Intermittent printing problem over network

I have an intermittent problem printing over a network via CUPS from Manjaro.

The printer, a Samsung ML-2160 series printer, is connected to a computer running Debian 10, sharing the printer over the local network with CUPS.

I can print consistently and successfully to this over the network using both a Mac (running OS X), and from another laptop running Ubuntu 20.04.

However, quite frequently print jobs from another laptop running Manjaro (Gnome) fail to go through and the computer seems to enter into a state where it will not print. Once this happens, the problem persists, and I’m not fully sure what I manage to do to get it back up and running again (I try various things with the CUPS administration, restarting cups/cups-browsed daemons, rebooting both machines, etc., but haven’t spotted the pattern to what works), or whether it just gets going of its own accord after some time.

Even whilst the Manjaro machine is refusing to print, other computers on the network will do so successfully – I can even happily print exactly the same file from my Ubuntu machine.

The cups error logs on my Manjaro machine list the following:

/var/log/cups/error_log

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/M337xsc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/SCX-3400sc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/ML-2950sc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/SCX-470xsc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/C410sc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/SCX-472xsc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/M332xsc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/CLP-610sc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/ML-2160sc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/C420sc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/CLP-310sc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/CLP-320sc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/SCX-4650sc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/CLX-6220sc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/M267xsc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/CLP-600sc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/M306xsc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/M288xsc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/M301xsc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/ML-2540sc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/M283xsc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/K2200sc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/CLX-3170sc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/M2070sc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/M262xsc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/CLX-3160sc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/CLP-300sc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/CLX-3180sc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/C43xsc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/CLP-620sc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/CLP-360sc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/CLP-660sc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/SF-760sc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/CLX-216xsc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Bad driver information file \"/usr/share/cups/model/uld-samsung/cms/M2020sc.cts\"!

E [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] [cups-driverd] Skipping \"/usr/share/ppd/uld-samsung\": loop detected!

/var/log/cups/access_log.1

localhost - - [17/Oct/2020:18:43:49 +0100] "POST / HTTP/1.1" 200 176 Create-Printer-Subscriptions successful-ok

localhost - - [17/Oct/2020:19:03:20 +0100] "POST / HTTP/1.1" 200 183 Renew-Subscription client-error-not-found

localhost - - [17/Oct/2020:20:01:40 +0100] "POST / HTTP/1.1" 200 183 Renew-Subscription client-error-not-found

localhost - - [17/Oct/2020:21:00:00 +0100] "POST / HTTP/1.1" 200 183 Renew-Subscription client-error-not-found

localhost - - [17/Oct/2020:21:58:20 +0100] "POST / HTTP/1.1" 200 183 Renew-Subscription client-error-not-found

localhost - - [18/Oct/2020:08:09:45 +0100] "POST / HTTP/1.1" 200 183 Renew-Subscription client-error-not-found

localhost - - [18/Oct/2020:08:09:49 +0100] "POST / HTTP/1.1" 200 349 Create-Printer-Subscriptions successful-ok

localhost - - [18/Oct/2020:09:08:06 +0100] "POST / HTTP/1.1" 200 183 Renew-Subscription client-error-not-found

localhost - - [18/Oct/2020:10:06:26 +0100] "POST / HTTP/1.1" 200 183 Renew-Subscription client-error-not-found

localhost - - [18/Oct/2020:11:04:46 +0100] "POST / HTTP/1.1" 200 183 Renew-Subscription client-error-not-found

localhost - - [18/Oct/2020:12:03:06 +0100] "POST / HTTP/1.1" 200 183 Renew-Subscription client-error-not-found

localhost - - [18/Oct/2020:13:01:26 +0100] "POST / HTTP/1.1" 200 183 Renew-Subscription client-error-not-found

localhost - - [18/Oct/2020:13:53:08 +0100] "POST /printers/Samsung_ML-2160_Series HTTP/1.1" 200 250188 Print-Job successful-ok

localhost - - [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] "POST / HTTP/1.1" 200 344 Create-Printer-Subscriptions successful-ok

localhost - - [18/Oct/2020:13:55:34 +0100] "POST / HTTP/1.1" 200 5350981 CUPS-Get-PPDs -

localhost - - [18/Oct/2020:13:59:46 +0100] "POST / HTTP/1.1" 200 183 Renew-Subscription client-error-not-found

localhost - - [18/Oct/2020:14:03:55 +0100] "POST / HTTP/1.1" 200 183 Renew-Subscription successful-ok

localhost - - [18/Oct/2020:14:12:15 +0100] "POST / HTTP/1.1" 200 183 Renew-Subscription successful-ok

localhost - - [18/Oct/2020:14:20:35 +0100] "POST / HTTP/1.1" 200 183 Renew-Subscription successful-ok

On the Debian machine (with the printer connected), I get the following:

/var/log/cups/error_log

W [18/Oct/2020:00:00:00 +0100] DNS-SD registration of "Samsung ML-2160 Series @ x230-debian" failed: Local name collision

W [18/Oct/2020:00:00:00 +0100] DNS-SD registration of "Samsung ML-2160 Series @ x230-debian" failed: Local name collision

W [18/Oct/2020:00:00:00 +0100] DNS-SD registration of "Samsung ML-2160 Series @ x230-debian" failed: Local name collision

W [18/Oct/2020:00:00:00 +0100] DNS-SD registration of "Samsung ML-2160 Series @ x230-debian" failed: Local name collision

E [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] Can\'t detect file type

W [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] Nothing to print

E [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] Job stopped due to filter errors; please consult the /var/log/cups/error_log file for details.

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] The following messages were recorded from 13:53:13 to 13:53:16

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] Applying default options...

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] Adding start banner page "none".

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] Queued on "ML-2160-Series" by "luke".

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] File of type application/vnd.cups-postscript queued by "luke".

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] Adding end banner page "none".

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] time-at-processing=1603025596

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] 2 filters for job:

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] gstoraster (application/vnd.cups-postscript to application/vnd.cups-raster, cost 175)

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] rastertospl (application/vnd.cups-raster to printer/ML-2160-Series, cost 0)

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] job-sheets=none,none

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] argv[0]="ML-2160-Series"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] argv[1]="119"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] argv[2]="luke"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] argv[3]="RivoltaFemminileREAD.pdf"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] argv[4]="1"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] argv[5]="job-uuid=urn:uuid:4e990d96-0477-37a7-5ccc-7c0e52af1679 job-originating-host-name=192.168.0.11 date-time-at-creation= date-time-at-processing= time-at-creation=1603025593 time-at-processing=1603025596"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] argv[6]="/var/spool/cups/d00119-001"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] envp[0]="CUPS_CACHEDIR=/var/cache/cups"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] envp[1]="CUPS_DATADIR=/usr/share/cups"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] envp[2]="CUPS_DOCROOT=/usr/share/cups/doc-root"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] envp[3]="CUPS_FONTPATH=/usr/share/cups/fonts"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] envp[4]="CUPS_REQUESTROOT=/var/spool/cups"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] envp[5]="CUPS_SERVERBIN=/usr/lib/cups"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] envp[6]="CUPS_SERVERROOT=/etc/cups"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] envp[7]="CUPS_STATEDIR=/run/cups"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] envp[8]="HOME=/var/spool/cups/tmp"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] envp[9]="PATH=/usr/lib/cups/filter:/usr/bin:/usr/sbin:/bin:/usr/bin"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] envp[10]="SERVER_ADMIN=root@x230-debian"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] envp[11]="SOFTWARE=CUPS/2.2.10"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] envp[12]="TMPDIR=/var/spool/cups/tmp"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] envp[13]="USER=root"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] envp[14]="CUPS_MAX_MESSAGE=2047"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] envp[15]="CUPS_SERVER=/run/cups/cups.sock"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] envp[16]="CUPS_ENCRYPTION=IfRequested"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] envp[17]="IPP_PORT=631"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] envp[18]="CHARSET=utf-8"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] envp[19]="LANG=en_GB.UTF-8"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] envp[20]="PPD=/etc/cups/ppd/ML-2160-Series.ppd"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] envp[21]="RIP_MAX_CACHE=128m"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] envp[22]="CONTENT_TYPE=application/vnd.cups-postscript"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] envp[23]="DEVICE_URI=usb://Samsung/ML-2160%20Series?serial=Z71GB8GC8B0057W"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] envp[24]="PRINTER_INFO=Samsung ML-2160 Series"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] envp[25]="PRINTER_LOCATION=x230-debian"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] envp[26]="PRINTER=ML-2160-Series"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] envp[27]="PRINTER_STATE_REASONS=none"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] envp[28]="CUPS_FILETYPE=document"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] envp[29]="FINAL_CONTENT_TYPE=application/vnd.cups-raster"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] envp[30]="AUTH_I****"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] Started filter /usr/lib/cups/filter/gstoraster (PID 4617)

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] Started filter /usr/lib/cups/filter/rastertospl (PID 4618)

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] Started backend /usr/lib/cups/backend/usb (PID 4619)

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] OUTFORMAT=\"(null)\", so output format will be CUPS/PWG Raster

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] Loading USB quirks from \"/usr/share/cups/usb\".

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] Loaded 172 quirks.

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] Printing on printer with URI: usb://Samsung/ML-2160%20Series?serial=Z71GB8GC8B0057W

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] libusb_get_device_list=10

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] STATE: +connecting-to-device

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] STATE: -connecting-to-device

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] Printer found with device ID: MFG:Samsung;CMD:SPL,FWV,PIC,EXT;MDL:ML-2160 Series;CLS:PRINTER;MODE:SPL5,R0STATUS:BUSY; Device URI: usb://Samsung/ML-2160%20Series?serial=Z71GB8GC8B0057W

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] Device protocol: 2

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] Printer reports bi-di support but in reality works only uni-directionally

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] Uni-directional USB communication only!

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] Uni-directional device/mode, back channel deactivated.

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] Sending data to printer.

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] Set job-printer-state-message to "Sending data to printer.", current level=INFO

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] [SCMS] V4.00.07.00 (2014.11.25)

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] \'Smart CMS\' is active -> Expecting: 1 byte per pixel, 256 levels of gray (as in P5 bitmap)

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] Set job-printer-state-message to "Can\'t detect file type", current level=ERROR

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] PID 4617 (/usr/lib/cups/filter/gstoraster) stopped with status 1.

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] Hint: Try setting the LogLevel to "debug" to find out more.

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] PID 4618 (/usr/lib/cups/filter/rastertospl) exited with no errors.

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] Sent 0 bytes...

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] PID 4619 (/usr/lib/cups/backend/usb) exited with no errors.

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] End of messages

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] printer-state=3(idle)

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] printer-state-message="Nothing to print"

D [18/Oct/2020:13:53:16 +0100] [Job 119] printer-state-reasons=none

If anyone can help point me in the right direction about the problem I’d be very grateful, and if there are other log files, etc. that would be useful, please let me know. I’m still relatively new to Manjaro, and Linux.

:+1: Welcome to Manjaro! :+1:

What are the CUPS versions running on Manjaro and Debian?

(Debian is ultra-stable thus ultra-slow in updating to new versions so you might have run into a CUPS compatibility issue)

:scream:

Thanks for the suggestion. (Yes, I’m really enjoying Manjaro, it seems a really great distribution, and this is really the only problem I’ve not been able to sort out…)

CUPS on Debian is 2.2.10. On Manjaro it’s 2.3.3.
Interestingly, on my Ubuntu machine, the version is 2.3.1, and I’ve not spotted this problem from that one.

If this is the problem (or to find out if it is) would you have a suggestion about what to do or research next?

I could try the Backports repo on Debian to see if there’s a newer version - though a look at the Backports page suggests that cups isn’t in there, although the newer version (2.3.3) is included in the Bullseye release. Doing a manual backport build from that sounds pretty scary!

My suspicion confirmed. :confused:

  • Build from source on Debian. Don’t use make but makeinstall instead.
  • If you don’t know how to do that go here as it’s quite different from the Manjaro PKGBUILD process.

:man_shrugging:

I’ve marked the below answer as the solution to your question as it is by far the best answer you’ll get.

However, if you disagree with my choice, please feel free to take any other answer as the solution to your question or even remove the solution altogether: You are in control! (If you disagree with my choice, just send me a personal message and explain why I shouldn’t have done this or :heart: or :+1: if you agree)

:innocent:
P.S. In the future, please don’t forget to come back and click the 3 dots below the answer to mark a solution like this below the answer that helped you most:
Solution
so that the next person that has the exact same problem you just had will benefit from your post as well as your question will now be in the “solved” status.

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Thanks very much Fabby (:heart: and :+1: ), I very mush appreciate the time you’ve taken to give me this answer. It seems highly plausible, and I’ll have a go at what you suggest. It’ll be a couple of days before I’ll have a chance to clear some time to try this, as it’s a fairly big task for me with my current level of expertise, but once I’ve done that I’ll let people know if it solves the problem as you suggest.

1 Like

Like I said: You’re in control! :innocent:

1 Like

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