On Ubuntu, the CUPS web interface has no working "network printer autodiscovery". The reason: Ubuntu packagers have disabled the new CUPS 1.2 "snmp" backend, for some incomprehensible reason. Therefor, this screenshot can't give you an impression about how it works. For that, have a look at Kanotix, for example.

On Kanotix, it works. The reason is simple: Kanotix didn't disable the "snmp" backend.

If you want to enable it on your Ubuntu system, run this command:

  sudo ln -s  ../backend-available/snmp /usr/lib/cups/backend/snmp

You don't even need to restart CUPS to see it in action. Just go to

http://localhost:631/admin

If your LAN has one or more SNMP enabled printers attached to it, chances are that the CUPS web interface will automatically discover it and offer you to install it with the help of its "Add Printer Wizard".

To see how this looks like, see these screenshots:

• CUPS web interface, after snmp backend discovered not-yet-installed network printers (IPP, JetDirect/AppSocket or LPR/LPD)
• After clicking "Add This Printer", CUPS preselects the driver it thinks is best for the discovered model; but of course, you can override that pre-selection if you want
• When adding printer succeeded, CUPS shows a confirmation message
• After showing confirmation message, CUPS automatically redirects to the "Set Printer Options" page