AIX printing is managed by programs and configurations in the /usr/lpd directory. The design, configuration, queueing mechanism, and daemon processes of the 4.3 BSD and AIX printer subsystems are different. However, they both use the lpd protocol for remote printing. Both systems use /etc/hosts.lpd if it exists and /etc/host.equiv otherwise. The AIX printer subsystem offers a gateway to 4.3 BSD printer subsystems, so AIX systems can submit print jobs to 4.3 BSD systems and accept print jobs submitted by 4.3 BSD systems.
The /etc/printcap file of 4.3 BSD does not exist in AIX.This file is a combination of spooler configuration and printer capability data base. Users need to understand the format and keywords of the printcap file to set up a printer correctly.
The /etc/qconfig file of AIX contains only the spooler configuration information. The printer capability is defined in the ODM predefined/customized data base. You can use the mkvirprt (make virtual printer) command to define to the system the capabilities of a particular printer.
To make the printer lp0 available to print on the remote host viking, put the following in a 4.3 BSD system /etc/printcap file:
lp0|Print on remote printer attached to viking:Z :lp=:rm=viking:rp=lp:st=/usr/spool/lp0d
To do the same on an AIX system, put the following in the /etc/qconfig file:
lp0:
device = dlp0
host = viking
rq = lp
dlp0:
backend = /usr/lib/lpd/rembak
For more information about the printer subsystem, see the "Printer Overview for System Management".
AIX supports the following printer commands and library functions:
| cancel (1) | Cancels requests to a line printer. |
| chquedev (1) | Changes the printer or plotter queue device names. |
| chvirprt (1) | Changes the attribute values of a virtual printer. |
| disable (1) | Disables a printer queue. |
| enable(1) | Enables a printer queue. |
| hplj(1) | Postprocesses troff output for HP LaserJetII with the K cartridge. |
| ibm3812 (1) | Postprocesses troff output for IBM 3812 Mod 2 Pageprinter. |
| ibm3816 (1) | Postprocesses troff output for IBM 3816 Pageprinter. |
| ibm5587G (1) | Postprocesses troff output for IBM 5587G with 32x32/24x24 cartridge. |
| lp(1) | Sends requests to a line printer. |
| lpr(1) | Enqueues print jobs. |
| lprm(1) | Removes jobs from the line printer spooling queue. |
| lpstat (1) | Displays line printer status information. |
| lptest(1) | Generates the line printer ripple pattern. |
| lsallqdev (1) | Lists all configured printer queue device names within a queue. |
| lsvirprt (1) | Displays the attribute values of a virtual printer. |
| mkque(1) | Adds a printer queue to the system. |
| mkquedev (1) | Adds a printer queue device to the system. |
| mkvirprt (1) | Makes a virtual printer. |
| pac(1) | Prepares printer/plotter accounting records. |
| piobe(1) | Print Job Manager for the printer backend. |
| pioburst (1) | Generates burst pages (header and trailer pages) for printer output. |
| piocmdout (3) | Subroutine that outputs an attribute string for a printer formatter. |
| piodigest (1) | Digests attribute values for a virtual printer definition and stores. |
| pioexit (3) | Subroutine that exits from a printer formatter. |
| pioformat (1) | Drives a printer formatter. |
| piofquote (1) | Converts certain control characters destined for PostScript printers. |
| piogetstr (3) | Subroutine that retrieves an attribute string for a printer formatter. |
| piogetvals(3) | Subroutine that initializes Printer Attribute database variables for printer formatter. |
| piomsgout (3) | Subroutine that sends a message from a printer formatter. |
| pioout(1) | Printer backend's device driver interface program. |
| piopredef (1) | Creates a predefined printer data stream definition. |
| proff(1) | Formats text for printers with personal printer data streams. |
| prtty(1) | Prints to the printer port of the terminal. |
| qadm(1) | Performs system administration for the printer spooling system. |
| qconfig (4) | Configures a printer queueing system. |
| qstatus(1) | Provides printer status for the print spooling system. |
| restore (3) | Restores the printer to its default state. |
| rmque(1) | Removes a printer queue from the system. |
| rmquedev (1) | Removes a printer or plotter queue device from the system. |
| rmvirprt (1) | Removes a virtual printer. |
| splp(1) | Changes or displays printer driver settings. |
| xpr(1) | Formats a window dump file for output to a printer. |