fail-safe printing

[Kurt Pfeifle]

CLIFTON YUEN <clifton.yuen at gmail.com> wrote (Monday 26 June 2006 21:56):

> I've a CUPS server up and running with 5 HP/Xerox Laser Printer.
> I'm in the middle of setting up another CUPS server with exactly the same printer name as a fail-safe
> approach. 

(and hopefully the same PPD-names in /etc/cups/etc/ppd/ on both servers?)

> On all my client, I've the following lines in /etc/cups/client.conf: 
> ServerName ps1 # first/main CUPS server
> ServerName ps2 # second CUPS - on my FC5 workstations

Not good. 

 First, client.conf can only use one "ServerName"
 Second, client.conf is meant for systems with very little local 
         resources (diskless thin clients, embedded systems), which
         can't run a local cupsd.

If you tell your local print commands (lp, lpr, etc.) to use a remote 
CUPS server, these commands will try to directly access that remote 
cupsd.

It is better to leave client.conf empty (in which case the client 
commands will assume "ServerName localhost"), and configure the 
local (client-side) cupsd to use this:

  Browsing On
  BrowseAllow From All
  # BrowseAddress @LOCAL (commented out, inactive, disabled!)

On the actual CUPS server, use this:

  Browsing On
  BrowseAddress @LOCAL
  [...]
  <Location /printers>
  Allow From Client1
  Allow From Client2
  Allow From Client3
  # "Allow From All" may also be feasible
  </Location>
 
(This assumes that your CUPS clients and the CUPS server are on the 
same subnet/broadcast-domain.)

That will make 

 a) your server broadcast its printers
 b) your clients automatically pick up the printer names


> I would like to set it up this way:
> 1. Class named "bw" (black and while laserjet) for all my hp & xerox b&w laser printer
> 2. Class named "color" for all my hp color inkjet or laserjet printer
> 3. both class will be served as "ImplicitClasses" on both print servers
> is it possible??

"1." and "2." are possible, but the classes need to be manually 
created ("explicitely", if you will).

"ImplicitClasses On" will automatically create classes with the 
names "Xerox", "HP", "Colorinkjet" from all same-named "Xerox", 
"HP" and "Colorinkjet" printers. You won't be able to distinguish
between printers unless you also use "BrowseShortNames No".

Cheers,
Kurt