On Thu, 25 Jul 2013 18:45:58 +0100 nev young nev@nevilley.org.uk wrote:
On 25/07/13 14:23, Chris Walker wrote:
Is there a dedicated Pi mailing list where I should ask this question or will this be ok here?
In view of my failing to set up my printer as a device off my router, I'm now thinking that I can use the same USB socket on the router to power a Pi which can then act as a print server for my printer.
If I were to use a pre-configured distro like Raspbian, it would have all the desktop stuff installed and I don't want that. So is there an easy way to do a minimal install on a Pi?
I use cups on my pi which I use as a print server.
The Pi runs 24/7 as it's also a web server, so getting it to listen for print requests from the various PCs and laptops in the house was an obvious step. The Pi has no K/b, mouse or monitor. I drive it via ssh. Although all the desktop stuff is on there, I don't startx so none of it gets used.
After looking at the comp.sys stuff, I was then directed to the Pi forum where I found a page listing al the stuff that can be removed for a server setup. In case of it's of interest, here's the link - http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=35519
Sadly with mine being an early Pi with only 256M mem it can run out and cause the cups back-end to die if rendering a complex page. It doesn't then report an error :-(
Both printers connect to the Pi via a powered usb hub and, of course, the Pi is wired into the lan.
I've even use the GPIO on the Pi to switch the power to the printers on and off as needed.
I wasn't intending to get that adventurous ;-)