Samsung ML-2851N Printer (2850 series) with Ubuntu 8,9 Debian 5 and Opensuse 11

Summary

This has been a trouble-free, Black and White duplex laser network printer that I have used with various flavors of linux and Windows XP.

Background

There isn't much to write about because there haven't been any problems, but I thought after a year or so of use, I should post a note saying as much. The disk that comes with it works for Ubuntu and Opensuse linux and Windows XP. The setup loads the drivers needed and some Samsung software. The only possible drawback is that you get a window showing how much toner you have in your printer each time you boot up your computer. I really don't mind seeing this, so it hasn't been an issue. It works great. Applications dialogs always allow for duplex printing and most allow for a Toner Saver option. It has rarely had a paper jam.

Setup Under Debian

Under Debian linux, the GUI setup does not start, even when trying to launch the setup program manually. It gives a permissions error and/or wants graphics I didn't have. There is a text mode that it falls back to, however, that loads a nice postscript driver and sets up the printer. Note that I first tried to run the install script using "./install.sh", but got a shell error. You need to call bash directly.

root@myhost# cd  /PATH_TO/cdrom/Linux
root@myhost# bash  install.sh

Note: If you just are looking for the driver on the CD, it is at ..../cdrom/Linux/noarch/at_opt/share/ppd/ML-2850ps.ppd.

Cheers,
Kim