Scanning from my Macs over the network

My Ubuntu Server (running Karmic Koala 9.10) is connected to a usb scanner.

I wanted to be able to scan from any Mac on the same network. It was pretty easy to set up.

Server Side Setup (on the Ubuntu Linux machine)

• Plugged in my CanoScan LIDE 25 into my linux box.
• Made sure I could use it by selecting Applications, Graphics, then Xsane Image Scanner
• Worked fine.

The next step was to make the scanner accessible over the network. I used this article. It worked for me without a hitch.

The server is set up. Now time to set up the Macs

On the Mac(s)

On the Mac computer that you want to use the scanner, download and install all the following packages (the binaries, not the SDK) from here . Choose the appropriate one for your version of Mac OS X.

gettext
libusb
SANE Backends
SANE Preference Pane
TWAIN SANE Interface

Open up System Preferences, and select SANE




In the SANE Pref Pane, Make sure "net" is selected. I deselected everything else too.


Click on the "configure" dot in the column beside it.

This should open up /usr/local/etc/sane.d/net.conf. At the bottom of this file, put in the IP of your linux server.


Open up image capture (Finder, Applications, Image Capture).

A pop up should come up telling you there is no image capture device connected. Doesn't matter.

Select Devices, Browse Devices. You should see SANE show up under TWAIN Data Sources. Select Use TWAIN UI.


Happy scanning!

Problems

Look at the FAQ section of the "Twain Sane Interface" webpage.

If you are not able to use the scanner with Image Capture, it probably has something to do with what is in the file: /Library/Image Capture/TWAIN Data Sources/SANE.ds/Contents/Info.plist, on your MAC.

I was able to find my device's id's in here but you may not. In this case I would add them.

To find the device id's, on the server:

aleem@sidi-desktop:~$ lsusb
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 003: ID 04a9:2220 Canon, Inc. CanoScan LIDE 25
Bus 003 Device 002: ID 03f0:0d17 Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 1012
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub

Make sure there is an entry for this device on the Mac in the file /Library/Image Capture/TWAIN Data Sources/SANE.ds/Contents/Info.plist. In my case the relevant section looks like this:

<dict>
<key>device type</key>
<string>scanner</string>
<key>product</key>
<string>0x2220</string>
<key>vendor</key>
<string>0x04a9</string>
</dict>