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Install Brother HL-5250DN Printer in Debian GNU/Linux 5.0

by | Oct 20, 2010 | Linux Administrator | 0 comments

In my continuing effort to start over using the amd64 release of Debian GNU/Linux 5.0, I’ve come up on the need for my printers. I talked the other day about how the biggest issue when you start over, is always finding and re-installing all the software you used before.

Well, part of the software I need, is the driver for my Brother HL-5250DN Printer.

I do not find it any more difficult to install drivers when using the Debian OS (Operating System) than when using micro$oft’s windoz OS. Of course, the ease of installation is directly related to the availability of a Linux driver version.

Due to Linux’s steady growth as a viable operating system, many manufacturers are developing Linux drivers for their hardware. Brother is one of these manufacturers.

Brother’s Solution Center now has a Linux section. Get Brother Drivers for Linux distributions by clicking on the image below:

brother solutions center

My printer is the Brother HL-5250DN, seen below:

brother hl-5250dn

The steps below, show how to Install the Brother HL-5250DN Printer in Debian GNU/Linux 5.0 via the Konsole (console or terminal):

  1. Create the directory /users/{YOUR USERNAME}/Downloads/Brother/HL5250DN.
  2. If I have to download anything, I try to download to the “Downloads” directory in the /users/{YOUR USERNAME}/Downloads directory path.
  3. Go to the HL-5250DN Linux Driver site.
  4. Download the LPR driver, cupswrapper driver and ppd file from this web site. Save these files in the directory /users/{YOUR USERNAME}/Downloads/Brother/HL5250DN you created in the very first step.
  5. Go to the K Menu in the lower left part of the screen.
  6. In the K Menu chose the “Run Command” option.
  7. In the “Run Command” dialog, type: “konsole” and hit the [enter] key.
  8. Next, type: “su” and hit the [enter] key.
  9. Type in the Password of the “root” user and hit the [enter] key. You would have set this password up during installation. See our Installing Debian 4.0 (etch) on a PC guide.
  10. Then you will type the following code:
    test:~# cd /users/{YOUR USERNAME}/Downloads/Brother/HL5250DN
    then press the [enter] key. This changes to the HL5250DN directory.
  11. Now, Install the LPR driver by typing:
    test:~# dpkg -i --force-all (lpr-drivername)
    then press the [enter] key.
  12. Next, Install cupswrapper driver by typing:
    test:~# dpkg -i --force-all (cupswrapper-drivername)
    then press the [enter] key.
  13. To verify the LPR driver and cupswrapper driver both were installed, type:
    test:~# dpkg -l | grep Brother
    then press the [enter] key.
  14. Open any web browser and go to http://localhost:631/printers.
  15. Click “Modify Printer” to continue with the configuration of the HL-5250DN print parameters.
  16. Make any changes to the printer name you wish and click the continue button.
  17. On the Device page, use the Drop Down menu to select “Brother HL-5250DN Series,” “LPD/LPR Host or Printer” or “AppSocket/HP JetDirect”. Either option should work. I chose the First one.
  18. Once you have made the selection on the Device page click the continue button.
  19. On the Device URI page, type:
    lpd://192.168.1.200/binary_p1
    Use the actual IP Address of your printer in place of the 192.168.1.200
  20. Once you have finished withe URI page click the continue button.
  21. On the Make/Manufacturer page, find the area which says “Or Provide a PPD File:” and click the choose file button.
  22. You will then need to navigate to the directory you saved the PPD file in (mine was /users/{YOUR USERNAME}/Downloads/Brother/HL5250DN), select the PPD file and click the open button.
  23. Once you have selected the PPD file you will be returned to the Make/Manufacturer page. Click the continue button.
  24. This should return to the HL5250DN Printer Screen.
  25. Locate and click the Set Printer Options button.
  26. Most likely you will want to adjust the Media Size for Letter.
  27. You may have some other specific settings you wish to change here as well. Make you modifications and click the Set Printer Options button.
  28. This should return to the HL5250DN Printer Screen.
  29. At this point, you can run a test print if you want.

I found helpful information about this process on the Cupswrapper Driver Install Process, on the Brother Solutions web site.