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+# Brother MFC → Paperless: Driverless Scanning with SANE/AirScan
+
+Getting a Brother MFC printer to deliver scans to a Paperless-ngx consume folder without touching the printer's broken web interface.
+
+## The journey (what failed)
+
+### Attempt 1: Scan-to-FTP (vsftpd)
+- Set up vsftpd on the server pointing to Paperless consume folder
+- Brother printer's scan-to-FTP requires creating a profile via the **web interface**
+- Web interface at `http://192.168.50.x/` redirects to HTTPS, requires admin password
+- Brother now uses **unique per-device admin passwords** (printed on a sticker), not shared defaults like `initpass` or `access`
+- If the sticker password doesn't work (or sticker is missing), the web interface is bricked
+
+### Attempt 2: Scan-to-SMB (Samba)
+- Created a guest-accessible Samba share pointing to Paperless consume folder
+- Brother printer's touchscreen shows "No profile found — set profile from web based management"
+- Same web interface password problem — SMB profiles must be created via the web UI, not the touchscreen
+
+## What worked: SANE/AirScan (driverless)
+
+The MFC-J5855DW supports **eSCL/AirScan** — a driverless network scanning protocol. `sane-airscan` on Ubuntu auto-discovers it.
+
+### Install
+```bash
+sudo apt install -y sane sane-utils sane-airscan
+```
+
+### Discover
+```bash
+scanimage -L
+# device `airscan:e0:Brother MFC-J5855DW' is a eSCL Brother MFC-J5855DW ip=192.168.50.219
+```
+
+### Scan (single command)
+```bash
+DEVICE="airscan:e0:Brother MFC-J5855DW"
+CONSUME="/path/to/paperless/consume"
+scanimage --device "$DEVICE" --mode Color --resolution 300 --format pdf \
+  -o "$CONSUME/scan_$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S).pdf"
+```
+
+The scan runs from the **server** — the Brother is a passive network scanner. No printer web interface needed at all.
+
+### Permissions
+The Paperless consume folder is Docker-mounted and may be root-owned. Use ACLs:
+```bash
+sudo setfacl -m u:ray:rwx /path/to/paperless/consume
+```
+
+### Production script
+Save as `/usr/local/bin/scan-to-paperless`:
+```bash
+#!/bin/bash
+set -e
+DEVICE="airscan:e0:Brother MFC-J5855DW"
+CONSUME="/mnt/seagate8tb/paperless/consume"
+MODE="Color"
+RES="300"
+SOURCE="ADF"
+
+# Parse flags: scan-to-paperless [name] [--flatbed] [--gray] [--150dpi]
+NAME=""
+while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
+    case "$1" in
+        --flatbed) SOURCE="Flatbed" ;;
+        --gray)    MODE="Gray" ;;
+        --150dpi)  RES="150" ;;
+        *)         NAME="$1" ;;
+    esac
+    shift
+done
+
+SCAN_OPTS="--mode $MODE --resolution $RES"
+[ "$SOURCE" = "ADF" ] && SCAN_OPTS="$SCAN_OPTS --source ADF --batch-count=1"
+
+FILENAME="${NAME:-scan}_$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S).pdf"
+scanimage --device "$DEVICE" $SCAN_OPTS --format pdf -o "$CONSUME/$FILENAME"
+echo "✅ $FILENAME → Paperless"
+```
+
+## Key properties
+
+- **Network scanning is FAST.** A color 300dpi page takes ~3 seconds.
+- **No drivers needed.** `sane-airscan` uses the eSCL protocol — the same one Apple AirPrint uses.
+- **Works with any eSCL-capable scanner** — not just Brother. Most network MFPs from the last 5 years support this.
+- **Duplex scanning** works with `--source "ADF Duplex"` on supported models.
+- **Paperless auto-ingestion** picks up the PDF within seconds of it landing in the consume folder.