It is now very nearly impossible to install a headless Pi

You can use `ssh-add -D` to delete all keys from the agent or `ssh-add

-t 1h` (for example) to limit the keys' life in the agent to 1 hour.

I remember laughing at that at too.

You don't have to, but when your primary computer dual-boots, it makes things easier. Besides, it was sitting idle, and even the first-gen Raspberry Pi is more than capable enough for the task.

I had it working at first by (ab)using netcat somewhat, but I eventually tracked down some ancient print-serving code:

I think I'd tried setting up CUPS on the Raspberry Pi before, but ran into problems. Setting it up as a JetDirect-workalike has worked out much better.

The printers I'm connecting that way are definitely older than that. There was a LaserJet 1320n that had built-in Ethernet connectivity, but that wasn't what I'd bought the better part of 20 years ago.

The great thing about JetDirect was the utter lack of cleverness. Not much could go wrong with it

Fully agreed - a Pi-1 (and I have a few) is fully capable. Just questioning the NEED.

But, if you want it that way ...

Which is why I also addressed "old"/RS-232 type printers.

SERIAL - easy to deal with. Parallel/Centronics, not so easy these days.

However NEW printers are NOT very expensive. Let go of the distant past ...... :-)

LOTS of printers ....

Yea, I fully understand the urge to "keep what works", but eventually there's a POINT .......

I didn't say it was bad/stupid.

I just said there may be better solutions.

If he badly WANTS to do it that way ...

So don't put words in my mouth.

The HPLJ-2 was a damned workin' MACHINE. Almost indestructible. Good quality, acceptable speed.

But it wasn't Wi-Fi.

But it COULD be Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Just takes a cheap adapter or two. You can also SHARE it from a Win or Lin unit. No need for intermediary stuff.

Anyway, just saying that there ARE solutions beyond a dedicated print server. Easier, more future utility.

Thanks, I think the idea of certificate-based authentication sounds interesting.

I will give it a go, I should at least understand what it means, even if it is ultimately not appropriate.

Neither does your commercial laptop. Someone PUTS Winders on it.

For a Pi you PUT Linux (or a few other options) on it.

Now C-64s came "equipped" ... the "OS" was burned into the factory ROMs.

Not even your toothbrush is safe!

---druck

That may not actually be true. One of the 'major brands' of smart toothbrushes just does Bluetooth to the phone app, and the data sent is just things like battery level and head pressure:

The presentation above has some valid points about dumb cloud apps and smart-toothbrush-linked dental insurance ("the better you brush the less you pay") but that's a different thing from a botnet.

Theo