A Linux system administrator should have a basic understanding of the CUPS print server. Even though computers were supposed to usher in the “paperless society,” printing is still an important function of many businesses for record-keeping and government compliance. In this hands-on lab, we will practice with a newly installed print server that will send jobs to PDF files. We will use the `lpd` (line print daemon) toolset provided by a CUPS installation.
Learning Objectives
Successfully complete this lab by achieving the following learning objectives:
- Install a PDF printer.
Run the following command to see what you printers you have installed (there should not be any at this point):
lpstat -sNext, run the following command to see what types of printer connections you have available to you. To set up the PDF print server, you will need the
cups-pdf:/available:sudo lpinfo -vInstall a PDF printer to use with CUPS (we will use the -p option to set the name of the printer to CUPS-PDF and the -v option for the connection type):
sudo lpadmin -p CUPS-PDF -v cups-pdf:/We now need to determine what driver files we can use with this printer. Run the following command to query the CUPS database for files that contain the term "PDF":
lpinfo --make-and-model "PDF" -mWe will want to use the first option as our driver file.
sudo lpadmin -p CUPS-PDF -m "CUPS-PDF.ppd"Run the following command, and note that we do not have a default printer yet:
lpstat -sCheck on the status of the printer we just installed:
lpc statusWe will need to enable this printer so that it can accept jobs, and we should set it as the system default as well:
sudo lpadmin -d CUPS-PDF -E sudo cupsenable CUPS-PDF sudo cupsaccept CUPS-PDFCheck its status again:
lpc status- Print a test page.
Run the following command to print a copy of the
/etc/passwdfile to a PDF file in your home directory:lpr /etc/passwdVerify that there is a
passwd.pdffile within your home directory:ls- Modify the printer and work with the print queue.
Configure the printer so that it will not accept new print jobs at this time:
sudo cupsreject CUPS-PDFVerify the status of the printer (look for the line
queuing is disabled):lpc statusAttempt to print the
/etc/groupfile to your printer:lpr /etc/groupYou should have seen the following when you tried to print the file:
lpr: Destination "CUPS-PDF" is not accepting jobs.Instruct your printer to accept incoming print jobs again:
sudo cupsaccept CUPS-PDFVerify that your printer can accept jobs again (look for the line
queuing is enabled):lpc statusConfigure your printer so that it can accept print jobs in its queue, but it will not print them:
sudo cupsdisable CUPS-PDFVerify that your printer can accept jobs, but not print them (look for the lines
queuing is enabledandprinting is disabled):lpc statusAttempt to print the
/etc/groupfile again:lpr /etc/groupRunning the
lscommand on your home directory should not show a new PDF file.Check the printer’s queue:
lpqNote that your print job is still in the queue. Your printer can accept new jobs, but not print them at this time (as noted by the
CUPS-PDF is not readyline in yourlpqoutput). Run the following command, and substitute the JobID with the Job ID listed in yourlpqcommand’s output:lprm JobIDVerify that the job has been removed from your queue. Note that your printer is still not ready to print new jobs:
lpqRe-enable your printer’s ability to print new jobs:
sudo cupsenable CUPS-PDFVerify that your printer is ready:
lpq
