Chapter 2 Updating SunSoft Print Clients to Access Existing Printers

This chapter explains how to convert the printer configuration information from SunOS 5.x and 4.x systems at your site and copy this information to SunSoft print clients so they can access existing printers.

This is a list of the step-by-step instructions in this chapter.

• "How to Convert Printer Information From a SunOS 5.x System"

• "How to Convert Printer Information From a SunOS 4.x System"

• "How to Use the /etc/printers.conf File to Load NIS"

• "How to Use the /etc/printers.conf File to Load NIS+"

If you're installing new printers, see Chapter 3, Setting Up SunSoft Print Client Software With Printer Manager, for information on setting up SunSoft Print Client software at your site.

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Note -

If you have only a few existing printers, it may be easier to add access to the printers by using Printer Manager rather than convert the printer configuration information and distribute it to print clients. See Chapter 3, Setting Up SunSoft Print Client Software With Printer Manager, for information on adding access to printers.

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Updating SunSoft Print Clients With Printer Information

Table 2-1 provides an overview of the tasks you perform to convert the printer configuration information from SunOS 5.x and 4.x systems at your site and distribute the information to SunSoft print clients so they can access existing printers. You use the command line interface to accomplish each task.

Table 2-1 Task Map: Updating SunSoft Print Clients to Access Existing Printers

Activity	Description	For Instructions, Go To
Convert Existing Printer Configuration Information	Convert Printer Configuration Information From a SunOS 5.x System  If your site uses SunOS 5.x software, convert the printer configuration information in a 5.x system's /etc/lp/printers directory to the SunSoft /etc/printers.conf configuration file. This is usually a one-time task.	"How to Convert Printer Information From a SunOS 5.x System"
	Convert Printer Configuration Information From a SunOS 4.x System  If your site uses SunOS 4.x software, convert the printer configuration information in a 4.x system's /etc/printcap file to the SunSoft /etc/printers.conf configuration file. This is usually a one-time task.	"How to Convert Printer Information From a SunOS 4.x System"
Enable SunSoft Print Clients to Access Existing Printers	Copy a Master /etc/printers.conf File to Clients If you don't use a name service, copy the printer configuration information in the converted system's /etc/printers.conf file to other SunSoft print clients. You will probably perform this task each time you install, modify, or delete printers on the network.
	Use the /etc/printers.conf File to Load NIS If you use NIS, copy the printer configuration information in the converted system's /etc/printers.conf file to the NIS master file.	"How to Use the /etc/printers.conf File to Load NIS"
	Use the /etc/printers.conf File to Load NIS+ If you use NIS+, copy the printer configuration information in the converted system's /etc/printers.conf file to the NIS+ master file. This is usually a one-time task.	"How to Use the /etc/printers.conf File to Load NIS+"

Converting Existing Printer Configuration Information

This section explains how to convert the printer configuration information from a SunOS 5.x or 4.x system to the /etc/printers.conf printer configuration file used in the SunSoft Print Client software. You'll use one of two new print administration commands to automate the conversion task:

• The conv_lp command enables you to convert information in the /etc/lp/printers directory on a SunOS 5.x system to entries in the system's /etc/printers.conf file. See "How to Convert Printer Information From a SunOS 5.x System" for instructions.

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  Note -

  You can also choose to automatically convert existing printer configuration information to the /etc/printers.conf file when you install the SunSoft print software on a SunOS 5.x system.

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• The conv_lpd command enables you to convert information in a /etc/printcap configuration file from a SunOS 4.x system to entries in a /etc/printers.conf file. See "How to Convert Printer Information From a SunOS 4.x System" for instructions.

  With these commands, you should create a master /etc/printers.conf file that includes the existing printers at your site. You can then copy the master file to all the SunSoft print clients (if you are not using a name service) or by loading it into NIS or NIS+. This is a good way to initially enable all the new SunSoft print clients access to the existing printers at your site.

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  Caution -

  If you are using the NIS or NIS+ name service to configure printer information, do not use a /etc/printers.conf file on your SunSoft print clients. A SunSoft print client uses the /etc/printers.conf file first to locate a printer; however, the /etc/printers.conf file may conflict with the printer information in the NIS or NIS+ maps and cause unexpected results. To avoid this problem, remove the /etc/printers.conf file on SunSoft print clients when you want them to use NIS or NIS+ for printer information.

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How to Convert Printer Information From a SunOS 5.x System

1. Log in as root on a system that has SunOS 5.x software and SunSoft Print Client software installed.

2. Convert the printer configuration information in the system's /etc/lp/printers directory to the /etc/printers.conf file.

   # /usr/lib/print/conv_lp

How to Convert Printer Information From a SunOS 4.x System

1. Copy the /etc/printcap file from a SunOS 4.x system to a SunOS 5.x system that has the SunSoft Print Client software.

2. Log in as root on the SunOS 5.x system to which you copied the /etc/printcap file.

3. Convert the printer configuration information in the /etc/printcap file to the /etc/printers.conf file.

   # /usr/lib/print/conv_lpd

Enabling SunSoft Print Clients to Access Existing Printers

Once you create a master /etc/printers.conf file that includes the existing printers at your site, you can enable all the SunSoft print clients to access the existing printers in two ways.

• If you don't use a name service, you can copy the master /etc/printers.conf file to all SunSoft print clients.

• If you use a name service, you can use the master /etc/printers.conf file to load the NIS or NIS+ master file, where the information becomes available to all SunSoft print clients.

How to Use the /etc/printers.conf File to Load NIS

1. Log in as root on the system that contains the /etc/printers.conf file to be copied to the NIS master server.

2. Copy the system's /etc/printers.conf file to the NIS master server's /etc directory.

3. Copy the usr/lib/print/Makefile.yp makefile to the NIS master server's /var/yp directory.

4. Log in as root on the NIS master server.

5. On this system, specify how to process the files.

   # make -f /var/yp/makefile -f /var/yp/Makefile.yp printers.conf

How to Use the /etc/printers.conf File to Load NIS+

1. Make sure you are a member of the NIS+ admin group. You must have the appropriate privileges to perform this task.

2. Log in as root on the system that contains the /etc/printers.conf file to be copied to the NIS+ master file.

3. Copy the system's /etc/printers.conf file to the NIS+ master file.

   # fncreate_printer -f /etc/printers.conf thisorgunit/service/printer

   See the Federated Naming Service Programming Guide in the Solaris 2.5 Software Developer AnswerBook if you need information about entering this command.

Where to Go From Here

After you have given SunSoft print clients access to existing printers, users may want to set up the .printers file in their home directory to contain custom printer aliases. For step-by-step instructions, go to Chapter 4, Modifying the User Environment.