Configuring CUPS Print Queues

Using the Red Hat Printer Configuration Tool

In Red Hat Linux, you can configure a printer by using the printer configuration GUI tool. To configure printers with this tool, you must be running GNOME or KDE. From the graphical login screen, log in as root, and select Main Menu>System Settings>Printing from the GNOME or KDE desktop. You can also start the tool by typing the command redhat-config-printer in a terminal window.

The main window of the printer configuration tool appears (see Figure 4-1).

Figure 4-1: The Main Window of the Printer Configuration Tool.

You can create and manage print queues by using the printer configuration tool. Each print queue refers to a holding place for files that are to be sent to a specific printer (note that the terms print queue and printer queue are typically used interchangeably). Thus, a print queue is associated with at least one printer. To add a printer to your Red Hat Linux system is equivalent to creating a printer queue and associating that queue with the printer.

To add a new printer queue, click the New button on the toolbar. The printer configuration tool displays the Add a new print queue Wizard that takes you through the process of adding a new printer queue. The initial step shows a message that assures you that nothing will be changed until you click the Apply button at the end of all the steps. Click the Forward button to continue. The next screen prompts you for the print queue's name and a short description, as shown in Figure 4-2.

Figure 4-2: Set the Print Queue Name and Description.

Enter a name for the queue and description. You should use some systematic approach when naming the print queue. For example, if I have a HP Laserjet 4 printer on the second floor in Room 210, I might name the queue Room-210-HPLJ4 because this makes it easy to find the printer. Sometimes systems administrators choose cute names such as kermit, piggy, elmo, cookiemonster, and so on, but once you have too many printers, such cute schemes do not work well. It's best to provide a clue about the printer's location as well as the make and model in the print queue's name. After entering the queue name and description, click Forward.

The Queue Type window appears. You have to select a queue type from the drop-down selection box (see Figure 4-3). As the drop-down list shows, you have to select the queue type from the following list:

• Locally-connected printer-Refers to a printer connected directly to the serial, parallel, or USB port of the PC

• Networked IPP (CUPS) queue-Refers to a CUPS print queue at another server on the network (IPP refers to the Internet Printing Protocol that is used to communicate with the remote CUPS server)

• Networked UNIX (LPD) printer-Refers to a print queue managed by the LPD server on another UNIX system on the local network (LPD refers to Line Printer Daemon-another print spooler for UNIX systems)

• Networked Windows (SMB) printer-Refers to a printer connected to another PC on the local network and that uses the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol, the underlying protocol in Windows file and print sharing

• Networked Novell (NCP) printer-Refers to a printer connected to a Novell Netware server on the local network

• Networked JetDirect queue-Refers to a network-connected printer that prints data received at a specific TCP/IP port (typically, port number 9100). HP JetDirect cards use this method of printing.

  
  Figure 4-3: Select the Print Queue Type.

Select the print queue type that applies to your configuration. When you select any of the networked print queues, you have to identify the server and remote queue name using the syntax appropriate for that type of queue. For example, if you want to set up a print queue directed at a Windows (SMB) printer, you have to identify the printer by using the following syntax:

//WindowsMachine/PrinterName

On the other hand, for remote CUPS or LPD queues, you specify the server's hostname and the queue's name (as defined on that remote server).

If you select a locally-connected printer, you should see the parallel port device (/dev/lp0) listed. If you want to connect the printer to another port (such as serial port or USB), you can click the Custom device button. Then enter the device name (such as /dev/ttyS0 for the first serial port or /dev/usb/lp0 for the first USB printer) in the dialog box that appears. After specifying the device, click Forward and the wizard takes you to the next step, where you select a print driver from a list. Click the drop-down list (above the scrolling list) and a list of printer manufacturers appear. Select the printer manufacturer, and the scrolling list displays the names of different printer models from that manufacturer, as shown in Figure 4-4 (for Epson).

Figure 4-4: Select a Printer Manufacturer and Model.

You can then select your printer model from the list. If you have a PostScript printer, you can simply go to the Generic list (Generic is one of the choices in the manufacturer list) and select PostScript printer. After selecting the print driver, click Forward to continue. This brings you to the final screen, as shown in Figure 4-5.

Figure 4-5: Finish Creating the New Print Queue.

This step displays a message that tells you what print queue you are about to create. Click Apply to complete the task.

A dialog box prompts you if you want to print a test page. Click Yes. This applies all the changes and restarts cupsd-the print scheduler daemon that takes care of printing (a daemon is essentially a background process that runs as long as the system is up). The printer should print a test page. A message box appears asking you to check the test page. Click OK to dismiss the message box.

Now, the new print queue should appear in the printer configuration window, and you should be able to submit print jobs to this queue. To quit the printer configuration tool select Action>Quit or close the printer configuration window by clicking the X button in the upper-right corner of the window's frame.

The next section describes some of the commands you can use to print and check the status of print jobs.

Administering Printers with CUPS Web Interface

Although you can use the Red Hat printer configuration tool to configure CUPS printers, there is another way to administer CUPS. You can also administer CUPS printers through its Web interface. In fact, the Web interface is the method used to configure CUPS printers on non-Red Hat systems because the Red Hat configuration tool is meant for Red Hat Linux systems only.

The CUPS scheduler-cupsd-listens on port 631 on your system. Port 631 is assigned to the IPP service. For example, here's what you should get when you search for ipp in the /etc/services file:

grep ipp /etc/services
ipp             631/tcp          # Internet Printing Protocol
ipp             631/ucp          # Internet Printing Protocol

When you use a Web browser to connect to port 631 on your system, cupsd displays its Web interface, as shown in Figure 4-6.

Figure 4-6: Accessing the CUPS Web Interface at Port 631.

You can perform a variety of administration tasks through the links and the buttons on the CUPS Web interface. If you click the Do Administration Tasks link, CUPS displays a new Web page from which you can manage printer classes (explained later in this section), jobs, and printers.

Secret

To add a printer through the CUPS Web interface, follow these steps:

1. Start the CUPS Web interface by pointing the Mozilla Web browser at http://localhost:631/. The Web interface appears, as shown in Figure 4-6.

2. Click the Manage Printers link. CUPS displays information about each of the current printers as well as buttons for performing many different tasks (Figure 4-7). A set of buttons enable you to perform tasks such as print a test page and stop a printer. Additionally, a single Add Printer button enables you to add a printer.

   
   Figure 4-7: Managing Printers through the CUPS Web Interface.

3. Click the Add Printer button. CUPS prompts for information about the new printer.

4. Enter the printer's name, location, and description, then click Continue. CUPS asks you to select the device from a drop-down list. The list is more extensive than what the Red Hat printer configuration tool shows.

5. Select printer device, and click Continue. CUPS prompts for the make of the printer. The list is much shorter than what you get from the Red Hat printer configuration tool.

6. Select the printer make and click Continue. CUPS prompts for the printer model. That list depends on the make you selected.

7. Select the model, and click Continue. CUPS adds the printer by adding the new printer's information to the /etc/cups/printers.conf file and creating a PPD file for the printer in the /etc/cups/ppd directory.

lp -d pr5 sample.ps

To define a class of printers from the CUPS Web interface point the Web browser to http://localhost:631/ and then follow these steps:

1. Click Classes on the tool bar in the Web interface. CUPS displays the current classes, if any, and an Add Class button.

2. Click the Add Class button. A dialog box prompts for a user name and password. Enter the root as user name and the root password. CUPS then prompts for information about the class.

3. Enter the following identifying information about the new class:

   • Name-The class name, up to 127 printable characters (no embedded spaces)

   • Location-Information about where this class of printes is located

   • Description-A brief description of this class of printers

   Click Continue. CUPS asks you to select which of the currently defined printers should be members of this class.

4. Click the printers you want to add to the class, then click Continue. CUPS creates the new class.

When you create a new class, the class definition is added to the /etc/cups/classes .conf file. For example, here's the definiton of a class named pr5:

<Class pr5>
Info Printers on 5th Floor
Location 5th Floor
State Idle
Accepting Yes
JobSheets none none
Printer 5N28-hplj4
Printer 5X15-hplj5000
Printer 5Z15-hplj4200
QuotaPeriod 0
PageLimit 0
KLimit 0
</Class>

In this case, the pr5 class contains three printers idenfied by the Printer lines inside the class definition.