You can set up CUPS printing (using the cupsd daemon) manually, but CUPS is inherently an http-based system. That’s not to say you normally set it up with a web browser, but rather that you set it up using utilities with an underlying TCP/IP functionality.
In Red Hat/Fedora, start by running one of these commands (you may need to command su – )
printtool
or
printconf-gui
or
system-config-printer
or
from the System Settings menu, choose Printing.
(You should note that all of these are simply shortcuts to the consolehelper app.)
You’ll start this application:
This printer configuration wizard can be used to add local or remote printers, or to edit and modify the characteristics of existing printers once you’ve set them up. Click New to start the process of adding a printer.
Choose a useful printer name and description, then click Forward.
From the drop-list at the top you can choose local or network printers of several types. Among these are CUPS printers, Networked CUPS (IPP, for IP Printing) printers, LPD, Windows SMB printers, Novell NCP printers, and JetDirect printers. Each choice gives you very different screens from this point forward.
But let’s stick with a local printer for this example. The default first local printer will be /dev/lp0. Select that printer in the window and click Forward.
If you click the grey Generic bar at the top, you’ll get a list of manufacturers. Choose one of these, or better, scroll down the list in the white window and choose Postscript Printer, which is the ideal printer for quality Linux/UNIX printing.
After you’ve made that choice, you’ll see a screen that varies depending on that choice. Often you can find your exact printer on the list, as well as a range of choices for setting resolution and other options.
Work your way through the options available, and you’ll arrive at the final screen. The printtool will take care of adding configuration files and queues, which is a great labor-saver.