Initial Printer Configuration

You can use one process to configure a printer and another to add a print queue. There are several different articles that describe how to do this. The task you use depends on how your printer is attached to the system. You can also configure a printer without adding a print queue. The following describes how to do these tasks:

• Changing the Configuration File
• Configuring a Local Printer and Adding a Queue
• Configuring a Remote Printer and Adding a Queue
• Configuring an Xstation Printer and Adding a Queue
• Configuring a Network Printer and Adding a Queue
• Configuring a Print Queue for a File in the /dev Directory
• Configuring a Printer without Adding a Queue

The "Queuing a Print Job" and "Removing a Print Queue" procedures can be used after configuring a print queue.

Changing the Configuration File

Both the enq command and qdaemon command read the /etc/qconfig file when they start. The qdaemon command starts when you start the system; the enq command starts each time someone requests a print job. Thus, if you change the /etc/qconfig file, the enq command reads the new version of the configuration file the next time it runs.

Do not edit the /etc/qconfig file while there are active jobs in any queue. Editing includes both manual editing and use of the mkque, rmque, chque, mkquedev, rmquedev, or chquedev commands. It is recommended that all changes to the /etc/qconfig file be made using these commands. However, if manual editing is desired, first issue the enq -G command to bring the queuing system and the qdaemon command down after all jobs are present. Then edit the /etc/qconfig file and restart the qdaemon command with the new configuration.

Configuring a Local Printer and Adding a Queue

Note: If you want to configure a printer without adding a print queue, see "Configuring a Printer without Adding a Queue".

Prerequisites

• Read the documentation for your printer. You may need printer-specific information to connect and configure the printer.
• Review the configuration of your system. Determine to which parallel or serial port you want to connect the printer.
• You must have root authority.

Procedure

1. Connect the printer directly to the serial or parallel port on the local host:
   1. Type shutdown at the system prompt to halt the system.
   2. Turn off the system and any external devices.
   3. Connect the printer to the appropriate serial or parallel port.
   4. Set up your printer as described in the printer documentation.
   5. Restart the system.

2. At the system prompt, type:

   wsm printers

   In the Web-based System Manager Printer Queues container, use the menus to complete the steps to configure a printer device and one or more print queues. You can also perform this step with the SMIT fast path smit mkpq.

   Note: If the printer supports more than one type of print data, such as PostScript and ASCII, enter a print queue name for each print data type.

   Note: Before choosing a 7-bit interface, see "Considerations for 8-Bit Printer Attached to 7-Bit Interface".

3. After the printer and print queues are sucessfully created, their names are displayed. Be sure to note any error messages before you exit.

4. Type wsm printers. Use the Printer Queues menus to customize the new print queue. You can also perform this step with the SMIT fast path smit chpq.

Configuring a Remote Printer and Adding a Queue

Prerequisites

The remote host must be configured as a print server.

Procedure

1. At the system prompt, type:

   wsm printers

   In the Web-based System Manager Printer Queues container, use the menus to complete the steps to configure a print queue for a printer attached to a remote host. You can also perform this step with the SMIT fast path smit mkpq.

2. After the print queues are successfully created, their names are displayed. Be sure to note any error messages before you exit.

3. Type wsm printers. Use the Printer Queues menus to customize the new print queue. You can also perform this step with the SMIT fast path smit chpq.

Configuring an Xstation Printer and Adding a Print Queue

You can attach several printers and plotters to serial ports on the Xstation 130, 140 or 150, and one printer or plotter to the serial port on the Xstation 120. You can also attach printers to a parallel port. Printer queues on hosts can access the printer through the same network connection used by an Xwindow environment.

To configure a printer, ensure that your system meets the prerequisite conditions, then create a printer or plotter queue to spool to the Xstation. After you add the queue, you can submit print or plot jobs to the queue using the qprt command, the lp command, the lpr command, or the enq command.

Prerequisites

To set up a print queue, you must meet the following conditions:

• Root user permission to add the print queue.
• An Xstation that the printer is connected to.
• You may need to set up the printer. See your printer manual for instructions.
• Before you begin, you should know how to connect the printer to a parallel or serial port on the Xstation. On an Xstation 120, one serial port and one parallel port are available. On an Xstation 130, an optional serial port fan-out cable provides one additional serial port, and a IBM PS/2 Dual Async Adapter/A provides two additional serial ports. On an Xstation 140 or Xstation 150, an optional serial port fan-out cable provides one additional serial port.

Procedure

1. At the system prompt, type:

   wsm printers

   In the Web-based System Manager Printer Queues container, use the menus to complete the steps to add a print queue for a printer connected to an Xstation. You can also perform this step with the SMIT fast path smit mkpq.

   Note: If a printer supports more than one printer language such as PostScript and PCL, each supported language is listed. Enter a queue name for each printer language for which you want to add a print queue. If you do not enter a queue name for a printer language, no queue will be added for that printer language.

2. After the print queues are successfully created, their names are displayed. Be sure to note any error messages before you exit.

3. Type wsm printers. Use the Printer Queues menus to customize the new print queue. You can also perform this step with the SMIT fast path smit chpq.

Configuring a Network Printer and Adding a Queue

Prerequisites

• Read the documentation for your printer. You may need printer-specific information to connect and configure the printer.
• Read the documentation for the Hewlett-Packard JetDirect card.
• You must have root authority.

Procedure

1. At the system prompt, type:

   wsm printers

   In the Web-based System Manager Printer Queues container, use the menus to complete the steps to configure a printer attached to the network with a Hewlett-Packard JetDirect card and to add a queue. You can also perform this step with the SMIT fast path smit mkpq.

2. After the print queues are successfully created, their names are displayed. Be sure to note any error messages before you exit.

3. Type wsm printers. Use the Printer Queues menus to customize the new print queue. You can also perform this step with the SMIT fast path smit chpq.

Configuring a Print Queue for a File in the /dev Directory

Prerequisites

• Read the documentation for your printer. You may need printer-specific information to connect and configure the printer.
• Review the configuration of your system.
• You must have root authority.

Procedure

1. At the system prompt, type:

   wsm printers

   In the Web-based System Manager Printer Queues container, use the menus to complete the steps to configure a print queue for a file in the /dev directory and add a queue. You can also perform this step with the SMIT fast path smit mkpq.

   Note: If the printer supports more than one type of print data, such as PostScript and ASCII, enter a print queue name for each print data type.

2. After the print queues are successfully created, their names are displayed. Be sure to note any error messages before you exit.

3. Type wsm printers. Use the Printer Queues menus to customize the new print queue. To use the SMIT fast path, type smit chpq.

Configuring a Printer Port

The following procedure describes how to configure a printer attached to the local host without adding a print queue. Use this procedure if you want to add a printer or plotter, but you do not want to spool print jobs.

Note: If you also want to add print queues when you configure your printer, refer to "Initial Printer Configuration".

Prerequisites

The printer or plotter must be physically attached to your system to configure the printer port.

Procedure

1. At the system prompt, type:

   wsm printers

   In the Web-based System Manager Printer Queues container, use the menus to complete the steps to configure a printer attached to the local host. You can also perform this step with the SMIT fast path smit pdp.

2. The system displays the printer device name.