On Wed, 12 Sep 2012 13:14:09 -0700, Gary Roach wrote:
OK. Lets start over.
Configuration:
1. Epson Workforce 645 All in one
2. Network mix of hardwired Win2K and linux computers and an XP
wireless. All with fixed IP addresses.
3. 645 now hardwired to router. Fixed IP address set in router and 645.
4. Router - Actiontec M1424-WR plus Cisco extention switch (Lan to Lan
connection). I have locked in most of the IP addresses for my usual
hardware but still have the capability to use DHCP for new stuff.
Perfect.
Software
1. XP loaded with Epson drivers and Epson Event Manager from CD supplied
with 645.
2. Linux machines:
2.1 A mix of Debian Squeeze and Wheezy systems.
2.2 Samba and Cups installed (and configured?).
2.3 iscan_2.29.1-5-usb0.1.ltd1.7_i386.deb and iscan-
dat_1.17.0-2_all.deb installed with dpkg.
2.4 Xsane, sane and gimp installed
According to the Epson FAQ, you have now the right packages installed:
http://download.ebz.epson.net/faq/linux/faq_ls_00002.html
(note that you may also want to install the network and image processing
plugins)
Performance:
All computers with the exception of the Win2k print to the printer. All
of the print functions seem to work. The exception being the ink
level indicators that don't show on the Linux machines. Remote
FAX not checked. I don't care. The copier works fine. The scan control
from the XP works fine.
Okay, so printing form Debian works, you only miss the information to get
the ink levels, right?
Epson provides a manual for the printer and a list of Linux FAQS, maybe
you can find something of interest there:
http://download.ebz.epson.net/man/linux/escp.html
http://download.ebz.epson.net/faq/linux/
Sadly, Epson explicitely says that they do not support the linux software
(sigh).
Problems:
1.1. When attempting to scan a document from Linux, Xsane produces the
error: "Failed to start scanner: Error during device I/O". At this
point, the document is run through the scanner but no scan is produced.
Does your Xsane version support this device?
In addition, if Epson has a dedicated tool for this, e.g., "iscan" to
obtain the images from the scanner, try with it.
1.2. When Xsane is purged from the system and sane's scanadf or
scanimage is used, I get the error: "Could not send command to scanner.
Check the scanners's status". This same error occurs if iscan is run
through gimp. The scanners control panel reads: "Communication Error.
Check the printer connection and try again".
Run "iscan" from command line and as root user to discard a problem with
the permissions. Also, as you have connected the AIO using an ethernet
cable, the corresponding network plugin package may be needed so the
device can be properly detected by your system.
2.1 The 645 still can't see any of the Linux systems on the consoles
readout when the "Scan to PC" mode is chosen. I can probably live with
this but an office of any size would be seriously inconvenienced. I
think this problem may be caused by Epson's Event Manager software. I
found at least one instance on the net where someone was complaining
about the quirky nature of this piece on drech.
This can be the same problem that you experience when you try to
communicate with the AIO scanner from Debian and get a "communication
error". Installing the network plugin could also help with this :-?
Editorial: The Event Manager seems to be designed to freeze Linux/Unix
out of the market and to rid the user base of older Microsoft products.
If I were a real suspicious person I would see Microsofts hand in this.
Of course if that's true then Epson's management is a bunch of idiots.
Microsofts own management says that they loose about 20% of sales to
piracy, 10% to Linux and about 5% to Apple. That means that Epson is
throwing away about 10% of their business in this Workforce line by poor
support. Stupid.
Next time, instead giving your money to Epson that shows no interest in
Linux, consider twice another alternatives (HP has a nice job here ;-) )
Greetings,