I'm new to Linux and struggling to install drivers for my Brother MFC-L2720DW printer and scanner on PopOS with Cosmic. I think I've downloaded the correct Deb files and they're called *linux-brprinter-installer-2.2.6-0*. When I checked the file type, it says 'application/x-shellscript'. I've spent quite some time trying to locate my Downloads directory where the zip file should be, but I can't seem to unpack the files correctly. With all the discussions about Flatpak and only using the store for these things, I'm feeling overwhelmed. The printer works but lacks the Brother control panel, and the scanner still needs drivers. I found resources on Brother's website for Linux, but it's all quite confusing. Can anyone help me out? Thanks!
4 Answers
I mean, being on PopOS, you asked for this! It’s tough learning a new system, but don't let it get to you. Keep at it!
You definitely run that file in the terminal with sudo since it requires administrative access. Your Downloads folder should be in your home directory, like so: `/home/YourUsername/Downloads`. Just make sure you're in the right folder when trying to run the commands!
I tried running the gunzip command, but nothing happened. If it fails again, what’s my next step?
You can download your printer drivers from the Brother support page. Just click on the Driver Install Tool option for your model. After downloading, you can follow these steps in the terminal. 1. Move the .gz file to the /tmp folder and open a terminal. 2. Use the command `cd Downloads` to navigate to where the file is. 3. Run `gunzip linux-brprinter-installer-*.gz` to extract the files. 4. Then, become a superuser with `sudo su` and run `bash linux-brprinter-installer-* Brother model name` to start installing the driver. Remember to follow the prompts carefully!
Thanks for the detailed instructions! But just to clarify, how do I use gunzip? Is that directly in the terminal, or is there another way?
I have a similar Brother printer, and when I set it up on Linux Mint, using CUPS made it super easy. Have you tried accessing the CUPS web interface to add your printer?
I appreciate your note, but it feels rough trying to figure everything out in this new Linux world.