ray
94 lines
2.8 KiB
Markdown
94 lines
2.8 KiB
Markdown
# Brother MFC → Paperless-ngx Scan Pipeline
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Network scanner → Paperless consume folder, no drivers, no printer web admin password required.
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## Prerequisites
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- Brother MFC with network (WiFi or Ethernet) on same LAN as server
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- `sane-airscan` installed (`sudo apt install sane-airscan sane-utils`)
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- Paperless-ngx running with a consume folder mounted
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## Setup (once)
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### 1. Verify scanner discovery
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```bash
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scanimage -L
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# Should show:
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# device `airscan:e0:Brother MFC-J5855DW' is a eSCL Brother MFC-J5855DW ip=192.168.50.219
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```
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No Brother drivers needed — `sane-airscan` uses the driverless eSCL/AirScan protocol.
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### 2. Ensure write access to consume folder
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```bash
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sudo setfacl -m u:$USER:rwx /path/to/paperless/consume
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```
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### 3. Install scan script at `/usr/local/bin/scan-to-paperless`
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```bash
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#!/bin/bash
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# scan-to-paperless — scan from Brother MFC → Paperless consume folder
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# Usage: scan-to-paperless [name] [--flatbed] [--gray] [--150dpi]
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set -e
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DEVICE="airscan:e0:Brother MFC-J5855DW"
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CONSUME="/mnt/seagate8tb/paperless/consume"
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MODE="Color"
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RES="300"
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SOURCE="ADF"
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NAME=""
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while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
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case "$1" in
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--flatbed) SOURCE="Flatbed" ;;
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--gray) MODE="Gray" ;;
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--150dpi) RES="150" ;;
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*) NAME="${1}_" ;;
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esac
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shift
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done
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SCAN_OPTS="--mode $MODE --resolution $RES"
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if [ "$SOURCE" = "ADF" ]; then
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SCAN_OPTS="$SCAN_OPTS --source ADF --batch-count=1"
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fi
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TIMESTAMP=$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S)
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FILENAME="${NAME}scan_${TIMESTAMP}.pdf"
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OUTFILE="$CONSUME/$FILENAME"
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echo "📄 Scanning ($SOURCE, $MODE, ${RES}dpi) → $FILENAME"
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scanimage --device "$DEVICE" $SCAN_OPTS --format pdf -o "$OUTFILE"
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SIZE=$(du -h "$OUTFILE" | cut -f1)
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echo "✅ Done — $SIZE saved to Paperless"
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```
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## Daily usage
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```bash
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scan-to-paperless # ADF, color 300dpi
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scan-to-paperless invoice # names it invoice_scan_20260614_172310.pdf
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scan-to-paperless --flatbed # use flatbed (photos, fragile docs)
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scan-to-paperless --gray --150dpi # B&W, low res (small file)
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```
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## Flow
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```
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scan-to-paperless
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→ Brother scans via eSCL (AirScan over HTTP)
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→ PDF saved to /mnt/seagate8tb/paperless/consume/
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→ Paperless auto-ingests, OCRs, classifies, tags
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```
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## Alternative approaches that failed
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- **Scan-to-FTP via Brother web interface**: Requires printer admin password. Defaults (`initpass`, `access`, `brother`) don't work on modern Brother MFCs (unique per-device password on sticker).
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- **Scan-to-SMB via Brother**: Also requires web admin to create the profile. Samba share was set up but could not be configured on the printer side without the web password.
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- **Brother brscan4 driver**: Proprietary `.deb` behind an EULA wall that requires browser cookie; `sane-airscan` driverless approach is simpler and works immediately.
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