cups-docker

Docker container for old EPSON printers on basis of Debian Jessie.

Some friends of mine had an old EPSON printer for which no current drivers are available. So I decided to build a docker container which provides a CUPS server and the drivers for their printer. After all it would have been cheaper, if they just bought a new printer ;-) ...

But nevertheless I've had fun creating a solution and on the other hand it could also be helpful for others. It should be quite easy to modify the build script so that other printer drivers are included.

Build the container images

Depending on your architecture you can either call

./build.sh i386 # creates thednp/cups-docker:epson-i386

or

./build.sh amd64 # creates thednp/cups-docker:epson-amd64

From now on let's assume we're dealing with amd64 only.

Using the image

The built image is self-contained in means of provides an interface that explains how to use it.

docker run --rm -i thednp/cups-docker:epson-amd64-v1.0.0

This results in:

thednp/cups-docker provides a CUPS server with drivers for all EPSON printer drivers located under:

    https://download.ebz.epson.net/dsc/op/stable/debian/dists/lsb3.2/main/

This image provides the following commands:

    start-cups                  The actual entry point to start the CUPS server 
                                in an container instance.
    container-handler           Dump a script that allows you to integrate the
                                CUPS server within your init system.
    help                        Print this help message.

Install and use cups-docker on your system as follows:

    docker run --rm -i thednp/cups-docker container-handler > cups-docker
    chmod +x cups-docker
    sudo ./cups-docker connect # after that restart your local CUPS
    ./cups-docker start

Now you can integrate 'cups-docker' with your init system or autostart it, when
you log in to your desktop environment.

When you read this output carefully and follow its steps everything should be clear and self-explaining.

Docker images

See https://hub.docker.com/r/thednp/cups-docker for the built and released docker images.