Volatile Yard 挥洒自如 Write anything I want to write...

Update (14-Oct-10): Updated for Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat
Update (11-Jul-10): Modified to reflect the updated URL of the repository
Update (30-Apr-10): Updated for Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx
Update (05-Nov-09): Complete rewrite for Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala
Update (25-Apr-09): Updated for Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope and Samsung Unified Driver version 3.xx
Update (08-Nov-08): Updated for Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex
Update (30-Apr-08): Improved the workaround with hal-cups-utils
Update (28-Apr-08): Updated for Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron
Update (23-Oct-07): Updated for Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon

NOTE: The instructions here are for Ubuntu 9.10 onwards. For setting up this printer with older Ubuntu, go to this page.

1. Installation

A few important points with the approach here:

• Some Xerox printers are Samsung OEM. This printer looks like a clone of Samsung SCX-4521F [www.samsung.com]. Treat this printer like the latter whenever possible.
• Use CUPS for the printer.
• Use the Samsung Unified Linux Driver for the scanner.

Step 1: Setup the Repository for Samsung Unified Linux Driver

No free or open-source alternatives are available to make full use of this multifunction printer yet. You will see later that we need the Samsung Unified Linux Driver mainly for supporting the scanner.

1. Add the following repository:
   

   deb http://www.bchemnet.com/suldr/ debian extra
   

   You can do this with Synaptic Package Manager, Software Sources, etc.

2. Install the GPG key, from http://www.bchemnet.com/suldr/suldr.gpg, for the repository. You can do this with Synaptic Package Manager or Software Sources, or paste this line to your terminal:
   

   wget -O - http://www.bchemnet.com/suldr/suldr.gpg | sudo apt-key add -
   

3. Reload / update the repository information.

Step 2: Install the Printer Driver

Here, you can choose to use either one of the following drivers:

• The open-source driver provided by the Splix project. (Check this too: http://www.linuxprinting.org/show_driver.cgi?driver=splix)
• The Samsung unified printer driver. In this case, install the samsungmfp-driver package.

Either of the drivers seems to work fine. I personally do not have any particular recommendation yet until further testing. (For the moment I use the Splix driver.)

1. From the start menu, invoke System -> Administration -> Printing.
2. Use the driver for 'Samsung SCX-4500 Series'. Choose either the Splix or the Samsung driver according to your preference.
3. Check the 'Printer Options' in the 'Printer Properties'. Change the options where appropriate (especially the 'Paper Size').
4. Try to print a test page. It should work!

Step 3: Install the Scanner Driver

1. Install the samsungmfp-scanner package.
2. {SKIP THIS for Ubuntu since 10.04. But tell me if you found that this step is necessary for the scanner to work.} Add users you allow to access the scanner into the lp group. You can use System -> Users and Groups from the start menu to do this, or use the adduser command.
3. Reboot the computer. (Restarting some service(s) should do the trick too. But I haven't figured out which one. Tell me if you've found it.)
4. Now Graphics -> Simple Scan or xsane should be able to detect and use the scanner! You can use sane-find-scanner or scanimage -L to detect the scanner too.

2. Some Technical Details

Splix is included in Ubuntu since 9.10. So it is now possible to use the printing feature of the printer out-of-box (without using the Samsung unified printer driver.)

For very complete and detailed instructions including various approaches for setting up Samsung printers, please refer to http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=341621 and http://www.bchemnet.com/suldr/.