usb_printerid

usb_printerid [options] device_id

device_id
    The device ID of the USB printer, typically in the form bus:device. This can be obtained from lsusb.

The usb_printerid command is a utility used to query a USB printer for its USB Vendor ID (VID), Product ID (PID), and device class information. It directly accesses the USB device via libusb and retrieves this information, providing a human-readable output string formatted according to the standard printer identification specifications. This command is invaluable for system administrators and developers who need to accurately identify printers connected via USB, particularly when setting up printer drivers or troubleshooting printer detection issues. It helps to programmatically discover device capabilities without relying on OS-specific printer APIs. The output can be used to automatically configure print queues or to create driver installation packages that can support the full capabilities of the printer. The command is commonly used within driver installation scripts or within programs that need to identify the capabilities of a printer directly without relying on the OS print system.

The output of usb_printerid is a string that conforms to the printer identification standard. It usually begins with 'MFG:' followed by the manufacturer name, 'MDL:' followed by the model name, and 'CMD:' followed by the list of supported printer command languages. For example, 'MFG:Hewlett-Packard;MDL:LaserJet P1102w;CMD:PJL,ACL,PCLXL'. This string can be used to configure printer drivers.

usb_printerid requires direct access to the USB device. Therefore, it might need to be run with root privileges. Ensure that the user has the necessary permissions to access the specified USB device. Incorrect permissions can result in errors or failure to retrieve the printer information.

lsusb(1), udev(7)