsonconfiguringthedefaultprinteroptions.

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7. ParallelandSerialconnectedprinters.

7.1. AfterclickingAddPrinterfromthemainAdministrationpage,theAddPrinterpagewillshow
availablecommunicationportsincludingSerialandParallelportsasshownintheexample
below.Iftheprinteristobeconnectedtoeitheraparallelorserialport,selecttheappropriate
portandcontinuetheinstallation.

7.2. EnteraName,DescriptionandLocationfortheprinterandthenclickcontinue.

7.3. Selectthemakeofprinter.ScrollthroughthelistandselectZebraandclickcontinue.IfZebra
doesnotappearinthelistofprintermanufacturers,itmaybenecessarytoperformasystem
updatethatincludesanupdatetotheCUPSdriver.ZebradoesnotprovidesupportwhenaPPD
fileisusedtoaddaprinter.

7.4. TheCUPSdriverdoesnotprovideafulllistofZebraprintermodels.Instead,selectthe
commandlanguageusedbytheprinterfromCPCL,EPL1,EPL2orZPLandclickAddPrinter.

7.5. Continuetostep8fordetailsonconfiguringthedefaultprinteroptions.

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8. Setthedefaultprinteroptions.

8.1. AfteraddingaprintertheSetDefaultOptionspagewillbedisplayed.Thedifferentoptionsfor
CPCL,EPL1,EPL2andZPLarelistedbelow.

8.2. Atanytime,thedefaultprinteroptionscanbechanged.Todothis,gototheCUPSHomepage
andselectAddingPrintersandClasses.UnderPrinters,clickthemanageprintersbutton.

8.2.1.Clicktheprinteryouwishtoconfigure.

8.2.2.FromtheAdministrationdropdownlist,selectSetDefaultOptions.

8.3. ForZPLPrinters,thefollowingoptionsareavailabletoconfigureundertheGeneralcategory.

8.3.1.Mediasize
8.3.1.1.
Selectthemediasizefromthedropdownlist.

8.3.2.Resolution
8.3.2.1.
Selecttheprinterresolutionfromthedropdownlist.

8.3.3.MediaTracking
8.3.3.1.
Selectthemediatrackingtypefromthedropdownlist.

8.3.4.MediaType
8.3.4.1.
Selectthemediatypefromthedropdownlist.
8.3.4.2.
SelectingthePrinterDefaultoptionwillresultinnomediatypecommandbeing
senttotheprinter.Thecurrentprintersettingwillbeused.

8.4. ForEPL1Printers,thefollowingoptionsareavailabletoconfigureundertheGeneral
category.

8.4.1.Mediasize
8.4.1.1.
Selectthemediasizefromthedropdownlist.

8.4.2.Resolution
8.4.2.1.
Selecttheprinterresolutionfromthedropdownlist.

8.5. ForEPL2Printers,thefollowingoptionsareavailabletoconfigureundertheGeneral
category.

8.5.1.Mediasize
8.5.1.1.
Selectthemediasizefromthedropdownlist.

8.5.2.Resolution

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8.5.2.1.
Selecttheprinterresolutionfromthedropdownlist.

8.5.3.MediaType
8.5.3.1.
Selectthemediatypefromthedropdownlist.
8.5.3.2.
SelectingthePrinterDefaultoptionwillresultinnomediatypecommandbeing
senttotheprinter.Thecurrentprintersettingwillbeused.

8.6. ForCPCLPrinters,thefollowingoptionsareavailabletoconfigureundertheGeneral
category.

8.6.1.Mediasize
8.6.1.1.
Selectthemediasizefromthedropdownlist.

8.6.2.Resolution
8.6.2.1.
Selecttheprinterresolutionfromthedropdownlist.

8.6.3.MediaTracking
8.6.3.1.
Selectthemediatrackingtypefromthedropdownlist.

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