Printing with CUPS

Support knowledgebase (jsmeix_print-cups)
Applies to

SuSE Linux: Versions since 7.2

Request:

You want to print using CUPS.

Procedure:

Since SuSE Linux 7.2, CUPS is supported by YaST2. By default, the standard printing system uses the LPRng spooler (package lprng) or the BSD spooler (package lprold). You can switch to CUPS and back to the standard printing system with YaST2.

It is not possible to have the packages lprng or lprold installed when using CUPS as there are some files located at the same place (e.g., /usr/bin/lpr, /usr/bin/lpq, /usr/bin/lprm, /usr/sbin/lpc). Therefore, it is necessary to remove and install the appropriate packages if you switch to CUPS or back to the standard printing system.

If lprng or lprold and CUPS are installed at the same time, your printing system may not work at all. In this case it is reasonable to reinstall the printing system completely, as described in the article Reinstalling a Printer.

To switch to CUPS, launch the YaST2 module "Printers in CUPS" and follow the instructions.

Up to SuSE Linux 7.3, the default paper size in the CUPS configuration is "letter", which has to be changed to "a4" in many cases. Since SuSE Linux 8.0, the default paper size is "a4", which has to be changed to "letter", especially in the USA.

If there is no obvious way to finish the CUPS configuration, select "edit previously installed device" and "Next" to get the final screen where there is a "Finish" button.

To switch back to the standard printing system, launch the YaST2 module "Printer in LPD" and follow the instructions. Find both YaST2 modules in the "Misc" section of YaST2.

If there was a former configuration of the standard printing system, this configuration should be available again after switching back from CUPS to the standard printing system, but an existing CUPS configuration will not be saved.

Some Notes Regarding CUPS

For non-PostScript printers, CUPS uses "Ghostscript" to produce the printer-specific data in almost the same manner as the standard printing system. As the Ghostscript driver and the parameter settings for the Ghostscript driver are the crucial point where the type of printer output is determined, you should get exactly the same output if you use the same Ghostscript driver and parameter settings regardless of whether you use CUPS or the standard printing system. If there is no Ghostscript driver for a non-PostScript printer, it will not help to switch to CUPS. All available Ghostscript drivers are listed in the file /usr/share/doc/packages/ghostscript/catalog.devices

If your printer is not accessible at all, it will not help to switch to CUPS. See the article Installing a Printer as a starting point to resolve problems.


See also:
o Installing a Printer
o Purchase of Printers and Compatibility
o Installing a printer since SuSE Linux 6.4 and up to 7.3
o Printer: Reinstalling a printer

Keywords: PRINTER, PRINTING, CUPS

Categories: Frequently asked Questions , Documentation , Printer

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SDB-jsmeix_print-cups, Copyright SuSE Linux AG, Nürnberg, Germany - Version: 07. Jun 2001
SuSE Linux AG - Last generated: 15. Mai 2002 by jsmeix (sdb_gen 1.40.0)