70 Printing

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CUPS, the Common Unix Printing System, is a printing system for Unix and GNU/Linux, implementing various protocols including the LPD (Line Printer Daemon) protocol, the IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) and others. It uses PPD (PostScript Printer Description) files to identify the features of a printer, maintains printer configurations, and provides access to the printer options through the command line or a browser. It also has client side filters to convert, for example, pdf to PostScript to avoid pages of raw output of pdf (for Postscript printers).

The cups-pdf, cups-pdf package provides a virtual pdf printer to print to pdf files.

After installing cups visit https://localhost:631/ in a browser to manage printers.

A command line interface is also available and below are some common tasks.

Identify printers broadcasting their device URI:

$ lpinfo -v

List locally installed printers and their device URI:

$ lpstat -v

Add a printer queue named F108 with specified device URI and enable the queue:

$ lpadmin -p F108 -v https://vitellius.dcs.ktu.edu:631/printers/F108 -E

Submit a test page to the printer:

$ lpr -P F108 /usr/share/cups/data/testprint

Check the print queue:

$ lpq -P F108

Remove the printer:

$ lpadmin -x F108

The printer information is collected into /etc/cups/printers.conf.



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