How to Check the Status of Printers

1. Log in on any system on the network.

2. Check the status of printers by using the lpstat command.

   Only the most commonly used options are shown here. See lpstat(1) for other options.

   $ lpstat [-d] [-p printer-name [-D] [-l]] [-t]

   -d	Shows the system's default printer.
   -p printer-name	Shows if a printer is active or idle, when it was enabled or disabled, and whether it is accepting print requests.  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 quotes. If you don't specify printer-name, the status of all printers is displayed.
   -D	Shows the description of the specified printer-name.
   -l	Shows the characteristics of the specified printer-name.
   -t	Shows status information about the LP print service, including the status of all printers: whether they are active and whether they are accepting print requests.

Examples--Checking the Status of Printers

In the following example, the command requests the name of the system's default printer.

$ lpstat -d
system default destination: luna

In the following example, the command requests the status of the printer luna.

$ lpstat -p luna
printer luna is idle. enabled since Jul 12 11:17 1999. available.

In the following example, the command requests a description of the printers asteroid and luna.

$ lpstat -p "asteroid luna" -D
printer asteroid faulted. enabled since Jul 12 11:35 1999. available.
unable to print: paper misfeed jam

Description: Printer by break room
printer luna is idle. enabled since Jul 12 11:36 1999. available.
Description: Printer by server room.

In the following example, the command requests the characteristics of the printer luna.

$ lpstat -p luna -l
printer luna is idle. enabled since Mon Jul 12 15:02:32 ...
        Form mounted: 
        Content types: postscript
        Printer types: PS
        Description:
        Connection: direct
        Interface: /usr/lib/lp/model/standard
        After fault: continue
        Users allowed:
                (all)
        Forms allowed:
                (none)
        Banner not required
        Character sets:

        Default pitch:
        Default page size: 80 wide 66 long
        Default port settings: