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graysky

Wiki Maintainer

From: :wq

Registered: 2008-12-01

Posts: 10,637

Website

Brother 7440N multi function printer/fax w/ CUPS... anyone using it?

I'm looking for a multifunction device w/ network and it looks like Brother makes one that does what I want (MFC-7440N) but before buying, I wanted to post asking if anyone has some experience using one w/ Linux?  The website shows that WIndows/MacOSX are the supported O/S's but I did find a CUPS driver on their support page

Thanks for the advice.

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CPU-optimized Linux-ck packages @ Repo-ck  • AUR packages • Zsh and other configs

FenDanT

Member

From: Chamoson- Wallis - Switzerland

Registered: 2007-11-13

Posts: 58

Re: Brother 7440N multi function printer/fax w/ CUPS... anyone using it?

Hey all

I'm using a MFC-9420-CN since more than a year now, as a network printer without any problem at all for printing or scanning.

I found on the Brother internet pages the .ppd file for it.

Brother as a good experience with Linux and they always are ready to help. It's not the case with all printers providers

graysky

Wiki Maintainer

From: :wq

Registered: 2008-12-01

Posts: 10,637

Website

Re: Brother 7440N multi function printer/fax w/ CUPS... anyone using it?

Thanks for the post.  Unfortunately, it doesn't look like Brother supplies a ppd file for the 7440N, although they do list some ppd files for other models.

http://solutions.brother.com/linux/en_u … #MFC-7440N

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CPU-optimized Linux-ck packages @ Repo-ck  • AUR packages • Zsh and other configs

FenDanT

Member

From: Chamoson- Wallis - Switzerland

Registered: 2007-11-13

Posts: 58

Re: Brother 7440N multi function printer/fax w/ CUPS... anyone using it?

Hey,

Here's a link for the tra.gz driver

http://www.brother.com/cgi-bin/agreemen … nglish_gpl

May be it's usefull for you...

Another idea... If you have an Ubuntu (for exemple) livcd... You can try try to use it to install your printer just on the livecd... Just to have the ppd file and using it under Arch...

alwaysanoob

Member

Registered: 2010-01-20

Posts: 22

Re: Brother 7440N multi function printer/fax w/ CUPS... anyone using it?

Hey,
I haven't understand:
do you use this printer???

I have tried everything, but I have not find the right way to use it:
- the cups driver in AUR don't work
- the ppd file for mfc-7450n (the one for 7440-n do not exists) don't work
I think I can sell this printer on ebay
please help me, goodbye

mir

Member

Registered: 2010-08-25

Posts: 59

Re: Brother 7440N multi function printer/fax w/ CUPS... anyone using it?

The 7440N is a GDI printer. I have no idea how good the support for this is in the meantime, but it was troublesome in the past, and I usually prefer a postscript printer.

alwaysanoob

Member

Registered: 2010-01-20

Posts: 22

Re: Brother 7440N multi function printer/fax w/ CUPS... anyone using it?

I have not understand the differences between GDI and postscript printers..
the first one rely on a windows application to print because there is not an output format as in postscript ones?
can you give me a suggestion about the way to use it?

thanks mir
Bye

mir

Member

Registered: 2010-08-25

Posts: 59

Re: Brother 7440N multi function printer/fax w/ CUPS... anyone using it?

Well, postscript is more or less the original lingua franca for printing in Unix--they work out of the box (with some complications about paper selection etc., which are solved by the ppd files). GDI is an invention of Microsoft, and it means that the printer driver has to calculate all the dots by itself, making printers a bit cheaper and things more complicated for Linux users.

Brother does have a Linux driver for this printer. Just go to brother.com, search it and follow their instructions.

I actively avoided the hassles of GDI by buying a postscript printer, so please don't ask me to solve your problems You really should check for linux compatibility before buying a printer. www.openprinting.org/printers is a good source for model specific information.

Last edited by mir (2010-10-06 14:22:32)

alwaysanoob

Member

Registered: 2010-01-20

Posts: 22

Re: Brother 7440N multi function printer/fax w/ CUPS... anyone using it?

thanks for everything
I'm looking for a solution
if I find something different from using VirtualBox, I'll post this
goodbye, hermann