Printing from Virtualbox

Gregg

If you want to set up your system so that you can access your Linux host’s printer from a Windows VirtualBox client then:

On Your Linux Host

  1. Install your printer driver. Get your printer working on your host first.
  2. Install CUPS if it is not already installed.
  3. Add your printer to CUPS at http://localhost:631/admin.
  4. Set your virtual machine’s Network to Bridged Adapter (eth0) in Settings and connect the cable as necessary (Advanced menu).
  5. Startup VirtualBox.
  6. In a terminal, enter ifconfig to list your current network settings and copy down your host’s (eth0) address or you can optionally access this address using Network Manager.

On You Windows Client

  1. Add a new Network printer in “Printers and Faxes” from the Control Panel
  2. Enter the URL address of your host’s printer, i.e., http://192.168.0.2:631/printers/Your_printer's_name. You need the :631 after your host’s address as this is the port that CUPS listens to. The Your_printer’s_name is the name of the printer you added to CUPS.

If you can’t establish a connection then check your firewall settings.