How To Find a Printer’s Device URI During Driver Installation in Ubuntu 18.04

In this article, we will be discussing how to find a printer’s device URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) during the driver installation process in Ubuntu 18.04. The device URI is a crucial piece of information required to set up network printers. It is a unique identifier that specifies the printer’s location on the network.

What is a Device URI?

A Device URI is a string of characters that provides a simple, concise way of identifying a device on a network. It is used by the operating system to communicate with the device and perform tasks such as printing.

Methods to Find a Printer’s Device URI

There are several methods to find the device URI for your printer. We will cover three of them in this article: using the lpinfo command, checking the printer’s network settings, and using the Brother installation tool.

Method 1: Using the lpinfo Command

The lpinfo command is a utility in Linux that provides information about connected printers. Here’s how to use it to find your printer’s device URI:

1. Open a terminal. You can do this by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T.
2. Run the following command:

sudo lpinfo -v

The -v option stands for ‘verbose’, which means the command will provide detailed output.

3. Look for a line that contains “Brother” in the output. It might look something like this:

usb://Brother/MFC-7360N?serial=U62700H1N772098

This line represents the device URI for your printer.

Method 2: Checking the Printer’s Network Settings

Another way to find your printer’s device URI is by checking its network settings:

1. On the printer’s control panel, navigate to the “Menu” or “Settings” option.
2. Look for a “Network” or “TCP/IP” menu.
3. Find the “IP Address” or “URI” option and note down the value displayed.

The device URI for your printer will be in the format socket://<IP_Address> or ipp://<IP_Address>:631/ipp/print.

Method 3: Using the Brother Installation Tool

If you’re installing a Brother printer, the installation tool can help you find the device URI:

1. During the installation process, when prompted to specify the device URI, choose “Y” for “Yes”.
2. The installation tool will provide a list of available device URIs, numbered for selection.
3. Refer to the output of the lpinfo command or the printer’s network settings to identify the correct device URI.
4. Enter the corresponding line number when prompted by the installation tool.

Troubleshooting

If you’ve tried these methods and are still unable to print, there might be other issues at play. Ensure that your printer is properly connected to the network and that you have entered the correct device URI. Also, check if the printer driver is compatible with your operating system. If the problem persists, consider reaching out to Brother’s support for further assistance.

Conclusion

Finding a printer’s device URI can be a bit tricky, but with the right tools and a little patience, you can easily find it. Whether you’re using the lpinfo command, checking the printer’s network settings, or using the Brother installation tool, the process is straightforward. Remember, the device URI is a crucial piece of information required to set up network printers, so it’s important to get it right.

Happy printing!