If you’re still clinging to a printer you should have thrown away ten years ago, the OpenPrinting project may have some good news.
Users will now be able to run printers that are not supported by modern versions of Windows by running the Windows Subsystem for Linux Linux emulator in conjunction with the project’s Open Printing software.
According to its die-hard fans, Linux supports a wide range of older hardware that has long been out of Windows support, such as the open-source Linux-based CUPS printing system that Apple dropped in 2020.
How can I use it?
In a presentation originally submitted by Register (opens in a new tab)Till Kamppeter, a longtime Linux developer, current manager of OpenPrinting and Canonical’s contractor, explained how the process works.
First, you need to check that you have Windows 11 installed and the current version of WSL.
You will also need to verify that your printer does not actually work under Windows.
You can do this by going to “Settings” > “Bluetooth & Devices” > “Printers & Scanners” – if it works, you don’t need to continue.
Once done, you will need to install the Ubuntu app from the Windows Store, then install the USB bridge if needed, then install “avahi-daemon” and the printer app in Ubuntu under WSL.
If you’re still confused about how the process works, you can head here for more clarification from OpenPrinting user’s Guide (opens in a new tab).
Recent years have been kind to fans of Linux emulation.
The performance of Ubuntu Linux, one of the most popular Linus distributions, running using the Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 under the upcoming Windows 11, was close to that of a distro running on bare metal, according to a new benchmarking project (opens in a new tab) put together by the tech site Foronix.
- Do you want to modernize your old office? Check out our guide to the best printers for small and medium businesses