Printing problems occur when the /var file system is full. This usually happens when print jobs sent to the print queue begin to back up for some reason, causing the spooling directory within the file system to grow too large. The spooling directories usually affected are /var/spool/lpd and /var/spool/qdaemon.
The print queue can back up if the queue daemon has stopped functioning, the printer has gone down or has been turned off, or a large print job sent to the printer has occupied all resources. The /var file system can also fill up if other directories in the file system besides the spooling directory grow too large.
When the /var file system is full, you must do one or more of the following: