Common Unix Printing System - Revision history

Christoph: /* Network configuration scripts */

2008-01-23T22:59:58Z

‎Network configuration scripts

Christoph: /* External links */

2007-09-24T06:43:35Z

‎External links

Christoph: /* External links */

2007-05-12T00:36:31Z

‎External links

Christoph: /* External links */

2007-05-09T00:33:24Z

‎External links

Christoph: /* Network configuration scripts */

2007-04-27T00:59:10Z

‎Network configuration scripts

Christoph at 01:27, 4 April 2007

2007-04-04T01:27:19Z

New page

The '''Common Unix Printing System''' ('''CUPS''') is a modular printing system for Unix-like computer operating systems that allows a computer to act as a powerful print server. A computer running CUPS is a host which can accept print jobs from client computers, process them, and send them to the appropriate printer.

==PostScript Printer Description (PPD)==
PostScript Printer Description (PPD) files are created by vendors to describe the entire set of features and capabilities available for their PostScript printers.
For example, a generic PPD file for all models of HP Color LaserJet contains:
*% =================================
*% Basic Device Capabilities
*% =================================
*LanguageLevel: "2"
*ColorDevice: True
*DefaultColorSpace: CMYK
*TTRasterizer: Type42
*FileSystem: False
*Throughput: "10"

====MIME databases====
During start-up, the CUPS daemon loads two MIME databases: <code>mime.types</code> that defines the known file types that CUPS can accept data for, and <code>mime.convs</code> that defines the programs that process each particular MIME type.<ref name=MIMEadmin>''Easy Software Products''. CUPS Software Administrators Manual, [http://www.cups.org/doc-1.1/sam.html#FILE_TYPING_FILTERING File Typing and Filtering]. (accessed 2007-01-09).</ref>

The <code>mime.types</code> file has the syntax:

mimetype { [file-extensions] | [pattern-match] }

For example, to detect an HTML file, the following entry would be applicable:

text/html html htm \<br>
printable(0,1024) + (string(0,"<nowiki><HTML></nowiki>") string(0,"<!DOCTYPE"))

The <code>mime.convs</code> file has the syntax:

source destination cost program

Some examples:

text/plain application/postscript 50 texttops
application/vnd.cups-postscript application/vnd.cups-raster 50 pstoraster
image/* application/vnd.cups-postscript 50 imagetops
image/* application/vnd.cups-raster 50 imagetoraster

== User Interface tools ==
There are several tools created to help set up CUPS. The CUPS server itself runs a webserver administration interface on port 631.<ref name=AdminPort>[http://www.cups.org/sam.html#4_4 CUPS Software Administrators Manual], "Managing Printers from the Web"</ref>

==Tools==
===System V===
;lp : the user command to print
;lpstat : shows the current print queue
;cancel : deletes a job from the print queue
;lpadmin : a sysadmin command that configures the print system
;lpmove : a sysadmin command that moves jobs between queues
===LPD===
;lpr : Assign a job to a queue.
;lpq : Display the jobs assigned to a queue and their print status.
;lprm : Remove a job from a queue.
;lpc : Control a queue.

==Network configuration scripts==
If you are using a network computer, you will need to add your IP address to the printer's address pool. Create a <code>ifcfg</code> file (usually in <code>/etc/sysconfig/network-scripts</code>) and call it something like <code>ifcfg-eth0:0</code>). Then add the following lines (replacing the IP address, etc.):
DEVICE=eth0:0
BOOTPROTO=static
IPADDR=192.168.xx.yy
NETMASK=255.255.255.0
NETWORK=10.0.xx.0
BROADCAST=192.168.xx.255
ONBOOT=yes
METRIC=5
USERCTL=no
RESOLV_MODS=no
IPV6INIT=no
IPV6TO4INIT=no

You will also need to add your URI (i.e. printer IP address) to your <code>/etc/cups/printers.conf</code> file. As an example:
# Printer configuration file for CUPS v1.2.4
<Printer MyPrinter>
Info The_Name_of_Your_Printer
Location
DeviceURI ipp://192.168.xx.1/ipp
State Idle
StateTime 1162501383
Accepting Yes
Shared Yes
JobSheets none none
QuotaPeriod 0
PageLimit 0
KLimit 0
OpPolicy default
ErrorPolicy retry-job
</Printer>

Of course, make sure you have your printer's PPD file in <code>/etc/cups/ppd/</code>

Then
/etc/init.d/network restart

==See also==
*[[wikipedia:Common Unix Printing System]]
*[[wikipedia:System V printing system]]
*[[wikipedia:Line Printer Daemon protocol]]
*[[wikipedia:Foomatic]]
*[[wikipedia:Gutenprint]]
===KDE===
*[http://printing.kde.org/ KDEPrint]
*<tt>kprinter</tt>

==References==
<references/>
==External links==
*[http://www.cups.org/ Official website]
*[http://freshmeat.net/projects/cups/ Freshmeat.net entry on CUPS]
*[http://www.linuxprinting.org/ LinuxPrinting.org]
*[http://www.upnp.org/standardizeddcps/printer.asp Universal Plug and Play - Printer Device V 1.0 and Printer Basic Service V 1.0]
===Related links===
*[http://www.linux-foundation.org/en/OpenPrinting OpenPrinting] — resources to help with printing under free operating systems like [[Linux]]
===PPD===
*[http://partners.adobe.com/public/developer/ps/index_specs.html Adobe PostScript Language Specifications]
**[http://partners.adobe.com/public/developer/en/ps/5003.PPD_Spec_v4.3.pdf Adobe Tech Note 5003: PostScript Printer Description (PPD) File Format Specification]
**[http://partners.adobe.com/public/developer/en/ps/5645.PPD_Update.pdf Adobe Tech Note 5645: Update to PPD Specification Version 4.3]
*[http://www.linuxprinting.org/kpfeifle/LinuxKongress2002/Tutorial/III.PostScript-and-PPDs/III.PostScript-and-PPDs.html CUPS, PPDs, PostScript and GhostScript] (Tutorial material by Kurt Pfeifle)

[[Category:Linux Command Line Tools]]

@@ Line 81: / Line 81: @@
   ErrorPolicy retry-job
   </Printer>
 Of course, make sure you have your printer's PPD file in <code>/etc/cups/ppd/</code>
@@ Line 86: / Line 88: @@
 Then
   /etc/init.d/network restart
 ==See also==

@@ Line 102: / Line 102: @@
 *[http://www.cups.org/ Official website]
 *[http://www.cups-pdf.de/documentation.shtml CUPS-PDF]
 *[http://freshmeat.net/projects/cups/ Freshmeat.net entry on CUPS]
 *[http://www.linuxprinting.org/ LinuxPrinting.org]

@@ Line 101: / Line 101: @@
 ==External links==
 *[http://www.cups.org/ Official website]
 *[http://freshmeat.net/projects/cups/ Freshmeat.net entry on CUPS]
 *[http://www.linuxprinting.org/ LinuxPrinting.org]
 *[http://www.upnp.org/standardizeddcps/printer.asp Universal Plug and Play - Printer Device V 1.0 and Printer Basic Service V 1.0]
 *[http://www.linux.com/article.pl?sid=07/05/03/1421232 Turn your Linux box into a PDF-making machine]
 ===Related links===
 *[http://www.linux-foundation.org/en/OpenPrinting OpenPrinting] &mdash; resources to help with printing under free operating systems like [[Linux]]

@@ Line 62: / Line 62: @@
   BROADCAST=192.168.xx.255
   ONBOOT=yes
-  METRIC=5
+  METRIC=10
- USERCTL=no
- RESOLV_MODS=no
- IPV6INIT=no
- IPV6TO4INIT=no
 You will also need to add your URI (i.e. printer IP address) to your <code>/etc/cups/printers.conf</code> file. As an example: