Arch Linux

Ademptis

Member

Registered: 2016-08-04

Posts: 7

Printing to Brother printer using ethernet cable.

Hi.
So I want to connect my printer to my computer via an Ethernet cable, rather than USB. As in, the computer is directly connected to the printer using just one cable.
I've connected it via USB in the past and it worked, but I would need to use an Ethernet cable for what I wish to do.
I don't mean through a router.
Is this even possible? And how would I go about doing this?
Thanks in advance.

Printer: Brother MFC-J4510DW

Awebb

Member

Registered: 2010-05-06

Posts: 6,286

Re: Printing to Brother printer using ethernet cable.

What does the manual say?

In addition, depending on the age of your components, read https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etherne … over_cable.

Ademptis

Member

Registered: 2016-08-04

Posts: 7

Re: Printing to Brother printer using ethernet cable.

The manual didn't mention anything like this, however I do now know I can configure settings using the http server on the printer, rather than the touch screen; makes things a bit easier.
I changed the interface on the printer to Ethernet rather than wireless. I didnt realise this was necessary but apparently it can only do one or the other.
The status is currently stuck on "copying print data".

Ademptis

Member

Registered: 2016-08-04

Posts: 7

Re: Printing to Brother printer using ethernet cable.

Status has changed to "printer is in use"

Awebb

Member

Registered: 2010-05-06

Posts: 6,286

Re: Printing to Brother printer using ethernet cable.

You'll need to configure the network settings manually or run a dhcp daemon on the interface of your computer.

ewaller

Administrator

From: Pasadena, CA

Registered: 2009-07-13

Posts: 19,785

Re: Printing to Brother printer using ethernet cable.

You'll need to configure the network settings manually or run a dhcp daemon on the interface of your computer.

My thoughts exactly.   Here is an article https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Dhcpd

Note that you will be running dhcpd  (not to be confused with dhcpcd) on that interface.  You will need to set an address for your NIC that corresponds to the configuration file you create for dhcpd

For example, here is a config file I have used:

ewaller@turing ~ 1002 %cat /etc/dhcpd.conf 
# dhcpd.conf
#
# Sample configuration file for ISC dhcpd
#

# option definitions common to all supported networks...
option domain-name "example.org";
option domain-name-servers ns1.example.org, ns2.example.org;

default-lease-time 600;
max-lease-time 7200;

# Use this to enble / disable dynamic dns updates globally.
#ddns-update-style none;

# If this DHCP server is the official DHCP server for the local
# network, the authoritative directive should be uncommented.
#authoritative;

# Use this to send dhcp log messages to a different log file (you also
# have to hack syslog.conf to complete the redirection).
log-facility local7;

# No service will be given on this subnet, but declaring it helps the 
# DHCP server to understand the network topology.

subnet 10.152.187.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 {
}

# This is a very basic subnet declaration.

subnet 10.254.239.0 netmask 255.255.255.224 {
  range 10.254.239.10 10.254.239.20;
  option routers rtr-239-0-1.example.org, rtr-239-0-2.example.org;
}

# This declaration allows BOOTP clients to get dynamic addresses,
# which we don't really recommend.

subnet 10.254.239.32 netmask 255.255.255.224 {
  range dynamic-bootp 10.254.239.40 10.254.239.60;
  option broadcast-address 10.254.239.31;
  option routers rtr-239-32-1.example.org;
}

# A slightly different configuration for an internal subnet.
subnet 10.5.5.0 netmask 255.255.255.224 {
  range 10.5.5.26 10.5.5.30;
  option domain-name-servers ns1.internal.example.org;
  option domain-name "internal.example.org";
  option routers 10.5.5.1;
  option broadcast-address 10.5.5.31;
  default-lease-time 600;
  max-lease-time 7200;
}

# Hosts which require special configuration options can be listed in
# host statements.   If no address is specified, the address will be
# allocated dynamically (if possible), but the host-specific information
# will still come from the host declaration.

host passacaglia {
  hardware ethernet 0:0:c0:5d:bd:95;
  filename "vmunix.passacaglia";
  server-name "toccata.fugue.com";
}

# Fixed IP addresses can also be specified for hosts.   These addresses
# should not also be listed as being available for dynamic assignment.
# Hosts for which fixed IP addresses have been specified can boot using
# BOOTP or DHCP.   Hosts for which no fixed address is specified can only
# be booted with DHCP, unless there is an address range on the subnet
# to which a BOOTP client is connected which has the dynamic-bootp flag
# set.
host fantasia {
  hardware ethernet 08:00:07:26:c0:a5;
  fixed-address fantasia.fugue.com;
}

# You can declare a class of clients and then do address allocation
# based on that.   The example below shows a case where all clients
# in a certain class get addresses on the 10.17.224/24 subnet, and all
# other clients get addresses on the 10.0.29/24 subnet.

class "foo" {
  match if substring (option vendor-class-identifier, 0, 4) = "SUNW";
}

shared-network 224-29 {
  subnet 10.17.224.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 {
    option routers rtr-224.example.org;
  }
  subnet 10.0.29.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 {
    option routers rtr-29.example.org;
  }
  pool {
    allow members of "foo";
    range 10.17.224.10 10.17.224.250;
  }
  pool {
    deny members of "foo";
    range 10.0.29.10 10.0.29.230;
  }
}

subnet 192.168.2.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 {
  range 192.168.2.10 192.168.2.20;
  option routers 192.168.2.1;
}
ewaller@turing ~ 1003 %

Mostly adapted from the default example.  The interesting bit are the last few lines.  I decided to use the subnet 192.168.2.0/24.  Before starting dhcpd, use ip addr to set an address for that interface to 192.168.2.1.  Connect the external device, and it will obtain an address in the 192.168.2.10 through 192.168.2.20

---

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---
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Ademptis

Member

Registered: 2016-08-04

Posts: 7

Re: Printing to Brother printer using ethernet cable.

Thank you so much. I'm going to give this a try as soon as I can.

Ademptis

Member

Registered: 2016-08-04

Posts: 7

Re: Printing to Brother printer using ethernet cable.

YES! It works
Can't thank you enough.

Awebb

Member

Registered: 2010-05-06

Posts: 6,286

Re: Printing to Brother printer using ethernet cable.

Did you set up a dhcp daemon on the ethernet of your computer or did you configure the IP manually in the printer?

Mark the thread as solved, then. Glad to be of help.