Installing the Printer with IP address in Fedora KDE

Whenever you move to a new place, it takes a while to get started at  your workplace. Especially if your favourite OS is linux. It happens to me quite often that whenever I go to a new office, I need to setup OS, printers, softwares, checkout SVN repositories etc.

My favourite flavour is Fedora with KDE. So here are some simple tips if you looking to set up a printer with Fedora KDE. Usually the information you should know is the IP address of the printer and its model number (exact). Mostly the companies' or departments' IT help-desk or personnel have the user guidelines to access the resources from the variety of OS but sometimes they become so selfish to provide information just for Windows and/or Mac. Nonetheless, they can provide you the IP address and the model number.

Go to the "System Setting" and choose "Printers". Now you will see there are some options under Network Printers. I see that in Fedora 18 they have come up with the feature which automatically tries to find the connected printers in the network. At least for me it is not working properly but you may give it a try if it does the job for you. Otherwise, if you have this information that your printer protocol is "IPP" or "LPD/LPR" then choose that option and fill the necessary fields like host -> IP address, "queue" is usually the name/id of the printer on that host. Otherwise, if only the IP address is known, safe option is to go for "AppSocket/HP JetDirect".

In case of "AppSocket/HP JetDirect",

• Enter the IP address. Dont change the automatically filled port number except you know exactly what it is. Usually it is 9100.
• Click on the "Next".
• Here you have to supply the proper driver for your printer. Most of the companies and their printer model drivers are already available in the list. If yours is there select it. For example, mine is HP LaserJet P4015dn. If your printer is HP then go for the one with CUPS. If not then try "yum install hplip" which should bring you all the HP drivers in the system and follow the steps from the beginning.
• Now, once the printer is setup its annoying that system automatically disable/pause/block it. So you have to see from every settings/configurations options that that printer is enabled/resumed/unblocked. Once this is done, try to print the test page. 
• With this It should be fine. Usually with different fedora systems like 16, 17, 18... things are little bit changed but you should keep on figuring out the above points and in the end you will be able to print something. 

Do let others know by comments if this worked or some problems are still there.