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