Mon blog

This is a very short article documenting how I managed to configure a Xerox AltaLink C8130 printer on a Debian machine. No rocket science, it is just that it could have been easier so I document it for the benefits of the people finding this artcle via a search engine, and also for my own benefit if I have to do it again.

I use CUPS for printing on my Debian machine and, without anything special, it worked with the Xerox AltaLink C8130. But without any option (double-sided, stapling, etc). To have the full set of options, I deleted the printer through CUPS' Web interface (the one which is by default at http://localhost:631/) and added it from scratch (Administration → Add a printer). I then choosed "LPD/LPR printer" (I assume it should work as well with IPP but I did not try), then used socket://192.0.2.43/ as connection parameter (the IP address being of course the printer's address; the easiest way to get it is by printing a test page from the front panel of the printer).

Then, I added the PPD file. This is the important step and it is not easy to find the PPD file on Xerox Web site (a "site:support.xerox.com ppd altalink" in your favorite search engine helps, searching for "drivers" or "download" is useless). The file is labeled "Generic PPD" and its name is AltaLink_C8130-C8170_5.709.0.0_PPD.zip.

You can then upload it to CUPS through its Web interface and it's done.