HowTo [Linux] Install a HP Laser Jet 1020 printer in SuSE/OpenSuSE 10.x and 11.x

Versions 10.0, to 11.4 inclusive [And it should work for 12.1 too although I did not try it.]

I will not update this page beyong openSUSE 11.4 (a) because HP now supply very good drivers for the HPLJ-1020, commencing with openSUSE 11.3 and (b) because I have replaced my LJ-1020.

Installing HPs drivers using RPMs: For 11.3 and onwards, the RPMs hplip/hpijs are adequate provided you install HP's additional proprietary plugin. To set up the printer, e.g. in 11.4 install RPMs hp-lip and hplip-hpijs. Then open a console and su to become root, then run the command: hp-setup. That process will install and configure the HP-LJ1020, including the proprietary plugin. If it prints, great, you won't need the rest of this page. But I'm told that in some cases it doesn't work, in which case don't spend any time trying to fix it, just uninstall the aforementioned RPMs and go on with the excellent drivers from the guys at foo2zjs.rkkda.com (see below).

Installing the foo2zjs drivers: This tutorial demonstrates the installation of a HP Laserjet Model 1020 printer in SuSE/OpenSuSE, covering driver download, make and installation. It's very straightforward. The guys at foo2zjs.rkkda.com have done a great job.

The HP LJ1020 works fine as a USB printer and also as a local Linux print server for both Samba and IPP printing. I've tested it in these three modes on Suse Linux 10.0, 10.1 and openSUSE 10.2 and 10.3 with the October 07 driver; and on 11.0, 11.1, 11.2 and 11.3 with drivers downloaded annually from foo2zjs.rkkda.com (see next).

Prerequisites: You need to have "make", "kernel-source" and "gcc-c++" installed [they're in the standard distribution media]. Install these using Yast --> Software Management. You also need internet access to download the driver and later to download the HP Laserjet 1020 firmware file, sihp1020.img. Also, turn the printer on and connect the usb cable. Don't configure it in Yast yet.

For openSUSE 11.3 and higher: uninstall the RPM package udev-configure-printer (if it has been installed). Check in Yast --> Software --> Software management. [But only do this if you commit to using the method on this page.]

Download Driver: obtain "foo2zjs.tar.gz" from foo2zjs.rkkda.com/foo2zjs.tar.gz (click the link)

Unpack & compile driver: R-click the downloaded package foo2zjs.tar.gz and select to unpack to the Desktop. That produces a folder "foo2zjs" which you should cut & paste into you home directory so it ends up at at /home/YourUserName/foo2zjs.

Then open a terminal in the directory "foo2zjs" and issue the following series of commands consecutively, waiting for each to finish before entering the next. Supply the root password when asked:

  • • make
  • • ./getweb 1020
  • • sudo make install
  • • sudo make install-hotplug

Each step must complete successfully before executing the next. The ./getweb command was successful if the file sihp1020.img appears at /home/YourUserName/foo2zjs/sihp1020.img. If you're interested in the dialogue I had in a terminal to see where you went wrong, if things get difficult, I've linked a copy of the raw terminal session for you to download.

Install the printer in Yast: Open Yast --> Hardware --> Printer. You will see an unconfigured HP1020 as follows:

YAST IMAGE

If you don't see it click "add" and it should be autodetected. To configure the printer, simply hihglight it and click "Edit". The screen that opens up will show the printer automagically configured, like so:

PNG IMAGE

If you wish you can highlight features in Pic 2 and click Edit to change any details. Voila one sincerely hopes!! The picture is slightly different in openSUSE 11.0 but not much.

Eccentricities: My experiences with the printer in Suse 10.0, 10.1 and 10.2 were very frustrating (with an old driver). I tried the new driver in all the old Suse releases in mid 2007 and the results were great. I have no worrying problems now, up to and including the latest openSUSE 11.1. Some users report trouble printing many consecutive pages. I have trouble printing large images.

Credits: Linux Printing (.org); Rick Richardson and Roman I.

Maintained since Suse ver 10.0; last update 11 June 2011.