The following describes the various features specific to Red Hat
Enterprise Linux that relate to printers and printing.
The Printer Configuration Tool allows
users to configure a printer. This tool helps maintain the printer
configuration file, print spool directories, and print filters.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 uses the CUPS printing system. If a
system was upgraded from a previous Red Hat Enterprise Linux
version that used CUPS, the upgrade process preserved the
configured queues.
Using the Printer Configuration Tool
requires root privileges. To start the application, select
(on the Panel) =>
=> , or type the command system-config-printer. This command automatically
determines whether to run the graphical or text-based version
depending on whether the command is executed in the graphical
desktop environment or from a text-based console.
To force the Printer Configuration
Tool to run as a text-based application, execute the command
system-config-printer-tui from a shell
prompt.
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Important |
| |
Do not edit the /etc/printcap file or
the files in the /etc/cups/ directory.
Each time the printer daemon (cups) is
started or restarted, new configuration files are dynamically
created. The files are dynamically created when changes are applied
with the Printer Configuration Tool as
well.
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The following types of print queues can be configured:
-
— a printer
attached directly to the computer through a parallel or USB
port.
-
— a
printer that can be accessed over a TCP/IP network via the Internet
Printing Protocol, also known as IPP (for example, a printer
attached to another Red Hat Enterprise Linux system running CUPS on
the network).
-
— a
printer attached to a different UNIX system that can be accessed
over a TCP/IP network (for example, a printer attached to another
Red Hat Enterprise Linux system running LPD on the network).
-
— a
printer attached to a different system which is sharing a printer
over a SMB network (for example, a printer attached to a Microsoft
Windows™ machine).
-
— a
printer attached to a different system which uses Novell's NetWare
network technology.
-
— a printer
connected directly to the network through HP JetDirect instead of
to a computer.
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Important |
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If you add a new print queue or modify an existing one, you must
apply the changes to them to take effect.
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Clicking the Apply button saves any
changes that you have made and restarts the printer daemon. The
changes are not written to the configuration file until the printer
daemon is restarted. Alternatively, you can choose => .
For more information on the configuration of printers under Red
Hat Enterprise Linux refer to the Red Hat
Enterprise Linux System Administration Guide.
