How to install a new printer on Ubuntu (Kubuntu 18.04 in my case)

I have acquired a new HP printer (HP Laser MFP 135a) a few days ago and I was trying to install it on Ubuntu. As it turned out it wasn't as easy as I was expecting it to be.

First of all the printer I got is connected only via USB cable so these instructions only are applicable here.

I have found some instructions over a gist file and really like to upgrade them to be more readable. To not take the credit thought here is the actual gist link.

Actions I tried but not succesfully solved my problem

• I read some blogs where you just connect your new printer and it's being detected by Kubuntu (I am not sure if original Ubuntu behaves better here so I won't generalize this). My printer wasn't detected by the system.

• Install HPLIP because at some answer it was suggested. Did not help either as the program (run from bash): $hp-setup

could not recognize the my printer:

HP Linux Imaging and Printing System (ver. 3.20.3)
Printer/Fax Setup Utility ver. 9.0

Copyright (c) 2001-18 HP Development Company, LP
This software comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY.
This is free software, and you are welcome to distribute it
under certain conditions. See COPYING file for more details.

Searching... (bus=usb, search=(None), desc=0)
error: No devices found on bus: usb

Actions that resolved my problem

• I searched and downloaded the original provided driver from HP. From here. Well, the driver was found (it's a generic driver as I get it but I am satisfied with that) but no other instructions were given.

• The downloaded file was ULDLINUX_V1.00.39_00.12.zip which of course had to unzip to get the actual driver. Inside the zipped file there is another folder uld where the interesting files reside: install-printer.sh (and I guess install-scanner.sh although not tested)

• Execute with root priviledges the former script: sudo ./install-printer.sh

The menu need some comfirmations:

• "q" to leave "more" of the license
• "y" to accept the license
• "n" (not installing network device)

Summary from install:

Do you agree ? [y/n] : y
Are you going to use network devices ? If yes, it is recommended to configure your firewall.
If you want to configure firewall automatically, enter 'y' or just press 'Enter'. To skip, enter 'n'. : n
Registering CUPS backend ...
CUPS restart OK.
Print driver has been installed successfully.
Install finished.

If everything goes OK this will install the driver (not the printer!)

• The latter step installs some files to /opt/hp/printer/share/ppd/ ls -l /opt/hp/printer/share/ppd/

drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Απρ 8 14:49 cms
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 37069 Απρ 8 14:49 HP_Color_Laser_15x_Series.ppd
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 37065 Απρ 8 14:49 HP_Color_Laser_MFP_17x_Series.ppd
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 35391 Απρ 8 14:49 HP_Laser_10x_Series.ppd
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 81576 Απρ 8 14:49 HP_LaserJet_MFP_M433.ppd
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 88555 Απρ 8 14:49 HP_LaserJet_MFP_M436.ppd
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 183424 Απρ 8 14:49 HP_LaserJet_MFP_M72625_72630.ppd
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 35399 Απρ 8 14:49 HP_Laser_MFP_13x_Series.ppd

• I used the CUPS web interface (I found it more easy to use than the other options) by invoking: http://localhost:631 on the browser

• I added a new printer by choosing Adding Printers and Classes and providing my credentials

• Then I choose Local printer and my (recognized) printer.

• The intersting part is when I should choose a driver and I point to the PPD file by choose the previously installed file. In my case of course this meant choosing /opt/hp/printer/share/ppd/HP_Laser_MFP_13x_Series.ppd.

Hope this be helpful to someone frustated user.

Good luck!