Common Unix Printing System
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.
Contents
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: mime.types that defines the known file types that CUPS can accept data for, and mime.convs that defines the programs that process each particular MIME type.[1]
The mime.types 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 \
printable(0,1024) + (string(0,"<HTML>") string(0,"<!DOCTYPE"))
The mime.convs 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.[2]
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 ifcfg file (usually in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts) and call it something like ifcfg-eth0:0). 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 /etc/cups/printers.conf 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 /etc/cups/ppd/
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
- KDEPrint
- kprinter
References
- ↑ Easy Software Products. CUPS Software Administrators Manual, File Typing and Filtering. (accessed 2007-01-09).
- ↑ CUPS Software Administrators Manual, "Managing Printers from the Web"
External links
- Official website
- Freshmeat.net entry on CUPS
- LinuxPrinting.org
- Universal Plug and Play - Printer Device V 1.0 and Printer Basic Service V 1.0
Related links
- OpenPrinting — resources to help with printing under free operating systems like Linux
