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System Administration Guide: Printing

Chapter 4 Setting Up and Administering Printers by Using Solaris Print Manager (Tasks)

This chapter describes how to set up and administer printers by using the Solaris Print Manager graphical user interface (GUI).

This is a list of the information that is in this chapter:

For overview information about printing, see Chapter 1, Introduction to Printing in the Oracle Solaris Operating System.

Setting Up Printers by Using Solaris Print Manager (Task Map)

Table 4–1 Printer Setup With Solaris Print Manager (Task Map)

Task 

Description 

For Instructions 

Start the Solaris Print Manager GUI. 

Access the Solaris Print Manager GUI to set up and administer printers. 

How to Start Solaris Print Manager

Add a new directly attached local printer by using Solaris Print Manager. 

Use Solaris Print Manager to make the printer available for printing after you physically attach the printer to a system. 

How to Add a New Directly Attached Printer by Using Solaris Print Manager

Use Solaris Print Manager to add a print queue with localhost specified as the system's host name.

You can specify localhost as the host name in the print system's databases when adding a new print queue or modifying an existing print queue by using Solaris Print Manager.

How to Add a Print Queue With localhost Specified as the Host Name (Solaris Print Manager)

Add a new network-attached printer by using Solaris Print Manager. 

Use Solaris Print Manager add a new network-attached printer. 

How to Add a New Network-Attached Printer by Using Solaris Print Manager

Getting Started With Solaris Print Manager

Solaris Print Manager is a Java-based graphical user interface that enables you to manage local and remote printer configuration. This tool can be used in the following naming service environments: LDAP, NIS, NIS+, and files. You must be logged in as superuser to use this tool.

Use Solaris Print Manager to set up print servers and print clients (Add Access to Printer). An attached printer is a printer that is physically cabled to the print server. A network-attached printer is physically attached to the network. Adding access to a printer, or adding remote access to a printer, is the process of giving print clients (all those machines that are not the server) access to the printer. For more information about printing terms, see Glossary.

Solaris 10 5/08: The print system can use and recognize localhost as the host name in the print system databases. Previously, /bin/hostname was used to generate the print host name. These improvements were made to enable print servers to maintain the same print host name, independent of the machine host name. For more information, see How to Add a Print Queue With localhost Specified as the Host Name (Solaris Print Manager).

ProcedureHow to Start Solaris Print Manager

  1. Before you start Solaris Print Manager, verify that the following prerequisites are met:

    • You must have a bitmapped display monitor, such as the standard display monitor that comes with an Oracle workstation. Solaris Print Manager can be used only on a system with a console that is a bitmapped screen.

    • You must be running an X Window System, such as the GNOME Desktop Environment, or be using the remote display feature on a system running an xhost environment.

    • You must be logged in as superuser or assume an equivalent role on the print server.

    • You must have the required access privileges for managing the LDAP, NIS, and NIS+ databases.

      If your naming service is LDAP, you must have the following items:

      • The distinguished name (DN) of a printer administrator and password in the directory.

      • The name or IP address of an LDAP server hosting the administered domain. This information is usually displayed and selected automatically.

      If your naming service is NIS, you must have the root password for the NIS master.

    • If you naming service is NIS+, you might need to complete the following steps.

      1. Log in to the NIS+ master as superuser.

      2. Identify the group that owns the printers table.


        # niscat -o printers.org_dir.domain-name.com
            .
            .
            .
         Group		: "admin.domain-name.com"

      3. If necessary, add the system that runs Solaris Print Manager to the NIS+ admin group authorized to update the printers.org_dir.<domain> file.


        # nisgrpadm -a admin.domain-name.com hostname

      4. As superuser, log in to the system that runs Solaris Print Manager. Your NIS+ configuration might make it necessary to run the /usr/bin/keylogin command. For more information, see the keylogin(1) man page.

    • Have the SUNWppm package installed.


      # pkginfo | grep SUNWppm
system      SUNWppm        Solaris Print Manager

  2. Start Solaris Print Manager by using one of the following methods:

    • Select Add/Remove Printer in the GNOME Desktop.

      Launch -> Preferences -> System Preferences -> Add/Remove Printer

      You are prompted for the root password.

    • Type the following command:


      # /usr/sbin/printmgr &
      Note –

      You can also start Solaris Print Manager by using the original path of the printmgr command:


      # /usr/sadm/admin/bin/printmgr &

      The Select Naming Service window overlays the Solaris Print Manager main window.

    If Solaris Print Manager fails to start from the GNOME Desktop menu or from the command line, check the following:

    • Superuser (root) might not have permission to connect to the X-server process on the local system or the remote system. In this case, type the following:


      $ ssh -Xhostname
$ su
(Enter root's password)
# /usr/sbin/printmgr &

      Replace hostname with either the local system name or the remote system name before restarting Solaris Print Manager.

    • Verify that the SUNWppm package is installed on the local system or the remote system.


      $ pkginfo | grep SUNWppm

  3. Select the naming service that is used in your network from the Select Naming Service window. The choices are: LDAP, NIS, NIS+, or files.

  4. Check that the domain name is correct.

    The Solaris Print Manager main menu is displayed after the naming service is loaded successfully.

Setting Up Directly Attached Printers by Using Solaris Print Manager

You can add, modify, and delete a printer, as well as add printer access by using Solaris Print Manager. Most of the options that you can specify by using the lpadmin command can also be specified by using Solaris Print Manager.

Note –

You must become superuser or assume a role that has equivalent privileges to gain access to some of the options that are in Solaris Print Manager. Options and selectable attributes within the tool vary, depending on the user's role.

For a detailed description of all the printer definitions that you can set or reset by using Solaris Print Manager, see Setting Printer Definitions by Using Solaris Print Manager.

Setting Printer Definitions by Using Solaris Print Manager

The following table describes the printer definitions that you can set for a printer by using Solaris Print Manager. You can set the same definitions for a printer by using LP print commands.

Table 4–2 Printer Definition Descriptions

Printer Definition 

Description 

Example 

Default 

Required or Optional? 

Printer Name

Name of printer 

laser1

N/A 

Required to install an attached or network-attached printer and to add access to a printer 

Print server

Name of print server 

venus

Use localhost for Printer Server attribute check box selected by default

Required to install an attached or network-attached printer and to add access to a printer 

This field is filled in by the tool 

Description

User defined string 

laser printer near breakroom

N/A 

Optional 

Printer Port

Device that the printer is attached to 

/dev/term/a

/dev/term/a

Required to install an attached printer 

Printer Type

Type of printer 

unknown

PostScript

Required to install an attached printer or a network-attached printer without PPD files 

File Content Type

Content to be printed 

any

PostScript

Required to install an attached printer or a network-attached printer without PPD files 

Printer Make

Make of printer 

Lexmark 

N/A 

Required to install an attached printer or a network-attached printer with PPD files 

Printer Model

Model of printer 

Lexmark Optra E312 

N/A 

Required to install an attached printer or a network-attached printer with PPD files 

Printer Driver

Driver that is used by specifying PPD file 

Foomatic/PostScript 

N/A 

Required to install an attached printer or a network-attached printer with PPD files 

Fault Notification

Specifies how to notify user of errors 

Mail to superuser

Write to superuser

Optional 

Default Printer 

Identifies the default printer 

N/A 

N/A 

Optional 

Banner Page Drop-Down Menu: 

Specifies to print a banner page. 

N/A 

Banner is printed unless turned off by using lp command with appropriate option

Optional 

User Access List

List of users allowed to print on the print server 

rimmer,lister

All users can print 

Optional 

Specifying PPD Files When Setting Up a Printer by Using Solaris Print Manager

Solaris Print Manager includes a Use PPD files option that enables you to specify a PPD file when creating a new print queue or modifying an existing print queue. If you do not want to specify a PPD file, you can deselect this option.

Note –

PPD files are not required for printers that already contain the RIP feature.

When setting up a printer that uses a PPD file, you are required to specify following information:

ProcedureHow to Add a New Directly Attached Printer by Using Solaris Print Manager

The following procedure describes how to add a new attached printer by using Solaris Print Manager with the Use PPD files default attribute is selected. To add a new attached printer without PPD files, deselect this attribute by removing the checkmark from the check box.

  1. Select the system to be the print server.

  2. Connect the printer to the print server. Turn on the power to the printer.

    Consult the printer vendor's installation documentation for information about the hardware switches and cabling requirements.

  3. Start Solaris Print Manager on the print server where you connected the printer.

    For instructions, see How to Start Solaris Print Manager.

    You can specify localhost as the host name in the print system's databases. This modification was made to enable print servers to maintain the same print host name, localhost, independent of the machine host name. This option is the default in Solaris Print Manager. You can deselect this check box to revert to earlier behavior for this option. Note that this option applies exclusively to the set up of local print queues. For more information, see Specifying PPD Files When Setting Up a Printer by Using Solaris Print Manager.

    To set up a local print queue specifying localhost as the host name by using the lpadmin command with the -s option, see How to Add a Print Queue With localhost Specified as the Host Name (LP Print Commands).

  4. Select New Attached Printer from the Printer menu.

    The New Attached Printer window is displayed.

  5. Fill in the required fields with the appropriate information.

    If you need information to complete a field, click the Help button.

    For example, to add a new attached printer with PPD files, provide the appropriate information in the following fields:


    Printer Name:
Description:
Printer Port:
Printer Make:
Printer Model:
Printer Driver:
Fault Notification:
Options:
Default Printer
Always Print Banner
User Access List:

    The Printer Server field is filled in by Solaris Print Manager.

    To add a new attached printer without PPD files, provide the appropriate information in the following fields:


    Printer Name:
Description:
Printer Port:
Printer Type:
File Contents:
Fault Notification:
Options:
Default Printer
Always Print Banner
User Access List:

    The Printer Server field is filled in by Solaris Print Manager.

  6. Click OK.

  7. Verify that the printer has been installed. Check for the new printer entry in the Solaris Print Manager main window.

  8. Verify that the printer can print requests.


    # lp -d printer-name filename

  9. Verify that the new Solaris Print Manager feature is working.

    When you are using Solaris Print Manager to create or modify a print queue, choose the files option as the naming service. Select the New Attached Printer option from the menu. If the drop-down menu displays the printer make and printer model, the new feature is working.

Verifying That the RIP Feature Is Working

The RIP enables you to print to printers that do not have resident PostScript processing capabilities.

To ensure that the RIP feature is working you need to create a new print queue by selecting one of the make and model combinations that is available in the New Attached Printer and New Network Printer screens used by Solaris Print Manager. Then, try printing to the new printer. If the output of the print job is recognizable, the RIP feature is working. If the output of the print job is unrecognizable, then the RIP feature is not working.

ProcedureHow to Add a Print Queue With localhost Specified as the Host Name (Solaris Print Manager)

This procedure shows how to use Solaris Print Manager to add a local print queue with localhost specified as the host name in the print system databases. This modification was added to enable print servers to maintain the same print host name, independent of the machine host name. Note that you can also modify a print queue by using these commands.

  1. Become superuser or assume an equivalent role.

    Roles contain authorizations and privileged commands. For more information about roles, see Configuring RBAC (Task Map) in System Administration Guide: Security Services.

  2. Start Solaris Print Manager as described in the procedure, How to Start Solaris Print Manager.

  3. Set the print host name to localhost in Solaris Print Manager.

    For instructions, see Setting Printer Definitions by Using Solaris Print Manager.

  4. Check the entry in the /etc/printers.conf file.


    # lpget new-print-queue
new-print-queue:
        bsdaddr=abc,new-print-queue,Solaris

    If the print queue was created or modified successfully, the output of the lpget command returns the name of the new or modified print queue.

See Also

For information about specifying localhost as the print server's host name when adding or modifying a print queue with the lpadmin command, see How to Add a Print Queue With localhost Specified as the Host Name (LP Print Commands).

Setting Up Network-Attached Printers by Using Solaris Print Manager

Setting up a network-attached printer by using Solaris Print Manager is similar to setting up a directly attached printer. The printer definitions that you are required to set vary. For information on the printer definitions that you are required to set during the setup of a network-attached printer, see Setting Printer Definitions by Using Solaris Print Manager

ProcedureHow to Add a New Network-Attached Printer by Using Solaris Print Manager

The Use PPD files default attribute in Solaris Print Manage enables you to select the printer make, model, and driver when adding new printer.

The following procedure describes how to add a new network—attached printer by using Solaris Print Manager with the Use PPD files default attribute is selected. To add a new network-attached printer without PPD files, deselect this attribute by removing the checkmark from the check box.

  1. Select the system to be the print server.

  2. Connect the printer to the network. Turn on the power to the printer.

    Consult the printer vendor's installation documentation for information about the hardware switches and cabling requirements.

  3. Start Solaris Print Manager on the print server.

    For instructions, see How to Start Solaris Print Manager.

    In this Solaris release you can specify localhost as the host name in the print system's databases. This modification was added to enable print servers to maintain the same print host name, localhost, independent of the machine host name. This option is the default in Solaris Print Manager. To revert to earlier behavior for this option, deselect the check box. Note that this option applies exclusively to the setup of local print queues.

    To set up a local print queue specifying localhost as the host name by using the lpadmin command with the -s option, see How to Add a Print Queue With localhost Specified as the Host Name (LP Print Commands).

  4. Select New Network Printer from the Printer menu.

    The New Network Printer window is displayed.

  5. Fill in the required fields with the appropriate information.

    If you need information to complete a field, click the Help button.

    For example, to add a new network-attached printer with PPD files, provide the appropriate information in the following fields:


    Printer Name:
Description:
Printer Make:
Printer Model:
Printer Driver:
Fault Notification:
Destination:
Protocol:
Options:
Default Printer
Always Use Banner
User Access List:

    The Printer Server field is filled in by Solaris Print Manager.

    To add a new network-attached printer without PPD files, provide the appropriate information in the following fields:


    Printer Name:
Description:
Printer Type:
File Contents:
Fault Notification:
destination:
Protocol:
Options:
Default Printer
Always Use Banner
User Access List:

    The Printer Server field is filled in by Solaris Print Manager.

  6. Click OK.

  7. Verify that the printer has been installed. Check for the new printer entry in the Solaris Print Manager main window.

  8. Verify that the printer can print requests.


    $ lp -d printer-name filename

Administering Printers by Using Solaris Print Manager (Task Map)

The following tables lists print administration tasks that can be performed by using Solaris Print Manager. Not all print administration tasks can be performed by using Solaris Print Manager. Some tasks, for example, stopping and starting the print scheduler, must be performed by using LP print commands. For more information about administering printers by using LP print commands, see Administering Print Requests by Using LP Print Commands (Task Map).

Table 4–3 Printer Administration by Using Solaris Print Manager (Task Map)

Task 

Description 

For Instructions 

Add printer access by using Solaris Print Manager 

Use Solaris Print Manager to add printer access on the print client. 

How to Add Printer Access by Using Solaris Print Manager

Delete a printer or access to a printer by using Solaris Print Manager 

Use Solaris Print Manager to delete local and remote printers and remove printer access. However, you cannot move queued print requests to another printer by using Solaris Print Manager. 

How to Delete a Printer by Using Solaris Print Manager

ProcedureHow to Add Printer Access by Using Solaris Print Manager

The following procedure describes how to use the Solaris Print Manager to add access to a printer on a print client. The example that follows describes how to add printer access by using the lp print commands.

  1. Start Solaris Print Manager on the system where you want to add access to a remote printer.

    For instructions, see How to Start Solaris Print Manager.

  2. Select Add Access to Printer from the Printer menu.

    The Add Access to Printer window is displayed.

  3. Type the appropriate data in the entry fields.

    If you need information to complete a field, click the Help button.

  4. Click OK.

  5. Verify that access to the printer is added by checking for the new printer entry in the Solaris Print Manager main window.

  6. Verify that the printer can print requests.


    $ lp -d printer-name filename

ProcedureHow to Delete a Printer by Using Solaris Print Manager

Use this procedure to remove a printer from service and to remove the printer information from the print server.

For information about how to delete a printer and remove printer access by using LP print commands, see How to Delete a Printer and Remove Printer Access by Using LP Print Commands.

  1. On the print server for the printer that you want to delete, log in as superuser, lp, or assume an equivalent role.

  2. Stop accepting print requests for the printer.


    # reject printer-name

  3. Move any print requests that are still in the print queue to another printer.

    For information about how to move print requests to another printer, see How to Move Print Requests to Another Printer.

  4. Stop the printer.

    For information about how to stop printing, see How to Enable or Disable a Printer.

  5. Start Solaris Print Manager.

    For instructions, see How to Start Solaris Print Manager.

  6. To delete the printer, follow these steps:

    1. From the list of available printers, select the printer that you want to delete.

    2. From the Printer menu, select Delete Printer.

    3. Click OK to save your changes.

  7. Verify that the printer has been deleted:


    # lpstat -p printer-name