Configuring Print Services

Configuring Printer services in Unix includes three major tasks: setting up the printer, setting up the printer server and setting up the print client.

Setting up the Printer

A printer is physically linked to the switches and the system and other settings are set.

Setting up the Print Server

A print server is configured to give access to the local printer through editing the /etc/printcap file in Linux.

Setting up the Print Client

A print client is configured to gives access to the remote printer. Print server needs

• Minimum of 20 - 60 Mbytes in spooling directory
• At least 32 Mbytes of RAM

The system to that the printer is attached is called as the print server for that printer. Any networked system which meets the subsequent minimum needs could be a print server:

Spooling directory space of 20 - 50 Mbytes The Spooling space (/var/spool) is the extremely important factor. The spool fields are used to store and process requests in the print queue. The amount of space needs depends on the printing requirement.

Daemon:

# lpd is the daemon that gives the print service.

Note: A printer can be configured in Solaris using accept, lpadmin, enable commands. lp is the daemon that gives the print service in Solaris and SCO. These services are invoked in the run level 2.