Show HN: Driverless print server for legacy printers, profit goes to open-source

188 pointsby ValdikSS17 days ago

This is a device, to which you connect your older USB printer, and use it from any PC or smartphone without installing drivers (AirPrint/Mopria), wirelessly. As easy as that!<pre><code> * Supports all OS: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android. No drivers needed. Windows-on-ARM and Apple M1/2/3/4 also supported. * Supports the majority of printers released before ≈2018 * Profit from sold devices is shared between CUPS, SANE, AirSane open-source printing and scanning projects * Surplus and donations are accumulated to improve current open-source drivers and develop new ones </code></pre> The printer driver is run inside the device. It comes with lots of open-source and official proprietary drivers. x86-only drivers are running under box86 emulation, with little visible performance impact, ensuring wide compatibility with many printers and MFPs.All of this is bundled in a retail-like device, with simple web interface[1][2]. No tinkering and no DIY required, it's safe to plug off the power cord every time, and you can do factory reset.The print server is secure by default: it conforms to most of the IoT Device Security Specification 1.0[3] best practices, has built-in firewall to ensure LAN-only operation, and does not include anti-consumer features.All devices come with technical support, where I act as a middleman between all the involved projects and printer drivers. If there's a bug, I first try to debug the issue remotely, and if it's not possible, end up buying the same printer and debug it until the issue is resolved. All the fixes made during the development are contributed back to the origin projects, and there were many bugs fixed: almost every package has additional patches compared to original Debian 12 disto state.[1]: <a href="https://printserver.ink/webface-main.png" rel="nofollow">https://printserver.ink/webface-main.png</a>[2]: <a href="https://printserver.ink/webface-other.png" rel="nofollow">https://printserver.ink/webface-other.png</a>[3]: <a href="https://csa-iot.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/23-80986-013-PSWG-1.0-Specification-18-March-2024.pdf" rel="nofollow">https://csa-iot.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/23-80986-013-...</a>P.S. Brother printer lovers, the latest Brother L2800dw (2024) laser comes with the chipped cartridge, which you can't refill and reset forever anymore. The printer allows to continue printing with an "empty" cartridge with a special menu item, but it does so only to fixed amount of pages, and then stops. It doesn't allow to use cartridges without chips.

15 comments

raffraffraff16 days ago

This is cool.I had to do something similar to get an old Epson scanner to work. It astonished me that there are no drivers for it on the Epson website, no generic or legacy Windows drivers. And this was a serious hum-dinger of a scanner which is still much better than a brand new Epson because, shockingly, it's really hard to buy a decent scanner these days. They're ludicrously badly made unless you spend many thousands. Most of the high end ones are aimed at office scanning, with automatic page feed and high throughout etc. If you're an artist, you're screwed.Obviously the scanner works on Linux, but my wife is the one who needs to use it. So I hacked together a Raspberry Pi, a heavily customised PHPSane and an ancient Apple iPad (that is similarly unsupported, with almost no software available in the store). The pi boots in about 5 seconds. Now anyone on the house WiFi can scan over the network or walk right up and use the web interface via the iPad which is mounted beside the scanner.What was really enjoyable about the project was that I got to use one of my old Pis and a tablet that was heading for e-waste.<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Fw7bZoPyVU" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Fw7bZoPyVU</a>

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TMWNN17 days ago

I don't need your product as I run CUPS and AirPrint on a Raspberry Pi <<a href="https://np.reddit.com/r/printers/comments/o0tin5/using_generic_label_printer_over_wireless/" rel="nofollow">https://np.reddit.com/r/printers/comments/o0tin5/using_gener...</a>>, but you offer a useful product/service to those who are not inclined to figure out how to do so.(I use the Pi with thermal 4x6 label printers that use either ZPL or variant thereof, to access them either by Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.)

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braincode16 days ago

This project made me wonder if a "physical virtual printer" exists?I'd love to send print jobs to a "non-physical" printer that any OS (and/or Adobe DC Reader) sees as a "completely legit, real, physical printer".In other words, not just the "Print to PDF" option/dialog on the OS. Then after "printing", have a valid PDF appear on that device's target storage itself (eMMC/SD Card/SMB share...)?

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kevinsync17 days ago

Dot-Ink is a wild TLD and very cool aesthetic choice for this project

veggieroll16 days ago

Yes!! This is my preferred way to enable network printing and scanning. I've done this for about 5 years.I've always hated having printers on my network, because vendor software is absolutely terrible. Completely insecure and open to who-knows-what through automatic updates.I use a raspberry Pi and it works great even for non-technical family members. Printing from your phone is also really nice.The functionality is about the same as the vendor printers. But the peace of mind is amazing. 100% assurance that there's nothing weird going on, it's secure, and there's no account and stupid cloud.

1970-01-0116 days ago

This has the potential to be a big hit. Go on your Craigslist or Marketplace and search for printers. You will find lots of free or very cheap working printers being scrapped just because they don't natively work with iPhones. With a little more setup refinement, polish, and support, this could be "dropbox for printers".

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SeosisFexus8 days ago

Hi, any chance to run this printserver on different hardware, like RPi or other suitable Pi clones instead OrangePi Zero 3? Is it possible to run the device connected to local ethernet LAN for wired computers?

cosmotic11 days ago

Have you considered adding a web-driven print and scan interface? Some canon printers have a webserver where you can upload PDFs, JPEGs, etc, and print them without ever invoking a print driver or operating system print feature. Another page to utilize the scanner and download a PDF directly from the browser would also be cool.

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ongytenes15 days ago

I was told that HP no longer allows a person scan a document into their computer without a valid HP cartridge installed. I used an old HP printer for years as a scanner without any cartridge installed. (Brothers as my actual printers) Recently it has died and I am looking to replace it. I been looking at old printers with scanners in the thrift stores as a replacement. Question is; has Brother gone over to Darkside of requiring a cartridge for non-print jobs? Is so I CAN'T and will NOT recommend Brother as my preferred printer to my clients.

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purpleidea17 days ago

Says it's open source but the link is password protected: <a href="https://printserver.ink/firmware/" rel="nofollow">https://printserver.ink/firmware/</a>I'll pass until that's normal.

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fnwbr16 days ago

Can you configure SSID and password when using the access point mode? For example when I have multiple of them in my university, I'd want to name them according to the rooms they sit in, while also making sure people can only print to the ones they can actually physically see (and therefore read the password off of a sticker)...

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Beijinger16 days ago

I wanted to buy one but I had to specify the printer, this confused me. This device should not be locked for one printer.

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jessekv16 days ago

Years ago I got an Airport Express for this. They also had an audio port for connecting a stereo to AirPlay.

koiueo16 days ago

> If there's a bug, I first try to debug the issue remotelyDoes it mean you have remote access to the device?

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derbOac16 days ago

I was just wondering about this the other day with a Dell printer I love that's getting harder to setup via wifi.