Connecting to a network printer without mDNS

[DemiMarie]

What is the appropriate way to connect to a network printer without relying on mDNS? The only way I was able to figure out is to use /usr/bin/driverless to generate an IPP file and set the printer up using that. This worked fine, but PPD files are deprecated, so I would prefer a solution that doesn’t rely on deprecated features.

In case it matters, the printer is a Canon imageCLASS MF753Cdw and I am using CUPS from Fedora 41. The reason that mDNS does not work is that I use Qubes OS and do not run the printer in the same VM to which the network card is attached. Instead, CUPS is running in a VM with a NAT’d connection. Running CUPS (or any other unnecessary service) in the VM to which the network card is attached is discouraged in Qubes OS for security reasons. However, there are other cases where mDNS won’t work, notably wireless networks where it is explicitly blocked by the network administrator. Therefore, I would prefer a general approach to set up any printer without needing mDNS.

[michaelrsweet]

The lpadmin command should be used, for example:

lpadmin -p PRINTERNAME -E -v ipps://HOSTNAME/ipp/print -m everywhere

lpadmin -p PRINTERNAME -E -v ipps://IPV4-ADDRESS/ipp/print -m everywhere

lpadmin -p PRINTERNAME -E -v ipps://[IPV6-ADDRESS]/ipp/print -m everywhere

Ideally you should at least use DNS and hostnames for your site's domain, but if you don't have that setup then (non-link-local, non-DHCP) IP addresses can be used.

[DemiMarie]

Thank you! That worked for me. I do use DHCP but I have static DHCP reservations (based on MAC address) so it works fine.