How to Add a PPD File to a System by Using the lpadmin -n Command

This procedure shows how to use the lpadmin command to modify an existing print queue configuration to associate a specified PPD file with the print queue.

If you use the lpadmin command with the -n option to add a PPD file to a system, you cannot specify a label or a repository. Instead, the user label is assigned to the file, and the file is then copied to the user repository. If you want to specify a user-defined label or repository, use the ppdmgr utility to add the PPD file. See How to Add a PPD File to a System by Using the ppdmgr Utility.

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. Modify an existing print queue by associating it with a PPD file.

   # lpadmin -p print-queue -n ppd-file-path

   lpadmin

   Administrative command that is used to configure the LP print service.

   -p print-queue

   Specifies the print queue. Note that the print queue is sometimes referred to as the printer-name.

   -n

   Copies the PPD file that is specified in the ppd-file-path to the default user label directory that is located within the default user PPD file repository.

   ppd-file-path

   Specifies the source path to the PPD file and the name of that file. This file is used with the -a option to add a copy of ppd-file-path to the specified label within the specified repository. The ppdmgr utility accepts a valid PPD file with either a .ppd or .ppd.gz extension.

3. Verify that the PPD file was added by using one of the following methods:

   • Check that the file is displayed in Solaris Print Manager:

     1. Start Solaris Printer Manager.

        for instructions, see How to Start Solaris Print Manager.

     2. Select Modify Printer Attributes (attached or network).

     3. Select the print queue that you specified in Step 2 of this procedure.

        If the PPD file that is associated with the print queue was added successfully, it is displayed in the Printer Driver field. See Description of the Printer Driver Field in Solaris Print Manager.

   • Use the lpstat command to verify the PPD file was added:

     % lpstat -p print-queue -l

     If the PPD file was added to the print queue successfully, the PPD file name is included in the PPD field of the lpstat command's output.

Example 11–6 Adding a PPD File to an Existing Print Queue by Using the lpadmin -n Command

This example shows how to modify the print queue, printer1, to associate it with a copy of the specified PPD file.

# lpadmin -p printer1 -n /path/mynewHPppdfile.ppd

The specified PPD file is stored in /var/lp/ppd/user/HP/mynewHPppdfile.ppd.gz.