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Specifying the Print Client Systems

For print client systems to access a Solaris 2.x print server, you must tell the print server which systems can send print requests. In effect, you have to register the names of the print clients with the LP print service on the server. This information is stored in the file /etc/lp/Systems.

To configure print client systems, type lpsystem client-system1 client-system2... and press Return. The print client systems that are designated to use the print server are identified. You can specify more than one system name, as long as you separate them with spaces. You can add print clients at any time by using the command in this step.

The following example shows how to identify the print clients oak, ash, elm, and maple.

# lpsystem oak ash elm maple
"oak" has been added.
"ash" has been added.
"elm" has been added.
"maple" has been added.

NOTE:  The Solaris 2.1 release provides a patch so that any client can print on any print server. This feature is useful for cutting down on print client administration in large corporations.

You can perform additional optional setup steps, depending on the type of printer and the printing policies you want to set for your site. For example, you may want to create a class of printers and include the printer in that class, or you may want to set up the printer to use a certain form.

The next task, after you set up the print server, usually is to set up print clients. It is difficult to tell whether you have set up the print server correctly until you set up a print client and try to print from it.

Print Client Setup

On each Solaris 2.x print client, you need to complete the following tasks so that the print client can use the printer that is connected to the print server:

•  Start the LP print service scheduler.
•  Identify the printer and server system to which the printer is connected.
•  Define the characteristics of the printer.
•  Configure the port monitor and register the listen services with the port monitor.

Setting up print servers and clients presumes that you have a network that enables access between systems. If your network is running NIS+, you already should have enabled access between systems. If your network is not running NIS or NIS+, you must add the Internet address and system name for each client system to the /etc/hosts file on the print server before you set up print servers and print clients. You must also include the Internet address and system name for the print server in the /etc/hosts file of each print client system.

Before you can set up print clients, the print server must be installed and configured and the systems must be able to access one another over the network.

You need the following information to configure print clients:

•  Superuser password of the print server
•  Superuser password for each print client system
•  Names of printer, server, and clients
•  Printer type (optional; if you do not specify a printer type, unknown is used by default.)
•  Printer file content type (optional; if you do not specify a file content type, any is the default.)

Follow these steps on the Solaris 2.x print server.

NOTE:  If the print clients are going to use a SunOS 4.1 print server, skip steps 1, 2, and 3.
1.  Become superuser.
2.  Type lpstat -p printer-name -l and press Return. The type, file content, and class of the printer appear. Write down this information; you need it in subsequent steps.
3.  If you have not already identified the print clients to the print server, type lpsystem client-system1 client-system2… and press Return.

On each Solaris 2.x print client:

1.  Become superuser.
2.  Specify the type of print server system:
•  For Solaris 2.x print servers, type lpsystem -t s5 server-system-name and press Return. The print server system is identified as a Solaris 2.x print server. The information is added to the /etc/lp/Systems file on the print client.
•  For SunOS 4.x print servers, type lpsystem -t bsd server-system-name and press Return. The print server system is identified as a SunOS 4.x print server. The information is added to the /etc/lp/Systems file on the print client.
3.  Type lpadmin -p printer-name -s server-system-name and press Return. The printer on the print server is identified.
4.  (Optional) Type lpadmin -p printer-name -T unknown and press Return. If you omit this step, the printer type unknown is used by default.
5.  (Optional) Type_lpadmin -p printer-name -I file-content-type and press Return. Specify the file content type as simple, any, or PS. If you omit this step, a file content type of any is used by default. The name simply means ASCII file. Use any when you want files to be filtered on the print server. Use PS to indicate that the print server supports PostScript and to have the files filtered on the print client.
6.  Type cd /etc/lp/fd and press Return. You are in the directory that contains the print filter descriptor files.
7.  Type the following script to install the PostScript filters: 
# sh
# for f in download dpost postio postior postprint postreverse
> do
> lpfilter -f $f -F $f.fd
> done
#
8.  Type accept printer-name and press Return. The LP print system now accepts print requests.
9.  Type enable printer-name and press Return. The printer is enabled and can process print requests.
10.  (Optional) Type lpadmin -p printer-name -D "comment" and press Return. Attaching a description can give the user helpful information, such as where the printer is located. The comment is displayed as part of the printer status.
11.  (Recommended) Type lpadmin- d printer-name and press Return. The printer you specify is configured as the default printer for the client system.
12.  Type lpstat -t and press Return. Check the messages on-screen to verify that the printer has been accepted and enabled.
13.  Type lp -d printer-name filename and press Return. The file you choose is sent to the printer. If the file does not print correctly or does not print on the right printer, see “Printing Problems” later in this chapter for help.


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