When I moved from Windows to Bluefin, I had a similar issue with my printer (HL-L2460DW). The printer was recognized, but the printer options were bare mininum. For example, the 2460 is a duplex printer, but the system default didn’t show that option. Eventually, I downloaded the 2460 rpm from Brother. As a Windows user, I knew how to download a printer driver from Brother and double-click to install. That didn’t work with the Brother rpm package, since Bluefin is atomic. I first had to figure out what rpm-ostree was, then how to layer a package.
What I can’t figure out is, if we aren’t supposed to layer packages, how else are we supposed to get our printers working on Fedora atomic systems? This is going to be a problem for genuinely newbie users to the ublue ecosystem. Most people are going to have a printer they need to connect. If there is an alternative way, I need it spelled out step by step.
(As a side note, it wasn’t until reading this thread that I learned about the lpinfo -m command, then piping it to the grep command for a search on brother. My Brother printer wasn’t in the list either. I learned something new!)
Do you really need to install a driver? I see that your model supports wifi. I bought a Brother laser printer myself some months ago, a HL-L2465DW which seems similar to yours. I connected it to my wifi, and it works flawlessly in Ubuntu and Aurora, using IPP. No drivers. Easier than in Windows!
In KDE Plasma and in GNOME, when I try to add a printer, my Brother printer is automatically recognized on the network. Two choices are displayed, one with “(driverless)”. I chose the driverless.
Sorry it’s in French, but you should get the gist.
I also successfully used GNOME Document Scanner to scan pages (however it didn’t work in Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, but did in EndeavourOS) and SKanpage in Aurora.
Ah sorry, I missed that on first read. But why not use IPP, if it works? Of course, a wifi network is needed. In my case, as I have multiple computers at home, USB would be a hassle.
Generally its like that. layering is not recommended but unfortunately there are some situations that there is no other way.
For example most VPN clients won’t work as a flatpak/don’t have a working flatpak. There your options are either if the provider allows, import their wireguard/ovpn configs to networkmanager or layer their GUI package
The printer and scanner drivers for my model - HL-L2395DW - are here.
And if you feel ambitious, this page has links to the other drivers in the HL-L series, of which none are included in Aurora to date (Aurora lists many HL printers, but no HL-L printers. I assume that if the printers are listed that the drivers are also included).
Very well said tdb11235. You spelled out my thoughts exactly. I don’t know enough about the architecture of atomic systems to get a sense of if it is possible, but I hope that eventually this issue gets figured out. If it does, atomic systems would be gold for most people.
I use usb-ony connections as well, and don’t have a router - thus no wifi. So in my case, like ZacAttack, drivers are best.
Understood. But what is your sense down the road? Is it possible that eventually, there might be other/better solutions as atomic systems mature? Perhaps a stupid question, but again, I don’t know enough to know the answer.
Unfortunately, I failed to mention that both my computer and printer are connected to the home router via ethernet. So, wireless isn’t an option for me in this case, otherwise I would give it a try. Thankfully, I have a working solution for now.
Like others, I guess I will wait to see how printer installation evolves on Fedora atomic systems. Should be interesting to see what solution the Fedora atomic architects eventually implement to replace rpm-ostree layering.
Timothée Ravier has a website for system extensions (experimental):
I’m certainly going to have a look at it, since I want to install k3s in Cayo. It seems to be it would be simpler to build a systext than building my own Cayo image.
Agreed. I do hope an easier, well-integrated (and ‘recommended’) method becomes possible at some point. Printing is a biggie for most folks using any OS.
