Printing remotely over TCP/IP

Setting up a print server

NOTE: If the printer to be set up is a local printer, that is, attached to the client for its private use, you should set it up following the instructions here, but ignore instructions regarding the /etc/hosts.equiv and /etc/hosts.lpd files.

To set up a print server to process RLP requests, do the following:

Ensure that the RLP daemon lpd is running. You can do this by entering the command ps -fe and verifying that the daemon appears in the listing.
Ensure that that all printers attached to the print server are working properly as local printers. See the documentation that accompanies the operating system running on the print server for information on how to set up local printer services.
List all of the clients that are to have access to the print server in either the /etc/hosts.equiv or the /etc/hosts.lpd file using your favorite text editor. Listing a client in the latter file is more secure, in that only remote printer access is granted to the specified client. See the manual page that describes /etc/hosts.equiv for information on the kind of access made available to hosts listed in that file.
Execute rlpconf to create the /etc/printcap file and the spool directories for printers attached to the print server.

Once you invoke rlpconf, you see output similar to the following:

Remote Printing Configuration

Enter information for remote printers or local printers accepting print jobs.

Please enter the printer name (q to quit): sunlaser

Is sunlaser a remote printer or a local printer (r/l)? l

Please enter the name of the device for sunlaser: /dev/laser

Printer sunlaser uses device /dev/laser

Is this correct? (y/n) y

Putting sunlaser in printer description file and creating spool directory...done

First enter the name of a printer attached to the print server. Next, enter l in response to the second question to indicate that you are on a print server. Then, enter the full pathname for the device for the printer. You are now given the opportunity to verify the device filename for the printer. If it is correct, enter y. If it is not, enter n, at which point you are asked if you want to try again. Answer y to start from the beginning or answer n to exit and return to the shell prompt.

Once you indicate that the device filename is correct, the rlpconf command checks that the printer is not already listed in /etc/printcap. If it is, a message to that effect is displayed. Otherwise, the printer information is added to the /etc/printcap file and the spool directory for the printer, /usr/spool/lpd/sunlaser, is created.

Once processing is complete for one printer, you are prompted to set up another printer. When you are done, enter q to exit rlpconf and return to the shell prompt.