Printing

Updated 11/2009

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Summary

Instructions are provide for accessing networked printers at the RSMAS Computer Facility (RCF) from client computers on the RSMAS Network, and for adding your printer to the RCF printing server. Printers on the RCF print server can be easily accessed by Windows XP, RedHat Linux, and Apple OS X clients.

Printer setup for client computers

See http://printsrv.rsmas.miami.edu/printers/printers.html for information on accessing networked printers from all operating systems.

Some Windows printing tips

When printing to these printers, printer specific options like one-sided/two-sided printing, tray from which to print, paper orientation, color or B&W printing, etc., can often be set

• Open the Printer page via Start → Printers&Faxes. (XP)
•     OR
• Open the Printer page via Start → Control Panel → Printers. (Vista)
• Right-click on the printer icon and select "Printing Preferences" from the drop-down menu.
• Select the options you want.

Many applications offer a similiar configuration opportunity if you click File→Print and select the [Properties] or [Preferences] button after you select your printer.

Note that many applications have print capabilities within the application that allow you to configure printer options for a for a particular printer.

Some Linux printing tips

See Unix man pages on lp, lpq, and lprm for details on Unix printing. The "-o option-name" argument passes special print instructions to the lpadmin command. This sets the printer for subsequent printing commands. Set it back to your default for a temporary change.

     lpoptions -p quename

shows the current options for the printer.

     lpadmin -p quename -o option-name

Set options. Some option values:
       -o media=size
            Sets  the page size to size. Most printers support at least
            the size names "a4", "letter", and "legal".

       -o landscape
       -o orientation-requested=4
            Prints the job in landscape (rotated 90 degrees).  Put it back with "-o portrait"

       -o sides=one-sided
       -o sides=two-sided-long-edge
       -o sides=two-sided-short-edge
            Prints on one or two sides of the paper.  The  value  "two-
            sided-long-edge"  is  normally  used when printing portrait
            (unrotated) pages, while "two-sided-short-edge" is used for
            landscape pages.

       -o fitplot  
           Scales the print file to fit on the page.

       -o page-bottom=N
       -o page-left=N
       -o page-right=N
       -o page-top=N

            Sets  the page margins when printing text files. The values
            are in points - there are 72 points to the inch.
 
For example, to print "SomeFile" single-sided on a printer that normally prints duplex:

    lpr -o sides=one-sided SomeFile

If printing to a particular printer is not working and "lpq -P QUENAME" shows that the queue is not ready, try running

     /usr/sbin/cupsenable QUENAME 

to knock things loose.

This syntax works with up to date RedHat configuration (>= FC9 or REL5).  Other types of Linux and older RedHat, your mileage may vary.

Caveats: Setting up Unix (Solaris/Dec/...) LPD configurations is beyond the scope of this document. Generally, the file /etc/printcap should have an entry including:

Installing Printers on the RSMAS Network

Modern network-capable printers can be installed directly on the RSMAS network.  When purchasing a new printer for the RSMAS network, you should select a standard brand printer capable of being connected to Ethernet by a Cat-5 cable. The printer should be capable of TCP/IP network operations; LPP, IPP, and Jetdirect protocols are supported by the print-server.   If you wish your printer to be served by the RSMAS print server, check with the RCF that the model of printer you plan to buy or use is supported.

To use the RCF print server, your printer must be  registered and installed on the RSMAS network.  The RCF will install your printer on the network and configure the RCF print server to make your compatible printer accessible on the local network.  To have the printer set up for the server, send the following information to the RCF:

Manufacture/Model of your printer:
Description (color, b&w, duplex, etc.):
Location:
Person(s) responsible for printer operation:
Phone number(s):
Owner:
Access restrictions:
Special configuration:

Note that access restrictions are published here and on the net, but the restrictions are not enforced by the print server; we can generally tell you which computer sent a job to your printer if you know the time it was printed. Special configurations include things like 2-sided (duplex) vs. 1-sided printing (single), tray selection, etc., depending on the options available on your printer. Users cannot configure the printer directly, but a queues can be set up with different configuration options.

The print-server will advertise your printer on the network, handle driver installation on clients, send jobs to the printer, and log activity on your printer.  RCF will investigate network problems and try to maintain an orderly flow of print jobs through the server to your printer. The printer's owner is responsible for printer maintenance and supplies, making printer drivers for client computers available, keeping documentation and Cd-s related to the printer, and general service of the printer. Note that RCF is a 5dayX8hr shop; response to network/server problems is more dependable during normal business hours. Contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

RSMAS Printers:

The RCF print server prints jobs on a first-in first-out basis.  If you have trouble killing a job that is in queue, disable the printer (pull out the paper tray or turn it off), and contact RCF staff (ext 54028). There are three types of networked printers at RSMAS.

• Public: Public printers are available to anyone at RSMAS.

• Division: Division printers are owned and managed by the indicated division and are for it's members only.

• Private: Private printers are owned by individuals and may not be accessed without permission of the owner.

What this document does not cover

Printers may be attached directly to your computer.  It is possible to make such directly-attached printers accessible to others; that is the responsibility of the owner of the printer/computer; such setups are not supported by the RCF or discussed here.

Computers may be installed on the RSMAS network so they can be accessed directly by computers on the net. Such networked printers can be accessed without a print server. To access the printer without a print server, you will need to know the manufacturer and model of the printer and have access to the drivers for the printer, which are provided by the client operating system or the manufacturer of the printer; RCF will not queue a printer that supports direct access by clients.  All such setups are beyond the scope of this document.