The Common UNIX Printing System
("CUPS") is a cross-platform printing solution for all
UNIX environments, and has been ported to Zeta.
CUPS is based on the Internet
Printing Protocol ("IPP") providing full administration
of print jobs and queues to most PostScript and raster printers.
As it is under constant development, new drivers are added as new
printers get to the market.
CUPS is provided under the GNU
GPL.
Installing CUPS from the Source Code
In Terminal unpack the compressed
file containing the source code:
$ tar zxof cups-1.1.20rc1-source.tar.gz
$ cd cups-1.1.20rc1
CUPS uses GNU autoconf to configure the makefiles and source code
for your system:
$ ./configure
$ make
$ make install
Starting and Configuring CUPS
CUPS is started from the Terminal:
$ /cups/rc.d/init.d/cups start
Instead of start you can also set reload, restart,
status or stop.
There are two ways of configuring CUPS in Zeta:
- With commands in the Terminal window
- Through an Internet browser (FireBird):
http://localhost:631/admin
Configuring CUPS through the browser
Click Add printer, then add information about the printer
and click Continue. The information you give here is only
for your own orientation.
Choose what port the printer is connected to from the pop-down
menu.
Choose the right driver for your printer from the list.
If everything has gone well, you will get the following message
from the CUPS system: "Printer <printer name> has been
added successfully".
Manage your Printer(s)
Find the printer you want to administrate, and click on it.
Start with writing out a test page.
From this menu you can set the paper type, resolution and other
settings.
Printing From Other Machines
By using CUPS on Zeta, you can set the computer as a server
handling printer jobs from other machines in the network, eighter
they are running Zeta, Windows, MacOS X or Linux.
Open the file cupsd.conf in Pe or vi in
the catalog /etc/cups. You can modify the part of this file
that limits the access from other computers (by default CUPS doesn't
permit others to print out through the computer running CUPS).
<Location />
Order Deny, Allow
Deny From All
</Location>
From Windows
In Printer and Faxes in the Control Panel, choose
Add Printer.
Then select A network printer, or a printer attached to another
computer.
Select Connect to a printer on the Internet or on a home or office
network.
Type in the URL: http://machinename:631/printers/printername
From Linux
Use the web tool described above and add a printer from the
Internet Printing Protocol.
Printing From a Printer Directly Connected to the Network
Most printers on networks are directly connected to it and have
their own IP-numbers.
To connect your computer to such a printer, use the same description
as for printers connected to a Linux machine. This is done through
the CUPS web interface.
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