smb-cifs:printer-share-create

A printer that works on a Linux server is not automatically discoverable through SMB clients. A Samba printer share advertises an existing local print queue as a printable service, so Windows and other SMB clients can find office-printer beside normal file shares on the same server.

Samba sends jobs from a printable share to the server's local print backend. On Ubuntu and other CUPS-based systems, the printer name value in /etc/samba/smb.conf must match the CUPS queue name, while the SMB share name can stay shorter or friendlier for clients.

The explicit-share model exposes one selected queue instead of publishing every backend printer. Keep load printers = no when only selected queues should be exposed, restrict access with a Samba user or group, and verify both the parsed share and the advertised SMB service before submitting a test page.

Confirm the local CUPS queue name on the Samba server.
```
$ lpstat -p Office_Printer
printer Office_Printer is idle. enabled since Tue Jun 16 09:00:00 2026
```
Replace Office_Printer with the local print queue name that already works from the server. Samba sends jobs to this backend queue through the printer name setting.
Back up the Samba configuration file.
```
$ sudo cp --archive /etc/samba/smb.conf /etc/samba/smb.conf.before-printer-share
```
A broken /etc/samba/smb.conf can block new SMB sessions after reload. Keep the backup until the printer share lists and accepts a test job.
Open the Samba configuration file.
```
$ sudoedit /etc/samba/smb.conf
```
Add or update the print backend settings in the [global] section.
```
[global]
    printing = CUPS
    printcap name = cups
    load printers = no
```
load printers = no prevents Samba from automatically sharing every printer known to the backend. Omit or change it only when every local queue should be visible to SMB clients.
Add the explicit printer share section.
```
[office-printer]
    comment = Office printer
    path = /var/tmp
    printable = yes
    read only = yes
    printer name = Office_Printer
    valid users = sguser
```
Use a short share name for clients, and set printer name to the exact CUPS queue name. Replace sguser with the Samba user or group allowed to submit jobs, such as @printusers.

Related: How to add a Samba user

Test the parsed printer share.

$ testparm -s --section-name=office-printer
Load smb config files from /etc/samba/smb.conf
Loaded services file OK.

[office-printer]
        comment = Office printer
        path = /var/tmp
        printable = Yes
        printer name = Office_Printer
        valid users = sguser

Reload the running smbd configuration.
```
$ sudo smbcontrol smbd reload-config
```
Reloading smbd applies the share definition without restarting unrelated services. Existing client sessions may need to reconnect before they see the new printer share.
Related: How to check Samba service status

List the SMB services advertised by the server.

$ smbclient -L //files.example.com -U sguser
Password for [WORKGROUP\sguser]:

        Sharename       Type      Comment
        ---------       ----      -------
        office-printer  Printer   Office printer
        IPC$            IPC       IPC Service (Samba 4.23.6)
SMB1 disabled -- no workgroup available

The row with Type set to Printer proves Samba is advertising the selected queue as a printer share.

Create a small test page on an SMB client.

$ printf 'Samba printer test\n' > samba-printer-test.txt

Submit the test page through the printer share.

$ smbclient //files.example.com/office-printer -U sguser -c 'print samba-printer-test.txt'
Password for [WORKGROUP\sguser]:
putting file samba-printer-test.txt as samba-printer-test.txt-18 (0.1 kB/s) (average 0.1 kB/s)

This submits a real print job to Office_Printer. Use a test queue or be ready to retrieve the page from the physical printer.

Remove the local test page.
```
$ rm samba-printer-test.txt
```

How to create a Samba printer share

Steps to create a Samba printer share: