Markus Robert Kessler wrote:
> Dear all,
>
> during the last days I tried to install a Printer / Fax from HP (M127fn)
> on several different platforms.
>
> On every OS it seems the same: You can only get these printers to work
> when installing a mandatory proprietary "plugin". This plugin originally
> comes from HP and you will never see the sources. It's just a binary
> "run" file which you may trust and invoke, or not.
>
> As if this was not bad enough, the run file seems to have moved to a
> different location some days ago, and, hence, on e.g. Mageia 6
> installation failed completely, and on Raspbian Stretch I had to do an
> "apt-get update" prior to being able to proceed.
>
> But even after that I got complaints about not fitting pgp checks and had
> to continue even though the plugin potentially was manipulated.
>
> So, at least, this has nothing to do with OpenSource philosophy.
>
> I am wondering why so many people running Linux for higher security, are
> nevertheless agreeing on having non-OpenSource components like this on
> their machines.
>
> - Has anyone found out, what this "plugin" exactly does? And, to which
> locations the installer ("run file") writes or modifies files?
>
> - Are there alternatives as true Open Source drivers?
> I know that high end laser printers can be accessed via PCL or PS
> protocol, but not so with HP Fax Lasers.
>
> Any ideas highly appreciated!
>
> Best regards,

They are a compressed archives and inside is associated PPDs and some
shared object libraries. The plugin adds support for "Windows" printers
and other functions like fax and scanner on MFP. If you buy some
spankin' new model from the store the in repo version of hplip may not
support that model, but grabbing the latest from



will get you up and running.

--
Take care,

Jonathan
-------------------
LITTLE WORKS STUDIO
http://www.LittleWorksStudio.com

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