Chapter 33. Printer Configuration

Chapter 33. Printer Configuration

Chapter 33. Printer Configuration

33.1. Adding a Local Printer
33.2. Adding an IPP Printer
33.3. Adding a Samba (SMB) Printer
33.4. Adding a JetDirect Printer
33.5. Selecting the Printer Model and Finishing
33.6. Printing a Test Page
33.7. Modifying Existing Printers
33.8. Managing Print Jobs
33.9. Additional Resources

Printer Configuration Tool allows users to configure a printer. This tool helps maintain the printer configuration file, print spool directories, print filters, and printer classes.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 uses the Common Unix Printing System (CUPS). If a system was upgraded from a previous Red Hat Enterprise Linux version that used CUPS, the upgrade process preserves the configured queues.

Using Printer Configuration Tool requires root privileges. To start the application, select System (on the panel) => Administration => Printing, or type the command system-config-printer at a shell prompt.

Printer Configuration Tool

Figure 33.1. Printer Configuration Tool

The following types of print queues can be configured:

Important

If you add a new print queue or modify an existing one, you must apply the changes for them to take effect.

Clicking the Apply button prompts the printer daemon to restart with the changes you have configured.

Clicking the Revert button discards unapplied changes.

33.1. Adding a Local Printer

To add a local printer, such as one attached through a parallel port or USB port on your computer, click the New Printer button in the main Printer Configuration Tool window to display the window in Figure 33.2, “Adding a Printer”.

Adding a Printer

Figure 33.2. Adding a Printer

Click Forward to proceed.

Enter a unique name for the printer in the Printer Name field. The printer name can contain letters, numbers, dashes (-), and underscores (_); it must not contain any spaces.

You can also use the Description and Location fields to further distinguish this printer from others that may be configured on your system. Both of these fields are optional, and may contain spaces.

Click Forward to open the New Printer dialogue (refer to Figure 33.3, “Adding a Local Printer”. If the printer has been automatically detected, the printer model appears in Select Connection. Select the printer model and click Forward to continue.

If the device does not automatically appear, select the device to which the printer is connected (such as LPT #1 or Serial Port #1) in Select Connection.

Adding a Local Printer

Figure 33.3. Adding a Local Printer

Next, select the printer type. Refer to Section 33.5, “Selecting the Printer Model and Finishing” for details.