[indiana-discuss] A Couple of Newbie Questions

[Dave Miner]

Kevin Monceaux wrote:
...
> What's the preferred printer subsystem?  I noticed CUPS is installed, but 
> disabled.  I tried enabling it and setting up my printer.  I ended up 
> resorting to converting root from a role to a user so I could add a 
> printer via CUPS's web interface.  On my first attempt a tiny fraction of 
> the test page printed on my printer, after that I couldn't get anything 
> else to print.  The printer in question is an HP 5L connected to my only 
> parallel port.  CUPS listed two parallel ports, with three entries listed 
> for each port.  I also have a USB Brother HL-5040, but it's out of toner. 
> I searched the list and found some links to some non-CUPS printer 
> administration docs, but haven't dug into them yet.  I know my printers 
> work well with CUPS on Linux and FreeBSD, but am willing to switch to 
> something else.
> 

You have your choice of the old LP system, or CUPS.  The default is 
still LP, you need to use the print-service command to switch between them.

There's printer auto-detection for the LP system: if your printer were 
USB it would have been automatically detected and you'd have been 
prompted with a dialog at login to add it.  Since it's parallel, the 
auto-detection doesn't happen, and you will need to use the Print 
Manager GUI (System->Administration->Print Manager) or the lpadmin 
command to set it up.

Or use print-service -s cups to switch to CUPS and then use what you're 
used to.

Dave