Printing Commands in Linux or Debain Linux

Linux includes a number of command line tools for administering printing. These commands are useful on networks, or for troubleshooting and managing printing on any system.

Each printer on a Linux system has its own spool or queue in the /var /spool/lpd directory. This spool uses the short name of the printer, which is created when the printer is first configured. When a file is printed, it becomes a job in the spool. Each job is stored in a spool until it is printed.

Printing tools generally start with lp (short for "line printer"). If you are familiar with other Linux commands, you can usually make a good guess at what the rest of the command should be. For example, lprm removes a print job from the spool

You can use the following tools for managing printing

lpq : Checks the status of print jobs.
lprm : Removes a print job from a spool.
lpstat : Reads the status of a spool.

Checking the Status of Print Jobs

lpq options user

The command's name comes from the fact that a spool is sometimes called a "queue."

The lpq Command (Print Jobs) Options

-l - Prints information for each file in the printer queue.

number - Checks the status of a job number.

-P printer - Sets the printer that a job should Use.

If you want to know more options check lpq man page

Sends requests to a line printer

lp options files

If you want to know more options check lp man page

Removing Jobs From a Printer Spool

lprm options job user 

The command's name comes from the fact that it removes (rm) a job from a line printer (lp).

Only the root user can remove a job sent by another user.

Regular users can remove their own print jobs.

Use lpstat to find job numbers.

The lprm Command (Remove Print Jobs) Options

-P printer - Sets the printer to Use.

- user - Removes all jobs sent by the user specified.

If you want to know more options check lprm man page

Reading the Status of a Printer Spool

lpstat -t options 

If you want to know more options check lpstat man page

Printing From the Command Line

lpr options files 

The lpr Command (Print) Options

-P printer - Selects the printer to Use.

-s - This option saves time and disk space for large files, but may cause printing to be slower.

If you want to know more options check lpr man page