Print Queue Administration


The information provided below applies to the UNIX versions of EasyCopy.

The ecqadm script is used to create, remove, and query print queues for EasyCopy. It is normally invoked automatically by the print queue related functions of the graphical user interface. In certain situations you may also want to use the script from the command line, for example for the management of print queues on a UNIX server with no X Window system installed, or in order to fix or verify system malfunction problems.

The syntax is as follows:

  ecqadm   [ -create | -remove | -status ]   [print-queue]  

You may enter one of the options -create, -remove, or -status, and supply the name of the print queue as an optional parameter to any of the three options.

To remove the print queue acme, for example, type:

  # ecqadm -remove acme  

If no arguments are specified ecqadm opens a menu.

The functions Create and Remove are only available for the System Administrator. The Status function is available to all users.

Create a Print Queue

This function of ecqadm can be requested in one of three ways:
In any case, you must be system administrator to create a print queue.

Print Queue Name
If the name of the print queue to be created has not been specified in the command line, ecqadm prompts for the name. A print queue name can only contain letters A-Z and a-z, digits 0-9, and underscore _. Each name must be unique. The maximum length is 14 characters.
 
Connection Method
When the print queue name has been supplied, ecqadm prompts for information to establish the desired print queue. The details depend on the connection method and on the workstation platform.

These are the choices for connection method:

Select the connection method that corresponds to the way the printer is physically attached.

Parallel Device
The name of the parallel device is requested.
 
Serial Device
The name of the serial device and the baud rate are requested. The baud rate must be set the same as the printer's baud rate. The default baud rate is 9600. Baud rates higher than 19200 are normally not recommended.
 
SCSI Device
The name of the SCSI device, for example /dev/scsi/6, is required. Refer to the topic SCSI Printers for information on how to install SCSI devices.
 
Remote Workstation/Server
The name or IP address of the remote host, the print system type (BSD, System V, etc.) and the name of the remote print queue are requested.

It is recommended, that the print queue you want to use exists on the remote system before you create queues on other workstations.

There must be a user called lp on the remote system unless both the remote and the local print system are BSD systems. The lp user must in some cases (see below) allow your local system to perform remote login without being prompted for a password when a print job is being submitted to the remote queue.
Any combination of local and remote system that requires a remote lp user with no password may conflict with your system security policy. If this is the case, you must refrain from such combinations.

The local workstation must be known on the remote system. This means that its host id must exist in /etc/hosts on the remote system, and in /etc/hosts.equiv or locally in .rhosts in lp's home directory.

The setup of the lp user as described may sometimes cause troubles. The following summarizes extra precautions that apply to certain combinations of local and remote system:

Connecting from a BSD system to another BSD system:
No special precautions.
 
Connecting from a BSD system to HP 9000 or Silicon Graphics:
The local runtime user id is daemon, so the remote lp user must be allowed to login without a password.
 
Connecting from a BSD system to Solaris 2:
The local runtime user id is daemon, so the remote lp user must be allowed to login without a password. On the remote Solaris system you must edit the file /usr/spool/lp/.rhosts. There must be a line containing the host name and the user id daemon. This allows the BSD system to do the required remote shell operation.
 
Connecting from a HP 9000 or Silicon Graphics system:
The local runtime user id is lp, so remote printing is possible even if the remote lp user has a password.
 
Connecting from an IBM RS/6000 system:
No special precautions, except that connection to a Silicon Graphics system malfunctions if the remote system is running IRIX 4.0.1.
 
Connecting from a Solaris 2 system:
The local runtime user id is the user who made the print request, so the remote lp user must be allowed to login without a password.
 
Removing the Password for the lp User
On Silicon Graphics and SUN Solaris 2 systems the password is deleted by the command:
  # passwd -d lp  
On IBM RS/6000 systems the password is deleted by hitting <Enter> in response to a prompt for a new password:
  # passwd lp  
  lp's new password:  
On HP 9000 and SunOS systems you must remove the password manually by editing the file /etc/passwd. The entry for lp may for example look like:
  lp:yv3ZhyNgai4zvP:9:9:Line Printer:/usr/spool/lp:/bin/csh  
Remove
this part
  lp::9:9:Line Printer:/usr/spool/lp:/bin/csh  
Internal TCP/IP Connection
This is used for printers with a network interface card offering a socket interface. The host name or IP address of the printer is requested.
 
BSD Network Interface
This is used for printers with a network interface card offering a BSD interface. The host name or IP address of the printer and the name of its BSD print queue are requested.
 
Processing Method
Choose between Direct Processing and Print Queue Processing. These two concepts are explained in the topic Printing Models.
 
Confirm the Creation of a New Print Queue
After you have entered all the requested information, ecqadm displays a summary of your selections; you may now choose to continue, or if you wish to make corrections you may return to the ecqadm menu without creating the print queue.
 
If you accept the selections the new print queue is created. In some operating system environments, this requires that all print queues are shut down and restarted. If this is the case, the current status of all print queues are displayed, so that you can make sure that they are all idle before you proceed.

Remove a Print Queue

 This function of ecqadm can be requested in one of three ways:
In any case, you must be system administrator to remove a print queue.

If the name of the print queue has not been specified in the command ecqadm displays the names of all existing print queues, and asks you to select the one you want to remove.

Before the queue is removed, the print queue name is displayed again, and you are asked to confirm the operation. The current status of the queue is displayed, so that you can make sure that the queue is idle, otherwise, you can loop back, and get a display of the updated status.

Before any files or directories are deleted, you are asked to confirm this.

Status of a Print Queue

This function of ecqadm can be requested in one of four ways: You need not be system administrator to use this function.

If the name of the print queue has not been specified in the command ecqadm displays the names of all existing print queues, and asks you to enter the one you want to query.

The detailed format of the Status display depends on the platform and system you are using. The commands lpstat or lpq are used to build the the status part of the display. Here is shown an example:

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