Automatic download of printer drivers through the internet

Launchpad entry: https://features.launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/printerdriverautodownload

The printer setup tool of Ubuntu 7.04 and later should automatically download LSB-packaged printer drivers from linuxprinting.org (will be the FSG OpenPrinting database then). This way we do not need to ship all drivers on the CDs, we are prepared for printers being launched after our release or being supported only by closed-source drivers which we are not allowed to distribute, driver updates, ...

This is based on new functionality which I am currently adding to linuxprinting.org resp. FSG OpenPrinting. See the [https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PrinterDriverAutoDownload?action=AttachFile&do=view&target=FSGOpenPrintingPresentation.pdf attached presentation] ([https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PrinterDriverAutoDownload?action=AttachFile&do=view&target=FSGOpenPrintingPresentation.odp OOo 2.0]) and also

• http://www.freestandards.org/en/OpenPrinting/SummitLexington

• http://www.freestandards.org/wordpress/?p=224

Comments

The drivers do need to be on the cd, not all people have a broadband internet connection.

• The most important drivers (HPLIP, GutenPrint, GhostScript built-in, ...) will continue to be on the CD, only less important drivers or drivers which cannot be shipped due to copyright reasons will be supplied via internet. The automatic internet download also serves for driver updates.