Setting Up and Administering Printers by Using CUPS Command-Line Utilities

This section provides a brief description of the CUPS commands and describes how to set up and administer your printers.

CUPS Command-Line Utilities

CUPS provides various commands to set up printers and make those printers accessible to systems on the network. In addition, CUPS supports several printer-specific options that enable you to control printer configuration. The following table lists frequently used CUPS commands.

Note - Some CUPS command names are the same as legacy LP print commands, but the behavior of commands under CUPS management might be different.

Table 15-1 CUPS Command-Line Utilities

Command	Task
`cancel`(1)	Cancels a print request
`cuspaccept`(8)	Enables queueing of print requests to the named destinations
`cuspdisable`(8)	Disables the named printers or classes
`cupsenable`(8)	Enables the named printers or classes
`cupsreject`(8)	Rejects queueing of print requests to the named destinations
`lp`(1)	Submits a print request
`lpadmin`(8)	Sets up or changes a printer or class configuration
`lpc`(8)	Provides limited control over CUPS print and class queues
`lpinfo`(8)	Shows available devices or drivers known to the CUPS server
`lpmove`(8)	Moves a specified job or all jobs to a new destination
`lpoptions`(1)	Displays or sets printer options and defaults
`lpq`(1)	Shows the current print queue status
`lpr`(1)	Submits a print request
`lprm`(1)	Cancels print jobs that have been queued for printing
`lpstat`(1)	Displays the status information for queues and requests

How to Set Up a Printer by Using the `lpadmin` Command

Connect the printer to the system, then turn on the power to the printer.
Consult the printer vendor's installation documentation for information about hardware switches and cabling requirements.
Become an administrator.
For more information, see How to Obtain Administrative Rights in Oracle Solaris Administration: Security Services
Use the lpadmin command with the -p option to add a printer to CUPS.
Only the most commonly used options of the CUPS lpadmin command are shown here. For information about other options, see the lpadmin(8) man page.
```
$ /usr/sbin/lpadmin -p printer-name -E -v device -m ppd
```
-p

Specifies the name of the printer to add.

-E

Enables the destination and accepts jobs.

-v

Sets the device-uri attribute of the print queue.

-m

Sets the PPD file for the printer from the model directory or by using one of the driver interfaces.

See the examples at the end of this procedure.
Enable the printer to accept print requests and to print those requests.
```
$ cupsaccept printer-name
$ cupsenable printer-name
```
Verify that the printer is correctly configured.
```
$ lpstat -p printer-name -l
```

Example 15-1 Adding a Printer That Is Connected to the Parallel Port

To add an HP DeskJet printer DeskJet that is connected to the parallel port, you would type the following command:

$ /usr/sbin/lpadmin -p DeskJet -E -v parallel:/dev/lp1 -m deskjet.ppd

deskjet.ppd: PPD file for the HP DeskJet drivers included with CUPS

Example 15-2 Adding a Printer That Uses a PPD File

To add an HP LaserJet printer LaserJet by using a JetDirect network interface with the IP address 10.1.1.1, you would type the following command:

$ /usr/sbin/lpadmin -p LaserJet -E -v socket://10.1.1.1 -m laserjet.ppd

laserjet.ppd: PPD file for the HP LaserJet drivers included with CUPS

Example 15-3 Adding a Printer That Is Connected to the Serial Port

To add a dot matrix printer that is connected to the serial port, you would type the following command:

$/usr/sbin/lpadmin -p DotMatrix -E -m epson9.ppd \ -v serial:/dev/ttyS0?baud=9600+size=8+parity=none+flow=soft

Specify the serial port, baud rate, number of bits, parity, and flow control. If you do not need flow control, delete the +flow=soft attribute.

Setting a Default Printer

You can specify the default printer in one of the following ways:

By setting the LPDEST or PRINTER environment variable.

The LPDEST environment variable determines the destination of the printer. If the LPDEST variable is not set, the PRINTER variable is used. The PRINTER variable determines the output device or destination. If both the LPDEST and PRINTER variables are not set, an unspecified device is used. For instructions on setting up a default printer by specifying the environment variables, see How to Set a Default Printer at the Command Line.
By using the new lpoptions command.

Use this command to display or set printer options and defaults. For instructions on setting up a default printer by using the CUPS commands, see How to Set a Default Printer at the Command Line. For more information, see the lpoptions(1) man page.

The print command searches for the default printer in the following order:

The printer name as set by the lp command with the -d option
The value of the LPDEST environment variable
The value of the PRINTER environment variable

For instructions on setting up printers by using the CUPS web browser interface, see Setting Up and Administering Printers by Using the CUPS Web Browser Interface .

How to Set a Default Printer at the Command Line

The default printer can be a local printer or a remote printer.

Become an administrator on the system where you want to set a default printer.
Set the system's default printer by using one of the following methods:
- By specifying the PRINTER variable:
```
$ export PRINTER=printer-name
```
  where printer-name specifies the name of the printer to be assigned as the system's default printer. If you do not specify printer-name, the system is set up with no default printer.
  
  Note - When using the lp command with the -d option, the destination printer, which might not be the default printer, is specified. If the -d option is not specified, the print command searches for information about the printer in the PRINTER environment variable.
- By specifying the LPDEST variable:
```
$ export LPDEST=printer-name
```
  where printer-name specifies the name of the printer to be assigned as the system's default printer. If you do not specify printer-name, the system is set up with no default printer.
  
  Note - If both the LPDEST and the PRINTER environment variables are set, LPDEST takes precedence.
- By using the lpoptions command:
```
$ lpoptions -d printer-name
```
  -d
  
  Specifies the destination printer.
  
  printer-name
  
  Specifies the name of the printer that is assigned as the system's default printer. If you do not specify printer-name, the system is set up with no default printer.
  
  For more information, see the lpoptions(1) man page.
Verify the system's default printer.
```
$ lpstat -d
```
To print to the default printer, type the following command:
```
$ lp filename
```

Example 15-4 Setting a Default Printer by Specifying the PRINTER Variable

The following example shows how to set the printer luna as the system's default printer by using the PRINTER variable.

$ export PRINTER=luna
$ lpstat -d
system default destination: luna

Example 15-5 Setting a Default Printer by Specifying the LPDEST Variable

The following example shows how to set the printer luna as the system's default printer by specifying the LPDEST variable.

$ export LPDEST=luna
$ lpstat -d
system default destination: luna

Example 15-6 Setting a Default Printer by Using the lpoptions Command

The following example shows how to set the printer luna as the system's default printer. The printer luna is used as the system's default printer if the LPDEST or the PRINTER environment variable is not set.

$ lpoptions -d luna
$ lpstat -d
system default destination: luna

The lpoptions command creates a ~/.lpoptions file that includes and entry for the default printer luna in the file. By default, all print jobs are now directed to the luna printer.

How to Print to a Specified Printer

(Optional) Verify the status of the printer.
```
$ lpstat -p printer-name
```
Provide the destination printer name when issuing the lp command.
```
$ lp -d destination-printer filename
```
-d

Specifies the destination printer.

destination-printer

Specifies the name of the printer that you are assigning as the destination printer.

filename

Specifies the file name to print.

Note - You can also use the lpr command with the -p option to submit a print request to a specific printer. For more information, see the lpr(1) man page.

Example 15-7 Printing to a Specified Printer by Using the lp Command

The following example shows how to set the printer luna as the destination printer.

$ lp -d luna abc.ps
request id is luna-1 (1 file(s))

$ lpstat -d
system default destination: saturn

The -d option of the lp command takes precedence over the LPDEST and PRINTER environment variables.

Note that in this example, the default printer is saturn.

How to Verify the Status of Printers

The lpstat command displays information about accessible printers and jobs.

Log in to any system on the network.
(Optional) Verify the status of all printers or a specific printer.
Only the most commonly used options are shown here. For information about other options, see the lpstat(1) man page.
```
$ lpstat [-d] [-p] printer-name [-l] [-t]
```
-d

Shows the system's default printer.

-p printer-name

Shows that a printer is active or idle, and when the printer was enabled or disabled.
You can specify multiple printer names with this command. Use a space or a comma to separate printer names. If you use spaces, enclose the list of printer names in quotation marks. If you do not specify printer-name, the status of all printers is displayed.

-l

Shows the characteristics of printers and jobs.

-t

Shows status information about CUPS, including the status of all printers, for example whether printers are active and accepting print requests.

Example 15-8 Displaying the Status of Printers

To display the status of the printer luna:

$ lpstat -p luna
printer luna is idle. enabled since Jul 12 11:17 2011. available.

To display the system's default printer:

$ lpstat -d
system default destination: luna

To display the description of the printers asteroid and luna:

$ lpstat -p "asteroid, luna" -D
printer asteroid faulted. enabled since Jan 5 11:35 2011. available.
unable to print: paper misfeed jam

Description: Printer by break room
printer luna is idle. enabled since Jan 5 11:36 2011. available.
Description: Printer by server room.

To display the characteristics of the printer luna:

$ lpstat -p luna -l
printer luna is idle.  enabled since September 29, 2011 05:20:57 PM BST

How to Print a File to the Default Printer

Log in to any system on the network.
(Optional) Verify the status of the printer.
```
$ lpstat -p printer-name
```
Issue a print request in one of the following ways:
- By using the lp command:
```
$ lp filename
```
- By using the lpr command:
```
$ lpr filename
```
Note - Only the basic commands are shown in this procedure. For information about the other options, see the lp(1) and the lpr(1) man pages.

How to Delete a Printer and Remove Printer Access

Become an administrator on a print client with access to the printer to delete.
On the system that is the print client, delete information about the printer.
```
$ lpoptions -x printer-name
```
printer-name

Specifies the name of the printer to delete.

-x

Deletes the specified printer.

Note - The -x option only removes the default options for a specific printer and instance. The original print queue still remains until it is deleted by using the lpadmin command.
Become an administrator.
On the system that is the printer server, stop accepting print requests for the printer.
```
$ cupsreject printer-name
```
This step prevents any new requests from entering the printer's queue while you are in the process of removing the printer.
Stop the printer.
```
$ cupsdisable printer-name
```
Delete the printer.
```
$ lpadmin -x printer-name
```
Verify that the printer has been deleted, as follows:
1. Confirm that the printer has been deleted on the print client.
```
$ lpstat -p printer-name -l
```
  The command output displays a message indicating the printer does not exist.
2. Confirm that the printer has been deleted on the print server.
```
$ lpstat -p printer-name -l
```
  The command output displays a message indicating that the printer does not exist.

Example 15-9 Deleting a Printer

The following example shows how to delete the printer luna from the print client terra and from the print server jupiter.

terra# lpoptions -x luna
terra# lpstat -p luna -l
jupiter# lpadmin -x luna
jupiter# lpstat -p luna -l
lpstat: Invalid destination name in list "luna"!

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