Printing from Enet Managed Unix Systems

Note: we have a new print server running CUPS (http://www.cups.org/)
As we make changes we will be updating this documentation. All of our machines should be using the new server.

Enet has a number of printers available to our users. All of the Enet printers are   postscript   printers, meaning that any graphics you print to them need to be in Postscript (.ps) format. Additionally, most of the Enet printers can also print plain text, so you can print source code and other text files. Typically, most Enet application that can print do so by creating a Postscript file.

Printing a File

To print a file, in this example 'file.ps' (note the file must be either a standard DOS TEXT file or a POSTSCRIPT file), you use the 'lpr' command:

lpr -P printername file.ps

Printing to the Xerox DocuCentre Printers

To print a file, in this example 'file.ps', you use the 'lpr' command:

lpr -P printername -o acct=ACCT-CODE file.ps

or (to print Duplex, flipping on the Long side):

lpr -P printername -o 'acct=ACCT-CODE Duplex=DuplexNoTumble' file.ps

Printing to the Xerox DocuCentre printers requires the billing account code to be submitted with the job as above; in all other respects, the process should be the same as printing to any other Enet-managed printer.

Checking on and Canceling Print Jobs

The print system works as a queue, where the first jobs submitted are the first jobs printed. To see the current status of the queue for a particular printer, do

lpq -P printername

Occasionally you may wish to cancel a print job (it is printing incorrectly or you sent it to the wrong printer or something). To do this you use the lprm command:

lprm -P printername jobid

Currently, the available public lab printers are:

• me152, a 1200 dpi HP LaserJet 5000 Series PS printer, in ME 152 (with duplexer). This printer can also print transparencies (provided the proper transparencies are used)
• me152color, a 1200 dpi HP Color LaserJet 5550 PS (color) printer, in ME 152 (with duplexer). This printer can also print transparencies (provided the proper transparencies are used)
• me10color, a 600 dpi HP Color LaserJet 5550 (color) printer, in ME 10A (with duplexer) - PROVIDED PAPER ONLY.
  
• me10, a 1200-dpi HP LaserJet 9010 PS printer, in ME 10B (with duplexer) - PROVIDED PAPER ONLY.

• Duplex Printing with CUPS
  users are encouraged to use duplex printing when appropriate (i.e. source code, long text listings, etc.) as it conserves paper.
  
• Color Printing.

How Much Have I Printed?

Enet is in the process of implementing a print accounting system. To see how many total pages you have printed this quarter on Enet printers, consult the Enet print accounting page, http://cups.enet.umn.edu/print-stats/.

Printing Utility Programs:

Ghostview

Due to the cost of printing materials, it is recommended that you preview your files before printing them. To preview your files, send them to the "pdf" printer (lpr -P pdf filename.ps, also available on Windows) , or use Ghostview. On the Sun and SGI machines,

ghostview file.ps

gv file.ps

PS-Utilities

Poster