Printer support/Printer Drivers | Steamdeck Desktop

[Sardior]

I have a networked printer, a Brother DCP-L2550DW. All my 'other' computers find it and automatically install the software to use it. The Steamdeck can't access it. As a result I have a crippled desktop experience for the Steamdeck. It works great with my Ubuntu/Windows 10(dual boot) laptop. It works great with my girlfriend's Windows 8 laptop and her Windows 10 mini PC. Both Windows drivers and Linux drivers are available for this printer. I would hope that support for more printers will be happening soon if we are to believe the desktop is a 'thing' that you want to promote about the Steamdeck. I did buy this wonderful Steamdeck for the purpose of abandoning my other computers in favor of a small, powerful, and extremely versatile gaming machine.

[Mad Scientist]

Steam Deck discussions:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/1675200/discussions/

Steam Deck - Feature Requests:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/1675200/discussions/2/

It appears you're already familiar with the fact Brother provides drivers for Linux.

[Sardior]

Ok, I've downloaded the printer drivers from brother but to add them I need admin/root access. I own the hardware but I don't have the admin password to install from the terminal.

[wuddih]

Originally posted by Sardior:

Ok, I've downloaded the printer drivers from brother but to add them I need admin/root access. I own the hardware but I don't have the admin password to install from the terminal.

you need to set one first.

[Sardior]

Originally posted by wuddih:

Originally posted by Sardior:

Ok, I've downloaded the printer drivers from brother but to add them I need admin/root access. I own the hardware but I don't have the admin password to install from the terminal.

you need to set one first.

How? Where?

[Sardior]

Found it. Settings->Users->Change Password

[Sardior]

Now to install:
I will need to use the terminal to install the packages. I have downloaded both the .rpm and .deb packages for the printer. I am having quite a difficult time finding "how" to install from them. pacman is the package manager, but the correct command line is elusive at best. Any assist would be greatly appreciated.

[Crashed]

Originally posted by Sardior:

Now to install:
I will need to use the terminal to install the packages. I have downloaded both the .rpm and .deb packages for the printer. I am having quite a difficult time finding "how" to install from them. pacman is the package manager, but the correct command line is elusive at best. Any assist would be greatly appreciated.

This might be best asked in Hardware and Operating Systems. Steam Deck runs on Arch Linux x86_64 and is likely compatible with packages intended for the parent OS.

[Sardior]

Thank you!!! I'll be digging in a little later today. I'll let you know if I can get it working with your instructions.

Keep in mind that systems like Ubuntu come already pre-configured with the required packages, same with Windows 8/10 which can auto install drivers.
Steam Deck is 'locked' to read-only.
SteamOS 3.0 is based on Arch Linux and the packages you downloaded are for other distros:

.deb - Debian (based) distro(s)
.rpm - RedHat distros

That being said, if you want to use it as a Desktop you need to do several configurations.

Yes, in spite of me sounding sometimes like a noob I am aware of the multitude of linux distros. I've been using it since the mid 1990's. My current linux distro (which I've used many years now) is Ubuntu. What you gave me here is a good instruction set of needed changes to make this "my machine". Thank you again!!!

Originally posted by Crashed:

Originally posted by Sardior:

Now to install:
I will need to use the terminal to install the packages. I have downloaded both the .rpm and .deb packages for the printer. I am having quite a difficult time finding "how" to install from them. pacman is the package manager, but the correct command line is elusive at best. Any assist would be greatly appreciated.

This might be best asked in Hardware and Operating Systems. Steam Deck runs on Arch Linux x86_64 and is likely compatible with packages intended for the parent OS.

Yes, it probably will go better there and I'll continue this query there if I need further assistance. Thank you!!!

[Sardior]

I've been busy myself this evening, company and all. I'll be attempting to get this working again tomorrow morning. Thank you for the correction! Tonight I'm just going to play. :-)