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Installing a Brother driver into a CUPS based Linux system

Notes

  • About the Source release based on the GPL:
    The code for the wrapper driver is licensed by GPL and is written in C-Shell script.
    The code is located in the following directory:
    /usr/local/Brother/cupswrapper
    Every filter or PPD file is created automatically by this code.
  • About C-Shell:
    You need to have C-Shell installed on your PC for the installation of the driver.
    Fedra Core, RedHat , SuSE and Mandrake have it preinstalled, but Debian does not.
    Please be sure to install it if you are Debian User.
  • Note for SuSE Users:
    If you are using a later version of SuSE than version 9.0, set the password for CUPS using the lppasswd command:#lppasswd -g sys -a root
    This requires you to enter a password that is used specifically for CUPS administration.
  1. Connect your machine to the pc or the network and turn it on.
  1. Make a temporary directory on your HDD and download both the LPR driver and cupswrapper driver to that directory.
  1. Log in as root user or use the "su" command.
  1. Install the LPR driver.

    (i.e)
    For dpkg Users:
    dpkg -i --force-all --force-architecture mfc210clpr-1.0.0-1.i386.deb

    For rpm Users:
    rpm -ihv --nodeps MFC210Clpr-1.0.0-1.i386.rpm
Notes
If you already have a Brother LPR driver installed, you may receive an error message. In this instance, run the install command again and use the :
--force-all(For dpkg Users) or --force(For rpm Users) switches...

  1. Install the cupswrapper driver.

    (i.e)
    For dpkg Users:
    dpkg -i --force-all --force-architecture cupswrappermfc210c_1.0.0-1_i386.deb

    For rpm Users:
    rpm -ihv --nodeps cupswrapperMFC210C-1.0.0-1.i386.rpm
  1. Open your browser and enter: "http://localhost:631"
  1. Click on “Manage Printers” and confirm that the device name is listed there.
    If the device name is NOT listed there, click on "Add Printer" and install the driver following the on-screen instructions.

  1. The default port is USB. If you want to use a different port, click on “Modify Printer” and select the required printer port.

  1. If SELinux is working on your system, some configuration for SELinux is required. Please set your SELinux "permissive" or refere the FAQ for SELinux.

    Link to the FAQ: I want to print using CUPS while keeping SELinux enabled.

The print settings of the driver

You can change the print settings using the “Configure Printer” option in the CUPS web interface or by using lpr from the command line.

Using the "Configure Printer" option in the CUPS web interface...
click here to refer to the detail of the setting.

Using the command line...
For example, if you want to print the file “brother.ps” in A4 size, write the script as below:
lpr -P MFC210C -o PaperType=A4 brother.ps
The below is the list of the command option.
features value
Media PlainPaper
InkjetPaper
Glossy
Transpare
TranspareMirror
Resolution 300
600
1200
750
1200x600
1200x2400
1200x6000
PaperType A4
A4_B
Letter
Letter_B
Legal
Exective
B5
A5
A6
A6_B
PostCard
PostCard_B
IndexCard
IndexCard_B
PhotoL
PhotoL_B
Photo2L
Photo2L_B
Hagaki
Hagaki_B
DblHagaki
C5
EnvC5
DL
EnvDL
Com-10
COM10
COM-10
Env10
EnvCOM10
Monarch
EnvMonarch
Youkei4
PaperThickness Regular
Thick
PaperSource Tray1
Tray2
AUTO
Bi-DirPrinting OFF
ON
MirrorPrint OFF
ON
ColorOrMono Mono
Color
Document PHOTO
GRAPH
CUSTOM
ColorMatching NATURAL
VIVID
NONE
HalfTone DIFFUSION
DITHER
ColorEnhance OFF
ON
Brightness [-20 - +20]
Contrast [-20 - +20]
Redkey [-20 - +20]
Greenkey [-20 - +20]
Bluekey [-20 - +20]

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