Linux in a Nutshell, Fourth Edition

Name

lpd

Synopsis

                  lpd [options]

TCP/IP command. LPRng line printer daemon. lpd is usually invoked at boot time from the rc2 file. It makes a single pass through the printer configuration file (traditionally /etc/printcap) to find out about the existing printers, and prints any files left after a crash. It then accepts requests to print files in a queue, transfer files to a spooling area, display a queue’s status, or remove jobs from a queue. In each case, it forks a child process for each request, then continues to listen for subsequent requests.

A file lock in each spool directory prevents multiple daemons from becoming active simultaneously. After the daemon has set the lock, it scans the directory for files beginning wth cf. Lines in each cf file specify files to be printed or nonprinting actions to be performed. Each line begins with a key character, which specifies information about the print job or what to do with the remainder of the line. Key characters are:

c

cifplot file.

d

DVI file.

f

Formatted file--name of a file to print that is already formatted.

g

Graph file.

l

Formatted file, but suppress pagebreaks and printing of control characters.

n

ditroff file.

p

File filtered using pr.

t

troff file.

v

File containing raster image.

C

Classification--string to be used for the classification line on the burst page.

H

Hostname--name of machine where lpd was invoked.

I

Indentation--number of characters to indent output.

J

Job name--string to be used for the jobname on the burst ...