How to share printer on Kubuntu (KDE) over the network

Kubuntu, built on the Ubuntu core with a KDE interface, offers robust printing support through the CUPS system. Many offices and homes require printers to be shared among multiple devices, making network printer sharing a valuable feature. By leveraging CUPS and KDE Print Manager, administrators can configure local and remote printing seamlessly.

CUPS, or the Common Unix Printing System, provides the fundamental print spooler service and device drivers used by most Linux distributions. In Kubuntu, this system integrates with the System Settings tool for a graphical setup process. Ensuring that CUPS is installed and properly configured is essential for reliable network printing.

Sharing a printer on Kubuntu involves adjusting firewall settings to allow inbound print traffic and enabling a network-sharing feature within the printer configuration. The Avahi daemon can also help devices discover shared printers automatically. A solid understanding of KDE tools and basic networking concepts simplifies the process, enabling secure and streamlined print jobs across multiple workstations.

1. Confirm that CUPS is installed.

   $ dpkg -l cups
   ii  cups               2.3.1-9ubuntu1.1   amd64  Common UNIX Printing System(tm) - server
   ii  cups-client        2.3.1-9ubuntu1.1   amd64  Common UNIX Printing System(tm) - client programs

   If CUPS is not installed, run

   $ sudo apt-get update --quiet

   followed by

   $ sudo apt-get install --yes cups

   to install the printer services.

2. Open System Settings from the KDE menu and select Printers in the hardware section.
3. Right-click the desired printer and select “Printer Properties” to open its configuration dialog.
4. Check “Share printers connected to this system” under the “Policies” or “Access Control” tab, depending on the version of KDE.
5. Enable “Allow printing from the Internet” if remote printing from outside the local network is required.
6. Allow inbound printing requests.

   $ sudo ufw allow 631/tcp --comment "CUPS TCP"
   Rule added
   Rule added (v6)

7. Confirm the Avahi service is active.

   $ systemctl status avahi-daemon --no-pager --full
   ● avahi-daemon.service - Avahi mDNS/DNS-SD Stack
      Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/avahi-daemon.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
      Active: active (running) ...

8. Test from another device by opening its printing settings and verifying that the shared printer is visible.

   If the printer is not detected, verify that Avahi is enabled on both systems and confirm the firewall rules allow inbound connections on port 631.