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diff --git a/docs/docbook/projdoc/CUPS-printing.sgml b/docs/docbook/projdoc/CUPS-printing.sgml new file mode 100644 index 00000000000..a932127d94a --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/docbook/projdoc/CUPS-printing.sgml @@ -0,0 +1,1357 @@ +<chapter id="CUPS-printing"> + + +<chapterinfo> + <author> + <firstname>John H</firstname><surname>Terpstra</surname> + <affiliation> + <orgname>Samba Team</orgname> + <address> + <email>jht@samba.org</email> + </address> + </affiliation> + </author> + <author> + <firstname>Kurt</firstname><surname>Pfeifle</surname> + <affiliation> + <address><email>kpfeifle@danka.de</email></address> + </affiliation> + </author> + <pubdate> (25 March 2003) </pubdate> +</chapterinfo> + +<title>CUPS Printing Support</title> + +<sect1> +<title>Introduction</title> + +<para> +The Common Unix Print System (CUPS) has become very popular, but to many it is +a very mystical tool. There is a great deal of uncertainty regarding CUPS and how +it works. The result is seen in a large number of posting on the samba mailing lists +expressing frustration when MS Windows printers appear not to work with a CUPS +backr-end. +/para> + +<para> +This is a good time to point out how CUPS can be used and what it does. CUPS is more +than just a print spooling system - it is a complete printer management system that +complies with HTTP and IPP protocols. It can be managed remotely via a web browser +and it can print using http and ipp protocols. +</para> + +<para> +CUPS allows to creation of RAW printers (ie: NO file format translation) as well as +SMART printers (ie: CUPS does file format conversion as required for the printer). In +many ways this gives CUPS similar capabilities to the MS Windows print monitoring +system. Of course, if you are a CUPS advocate, you would agrue that CUPS is better! +In any case, let us now move on to explore how one may configure CUPS for interfacing +with MS Windows print clients via Samba. +</para> + +</sect1> + +<sect1> +<title>CUPS - RAW Print Through Mode</title> + +<para> +When CUPS printers are configured for RAW print-through mode operation it is the +responsibility of the Samba client to fully render the print job (file) in a format +that is suitable for direct delivery to the printer. In this case CUPS will NOT +do any print file format conversion work. +</para> + +<para> +The CUPS files that need to be correctly set for RAW mode printers to work are: + +<itemizedlist> + <listitem><para><filename>/etc/cups/mime.types</filename><para></listitem> + <listitem><para><filename>/etc/cups/mime.convs</filename><para></listitem> +</itemizedlist> + +Both contain entries that must be uncommented to allow <emphasis>RAW</emphasis> mode +operation. +</para> + +<para> +Firstly, to enable CUPS based printing from Samba the following options must be +enabled in your smb.conf file [globals] section: + +<itemizedlist> + <listitem><para>printing = CUPS</para></listitem> + + <listitem><para>printcap = CUPS</para></listitem> +</itemizedlist> + +When these parameters are specified the print directives in smb.conf (as well as in +samba itself) will be ignored because samba will directly interface with CUPS through +it's application program interface (API) - so long as Samba has been compiled with +CUPS library (libcups) support. If samba has NOT been compiled with CUPS support then +printing will use the System V AT&T command set with the <emphasis>-oraw</emphasis> +option automatically passing through. +</para> + +<para> +Cupsomatic (an enhanced printing utility that is part of some CUPS implementations) +on the Samba/CUPS server does *not* add any features if a file is really +printed "raw". However, if you have loaded the driver for the Windows client from +the CUPS server, using the "cupsaddsmb" utility, and if this driver is one using +a "Foomatic" PPD, the PJL header in question is already added on the Windows client, +at the time when the driver initially generated the PostScript data and CUPS in true +"-oraw" manner doesn't remove this PJL header and passes the file "as is" to its +printer communication backend. +</para> + +<note><para>NOTE: editing in the "mime.convs" and the "mime.types" file does not *enforce* +"raw" printing, it only *allows* it.</para></note> + +<para> +Print files that arrive from MS Windows printing are "auto-typed" by CUPS. This aids +the process of determining proper treatment while in the print queue system. + +<itemizedlist> + <listitem><para> + Files generated by PCL drivers and directed at PCK printers get auto-typed as + <filename>application/octet-stream</filename>. Unknown file format types also + get auto-typed with this tag. + </para></listitem> + + <listitem><para> + Files generated by a Postscript driver and directed at a Postscript printer + are auto-typed depending on the auto-detected most suitable MIME type as: + + <itemizedlist> + <listitem><para>* application/postscript</para></listitem> + <listitem><para>* application/vnd.cups-postscript</para></listitem> + </itemizedlist> + </para> +</itemizedlist> +</para> + + +<para> +"application/postscript" first goes thru the "pstops" filter (where the page counting +and accounting takes place). The outcome will be of MIME type +"application/vnd.cups-postscript". The pstopsfilter reads and uses information from +the PPD and inserts user-provided options into the PostScript file. As a consequence, +the filtered file could possibly have an unwanted PJL header. +</para> + +<para> +"application/postscript" will be all files with a ".ps", ".ai", ".eps" suffix or which +have as their first character string one of "%!" or "<04>%". +</para> + +<para> +"application/vnd.cups-postscript" will files which contain the string +"LANGUAGE=POSTSCRIPT" (or similar variations with different capitalization) in the +first 512 bytes, and also contain the "PJL super escape code" in the first 128 bytes +("<1B>%-12345X"). Very likely, most PostScript files generated on Windows using a CUPS +or other PPD, will have to be auto-typed as "vnd.cups-postscript". A file produced +with a "Generic PostScript driver" will just be tagged "application/postscript". +</para> + +<para> +Once the file is in "application/vnd.cups-postscript" format, either "pstoraster" +or "cupsomatic" will take over (depending on the printer configuration, as +determined by the PPD in use). +</para> + +<note><para> +A printer queue with *no* PPD associated to it is a "raw" printer and all files +will go directly there as received by the spooler. The exeptions are file types +"application/octet-stream" which need "passthrough feature" enabled. +"Raw" queues don't do any filtering at all, they hand the file directly to the +CUPS backend. This backend is responsible for the sending of the data to the device +(as in the "device URI" notation as lpd://, socket://, smb://, ipp://, http://, +parallel:/, serial:/, usb:/ etc.) +</para></note> + +<note><para> +"cupsomatic"/Foomatic are *not* native CUPS drivers and they don't ship with CUPS. +They are a Third Party add-on, developed at Linuxprinting.org. As such, they are +a brilliant hack to make all models (driven by Ghostscript drivers/filters in +traditional spoolers) also work via CUPS, with the same (good or bad!) quality +as in these other spoolers. "cupsomatic" is only a vehicle to execute a ghostscript +commandline at that stage in the CUPS filtering chain, where "normally" the native +CUPS "pstoraster" filter would kick in. cupsomatic by-passes pstoraster, "kidnaps" +the printfile from CUPS away and re-directs it to go through Ghostscipt. CUPS accepts this, +because the associated CUPS-O-Matic-/Foomatic-PPD specifies: +</para> + +<programlisting> + *cupsFilter: "application/vnd.cups-postscript 0 cupsomatic" +</programlisting> + +<para> +This line persuades CUPS to hand the file to cupsomatic, once it has successfully +converted it to the MIME type "application/vnd.cups-postscript". This conversion will not +happen for Jobs arriving from Windows which are auto-typed "application/octet-stream", +with the according changes in "/etc/cups/mime.types" in place. +</para></note> + +<para> +CUPS is widely configurable and flexible, even regarding its filtering mechanism. +Another workaround in some situations would be to have +in "/etc/cups/mime.types" entries as follows: +</para> + +<programlisting> + application/postscript application/vnd.cups-raw 0 - + application/vnd.cups-postscript application/vnd.cups-raw 0 - +</programlisting> + +<para> +This would prevent all Postscript files from being filtered (rather, they will go +thru the virtual "nullfilter" denoted with "-"). This could only be useful for +PS printers. If you want to print PS code on non-PS printers an entry as follows +could be useful: +</para> + +<programlisting> + */* application/vnd.cups-raw 0 - +</programlisting> + +<para> +and would effectively send *all* files to the backend without further processing. +</para> + +<para> +Lastly, you could have the following entry: +</para> + +<programlisting> + application/vnd.cups-postscript application/vnd.cups-raw 0 my_PJL_stripping_filter +</programlisting> + +<para> +You will need to write a "my_PJL_stripping_filter" (could be a shellscript) that +parses the PostScript and removes the unwanted PJL. This would need to conform to +CUPS filter design (mainly, receive and pass the parameters printername, job-id, +username, jobtitle, copies, print options and possibly the filename). It would +be installed as world executable into "/usr/lib/cups/filters/" and will be called +by CUPS if it encounters a MIME type "application/vnd.cups-postscript". +</para> + +<para> +CUPS can handle "-o job-hold-until=indefinite". This keeps the job in the queue +"on hold". It will only be printed upon manual release by the printer operator. +This is a requirement in many "central reproduction departments", where a few +operators manage the jobs of hundreds of users on some big machine, where no +user is allowed to have direct access. (The operators often need to load the +proper paper type before running the 10.000 page job requested by marketing +for the mailing, etc.). +</para> + +</sect1> + +<sect1> +<title>The CUPS Filter Chains</title> + +<para> +The following diagrams reveal how CUPS handles print jobs. +</para> + +<programlisting> +######################################################################### +# +# CUPS in and of itself has this (general) filter chain (CAPITAL +# letters are FILE-FORMATS or MIME types, other are filters (this is +# true for pre-1.1.15 of pre-4.3 versions of CUPS and ESP PrintPro): +# +# <replaceable>SOMETHNG</replaceable>-FILEFORMAT +# | +# | +# V +# <replaceable>something</replaceable>tops +# | +# | +# V +# APPLICATION/POSTSCRIPT +# | +# | +# V +# pstops +# | +# | +# V +# APPLICATION/VND.CUPS-POSTSCRIPT +# | +# | +# V +# pstoraster # as shipped with CUPS, independent from any Ghostscipt +# | # installation on the system +# | (= "postscipt interpreter") +# | +# V +# APPLICATION/VND.CUPS-RASTER +# | +# | +# V +# rasterto<replaceable>something</replaceable> (f.e. Gimp-Print filters may be plugged in here) +# | (= "raster driver") +# | +# V +# SOMETHING-DEVICE-SPECIFIC +# | +# | +# V +# backend +# +# +# ESP PrintPro has some enhanced "rasterto<replaceable>something</replaceable>" filters as compared to +# CUPS, and also a somewhat improved "pstoraster" filter. +# +# NOTE: Gimp-Print and some other 3rd-Party-Filters (like TurboPrint) to +# CUPS and ESP PrintPro plug-in where rasterto<replaceable>something</replaceable> is noted. +# +######################################################################### +</programlisting> + +<programlisting> +######################################################################### +# +# This is how "cupsomatic" comes into play: +# ========================================= +# +# <replaceable>SOMETHNG</replaceable>-FILEFORMAT +# | +# | +# V +# <replaceable>something</replaceable>tops +# | +# | +# V +# APPLICATION/POSTSCRIPT +# | +# | +# V +# pstops +# | +# | +# V +# APPLICATION/VND.CUPS-POSTSCRIPT ----------------+ +# | | +# | V +# V cupsomatic +# pstoraster (constructs complicated +# | (= "postscipt interpreter") Ghostscript commandline +# | to let the file be +# V processed by a +# APPLICATION/VND.CUPS-RASTER "-sDEVICE=<replaceable>s.th.</replaceable>" +# | call...) +# | | +# V | +# rasterto<replaceable>something</replaceable> V +# | (= "raster driver") +-------------------------+ +# | | Ghostscript at work.... | +# V | | +# SOMETHING-DEVICE-SPECIFIC *-------------------------+ +# | | +# | | +# V | +# backend >------------------------------------+ +# | +# | +# V +# THE PRINTER +# +# +# Note, that cupsomatic "kidnaps" the printfile after the +# "APPLICATION/VND.CUPS-POSTSCRPT" stage and deviates it through +# the CUPS-external, systemwide Ghostscript installation, bypassing the +# "pstoraster" filter (therefor also bypassing the CUPS-raster-drivers +# "rasterto<replaceable>something</replaceable>", and hands the rasterized file directly to the CUPS +# backend... +# +# cupsomatic is not made by the CUPS developers. It is an independent +# contribution to printing development, made by people from +# Linuxprinting.org. (see also http://www.cups.org/cups-help.html) +# +# NOTE: Gimp-Print and some other 3rd-Party-Filters (like TurboPrint) to +# CUPS and ESP PrintPro plug-in where rasterto<replaceable>something</replaceable> is noted. +# +######################################################################### +</programlisting> + +<programlisting> +######################################################################### +# +# And this is how it works for ESP PrintPro from 4.3: +# =================================================== +# +# <replaceable>SOMETHNG</replaceable>-FILEFORMAT +# | +# | +# V +# <replaceable>something</replaceable>tops +# | +# | +# V +# APPLICATION/POSTSCRIPT +# | +# | +# V +# pstops +# | +# | +# V +# APPLICATION/VND.CUPS-POSTSCRIPT +# | +# | +# V +# gsrip +# | (= "postscipt interpreter") +# | +# V +# APPLICATION/VND.CUPS-RASTER +# | +# | +# V +# rasterto<replaceable>something</replaceable> (f.e. Gimp-Print filters may be plugged in here) +# | (= "raster driver") +# | +# V +# SOMETHING-DEVICE-SPECIFIC +# | +# | +# V +# backend +# +# NOTE: Gimp-Print and some other 3rd-Party-Filters (like TurboPrint) to +# CUPS and ESP PrintPro plug-in where rasterto<replaceable>something</replaceable> is noted. +# +######################################################################### +</programlisting> + +<programlisting> +######################################################################### +# +# This is how "cupsomatic" would come into play with ESP PrintPro: +# ================================================================ +# +# +# <replaceable>SOMETHNG</replaceable>-FILEFORMAT +# | +# | +# V +# <replaceable>something</replaceable>tops +# | +# | +# V +# APPLICATION/POSTSCRIPT +# | +# | +# V +# pstops +# | +# | +# V +# APPLICATION/VND.CUPS-POSTSCRIPT ----------------+ +# | | +# | V +# V cupsomatic +# gsrip (constructs complicated +# | (= "postscipt interpreter") Ghostscript commandline +# | to let the file be +# V processed by a +# APPLICATION/VND.CUPS-RASTER "-sDEVICE=<replaceable>s.th.</replaceable>" +# | call...) +# | | +# V | +# rasterto<replaceable>something</replaceable> V +# | (= "raster driver") +-------------------------+ +# | | Ghostscript at work.... | +# V | | +# SOMETHING-DEVICE-SPECIFIC *-------------------------+ +# | | +# | | +# V | +# backend >------------------------------------+ +# | +# | +# V +# THE PRINTER +# +# NOTE: Gimp-Print and some other 3rd-Party-Filters (like TurboPrint) to +# CUPS and ESP PrintPro plug-in where rasterto<replaceable>something</replaceable> is noted. +# +######################################################################### +</programlisting> + +<programlisting> +######################################################################### +# +# And this is how it works for CUPS from 1.1.15: +# ============================================== +# +# <replaceable>SOMETHNG</replaceable>-FILEFORMAT +# | +# | +# V +# <replaceable>something</replaceable>tops +# | +# | +# V +# APPLICATION/POSTSCRIPT +# | +# | +# V +# pstops +# | +# | +# V +# APPLICATION/VND.CUPS-POSTSCRIPT-----+ +# | +# +------------------v------------------------------+ +# | Ghostscript | +# | at work... | +# | (with | +# | "-sDEVICE=cups") | +# | | +# | (= "postscipt interpreter") | +# | | +# +------------------v------------------------------+ +# | +# | +# APPLICATION/VND.CUPS-RASTER >-------+ +# | +# | +# V +# rasterto<replaceable>something</replaceable> +# | (= "raster driver") +# | +# V +# SOMETHING-DEVICE-SPECIFIC +# | +# | +# V +# backend +# +# +# NOTE: since version 1.1.15 CUPS "outsourced" the pstoraster process to +# Ghostscript. GNU Ghostscript needs to be patched to handle the +# CUPS requirement; ESP Ghostscript has this builtin. In any case, +# "gs -h" needs to show up a "cups" device. pstoraster is now a +# calling an appropriate "gs -sDEVICE=cups..." commandline to do +# the job. It will output "application/vnd.cup-raster", which will +# be finally processed by a CUPS raster driver "rasterto<replaceable>something</replaceable>" +# Note the difference to "cupsomatic", which will *not* output +# CUPS-raster, but a final version of the printfile, ready to be +# sent to the printer. cupsomatic also doesn't use the "cups" +# devicemode in Ghostscript, but one of the classical devicemodes.... +# +# NOTE: Gimp-Print and some other 3rd-Party-Filters (like TurboPrint) to +# CUPS and ESP PrintPro plug-in where rasterto<replaceable>something</replaceable> is noted. +# +######################################################################### +</programlisting> + +<programlisting> +######################################################################### +# +# And this is how it works for CUPS from 1.1.15, with cupsomatic included: +# ======================================================================== +# +# <replaceable>SOMETHNG</replaceable>-FILEFORMAT +# | +# | +# V +# <replaceable>something</replaceable>tops +# | +# | +# V +# APPLICATION/POSTSCRIPT +# | +# | +# V +# pstops +# | +# | +# V +# APPLICATION/VND.CUPS-POSTSCRIPT-----+ +# | +# +------------------v------------------------------+ +# | Ghostscript . Ghostscript at work.... | +# | at work... . (with "-sDEVICE= | +# | (with . <replaceable>s.th.</replaceable>" | +# | "-sDEVICE=cups") . | +# | . | +# | (CUPS standard) . (cupsomatic) | +# | . | +# | (= "postscript interpreter") | +# | . | +# +------------------v--------------v---------------+ +# | | +# | | +# APPLICATION/VND.CUPS-RASTER >-------+ | +# | | +# | | +# V | +# rasterto<replaceable>something</replaceable> | +# | (= "raster driver") | +# | | +# V | +# SOMETHING-DEVICE-SPECIFIC >------------------------+ +# | +# | +# V +# backend +# +# +# NOTE: Gimp-Print and some other 3rd-Party-Filters (like TurboPrint) to +# CUPS and ESP PrintPro plug-in where rasterto<replaceable>something</replaceable> is noted. +# +########################################################################## +</programlisting> + +</sect1> + + +<sect1> +<title>CUPS Print Drivers and Devices</title> + +<para> +CUPS ships with good support for HP LaserJet type printers. You can install +the driver as follows: + +<itemizedlist> + <listitem><para> + lpadmin -p laserjet4plus -v parallel:/dev/lp0 -E -m laserjet.ppd + </para></listitem> +</itemizedlist> + +(The "-m" switch will retrieve the "laserjet.ppd" from the standard repository +for not-yet-installed-PPDs, which CUPS typically stores in +<filename>/usr/share/cups/model</filename>. Alternatively, you may use +"-P /absolute/filesystem/path/to/where/there/is/PPD/your.ppd"). +</para> + +<sect2> +<title>Further printing steps</title> + +<para> +Always also consult the database on linuxprinting.org for all recommendations +about which driver is best used for each printer: +</para> + +<para><ulink url="http://www.linuxprinting.org/printer_list.cgi">http://www.linuxprinting.org/printer_list.cgi</ulink></para> + +<para> +There select your model and click on "Show". You'll arrive at a page listing +all drivers working with your model. There will always be *one* +<emphasis>recommended</emphasis> one. Try this one first. In your case +("HP LaserJet 4 Plus"), you'll arrive here: +</para> + +<para><ulink url="http://www.linuxprinting.org/show_printer.cgi?recnum=75104">http://www.linuxprinting.org/show_printer.cgi?recnum=75104</ulink></para> + +<para> +The recommended driver is "ljet4". It has a link to the page for the ljet4 +driver too: +</para> + +<para><ulink url="http://www.linuxprinting.org/show_driver.cgi?driver=ljet4">http://www.linuxprinting.org/show_driver.cgi?driver=ljet4</ulink> + +<para> +On the driver's page, you'll find important and detailed info about how to use +that driver within the various available spoolers. You can generate a PPD for +CUPS. The PPD contains all the info about how to use your model and the driver; +this is, once installed, working transparently for the user -- you'll only +need to choose resolution, paper size etc. from the web-based menu or from +the print dialog GUI or from the commandline... +</para> + +<para> +On the driver's page, choose to use the "PPD-O-Matic" online PPD generator +program. Select your model and click "Generate PPD file". When you safe the +appearing ASCII text file, don't use "cut'n'past" (as it could possiblly corrupt +line endings and tabs), but use "Save as..." in your browser's menu. Save it +at "/some/path/on/your/filesystem/somewhere/my-name-for-my-printer.ppd" +</para> + +<para> +Then install the printer: +</para> +<para><programlisting> + "lpadmin -p laserjet4plus -v parallel:/dev/lp0 -E -P /some/path/on/your/filesystem/somewhere/my-name-for-my-printer.ppd" +</programlisting></para> + +<para> +Note, that for all the "Foomatic-PPDs" from Linuxprinting.org, you also need +a special "CUPS filter" named "cupsomatic". Get the latest version of +"cupsomatic" from: +</para> + +<para><ulink url="http://www.linuxprinting.org/cupsomatic">http://www.linuxprinting.org/cupsomatic</ulink></para> + +<para> +This needs to be copied to <filename>/usr/lib/cups/filter/cupsomatic</filename> +and be made world executable. This filter is needed to read and act upon the +specially encoded Foomatic comments, embedded in the printfile, which in turn +are used to construct (transparently for you, the user) the complicated +ghostscript command line needed for your printer/driver combo. +</para> + +<para> +You can have a look at all the options for the Ghostscript commandline supported +by your printer and the ljet4 driver by going to the section "Execution details", +selecting your model (Laserjet 4 Plus) and clicking on "Show execution details". +This will bring up this web page: +</para> + +<para><ulink url="http://www.linuxprinting.org/execution.cgi?driver=ljet4&printer=75104&.submit=Show+execution+details">http://www.linuxprinting.org/execution.cgi?driver=ljet4&printer=75104&.submit=Show+execution+details</ulink></para> + +<para> +The ingenious thing is that the database is kept current. If there +is a bug fix and an improvement somewhere in the database, you will +always get the most current and stable and feature-rich driver by following +the steps described above. +</para> + +<note><para> +Till Kamppeter from MandrakeSoft is doing an excellent job here that too few +people are aware of. (So if you use it often, please send him a note showing +your appreciation).</para></note> + +<para> +The latest and greatest improvement now is support for "custom page sizes" +for all those printers which support it. +</para> + +<para> +"cupsomatic" is documented here: +</para> + +<para><ulink url="http://www.linuxprinting.org/cups-doc.html">http://www.linuxprinting.org/cups-doc.html</ulink></para> + +<para> +More printing tutorial info may be found here: +</para> + +<para><ulink url="http://www.linuxprinting.org/kpfeifle/LinuxKongress2002/Tutorial/">http://www.linuxprinting.org/kpfeifle/LinuxKongress2002/Tutorial/</ulink></para> + +<para> +Note, that *all* the Foomatic drivers listed on Linuxprinting.org (now +approaching the "all-time high" number of 1.000 for the supported models) +are using a special filtering chain involving Ghostscript, as described +in this document. +</para> + +<para> +Summary - You need: +</para> + +<para> +<simplelist> + + <member>A "foomatic+<replaceable>something</replaceable>" PPD is not enough to print with CUPS (but it is *one* important component)</member> + <member>The "cupsomatic" filter script (Perl) in <filename>/usr/lib/cups/filters/</filename></member> + <member>Perl to make cupsomatic run</member> + <member>Ghostscript (because it is called and controlled by the PPD/cupsomatic combo in a way to fit your printermodel/driver combo.</member> + <member>Ghostscript *must*, depending on the driver/model, contain support for a certain "device" (as shown by "gs -h")</member> +</simplelist> + +<para> +In the case of the "hpijs" driver, you need a Ghostscript version, which +has "ijs" amongst its supported devices in "gs -h". In the case of +"hpijs+foomatic", a valid ghostscript commandline would be reading like this: +</para> + +<para><programlisting> + gs -q -dBATCH -dPARANOIDSAFER -dQUIET -dNOPAUSE -sDEVICE=ijs \ + -sIjsServer=hpijs<replaceable>PageSize</replaceable> -dDuplex=<replaceable>Duplex</replaceable> <replaceable>Model</replaceable> \ + -r<replaceable>Resolution</replaceable>,PS:MediaPosition=<replaceable>InputSlot</replaceable> -dIjsUseOutputFD \ + -sOutputFile=- - +</programlisting></para> + +<note><para> +Note, that with CUPS and the "hpijs+foomatic" PPD (plus Perl and cupsomatic) +you don't need to remember this. You can choose the available print options +thru a GUI print command (like "glp" from ESP's commercially supported +PrintPro software, or KDE's "kprinter", or GNOME's "gtklp" or the independent +"xpp") or the CUPS web interface via human-readable drop-down selection +menus. +</para></note> + +<para> +If you use "ESP Ghostscript" (also under the GPL, provided by Easy Software +Products, the makers of CUPS, downloadable from +<ulink url="http://www.cups.org/software.html">http://www.cups.org/software.html</ulink>, +co-maintained by the developers of linuxprinting.org), you are guaranteed to +have in use the most uptodate, bug-fixed, enhanced and stable version of a Free +Ghostscript. It contains support for ~300 devices, whereas plain vanilla +GNU Ghostscript 7.05 only has ~200. +</para> + +<para> +If you print only one CUPS test page, from the web interface and when you try to +print a windows test page, it acts like the job was never sent: + +<simplelist> + <member>Can you print "standard" jobs from the CUPS machine?</member> + <member>Are the jobs from Windows visible in the Web interface on CUPS (http://localhost:631/)?</member> + <member><emphasis>Most important:</emphasis> What kind of printer driver are you using on the Windows clients?</member> +</simplelist> + +You can try to get a more detailed debugging info by setting "LogLevel debug" in +<filename>/etc/cups/cupsd.conf</filename>, re-start cupsd and investigate <filename>/var/log/cups/error_log</filename> +for the whereabouts of your Windows-originating printjobs: +</para> + +<simplelist> + <member>what does the "auto-typing" line say? which is the "MIME type" CUPS thinks is arriving from the Windows clients?</member> + <member>are there "filter" available for this MIME type?</member> + <member>are there "filter rules" defined in "/etc/cups/mime.convs" for this MIME type?</member> +</simplelist> + +</sect1> + + +<sect1> +<title>Limiting the number of pages users can print</title> + +<para> +The feature you want is dependent on the real print subsystem you're using. +Samba's part is always to receive the job files from the clients (filtered +*or* unfiltered) and hand it over to this printing subsystem. +</para> + +<para> +Of course one could "hack" things with one's own scripts. +</para> + +<para> +But there is CUPS (Common Unix Printing System). CUPS supports "quotas". +Quotas can be based on sizes of jobs or on the number of pages or both, +and are spanning any time period you want. +</para> + +<para> +This is an example command how root would set a print quota in CUPS, +assuming an existing printer named "quotaprinter": +</para> + +<programlisting> + lpadmin -p quotaprinter -o job-quota-period=604800 -o job-k-limit=1024 -o job-page-limit=100 +</programlisting> + +<para> +This would limit every single user to print 100 pages or 1024 KB of +data (whichever comes first) within the last 604.800 seconds ( = 1 week). +</para> + +<para> +For CUPS to count correctly, the printfile needs to pass the CUPS "pstops" filter, +otherwise it uses a "dummy" count of "1". Some printfiles don't pass it +(eg: image files) but then those are mostly 1 page jobs anyway. This also means, +proprietary drivers for the target printer running on the client computers and +CUPS/Samba then spooling these files as "raw" (i.e. leaving them untouched, not +filtering them), will be counted as "1-pagers" too! +</para> + +<para> +You need to send PostScript from the clients (i.e. run a PostScript driver there) +for having the chance to get accounting done. If the printer is a non-PostScript model, +you need to let CUPS do the job to convert the file to a print-ready format for the +target printer. This will be working for currently ~1.000 different printer models, see +</para> + +<programlisting> + http://www.linuxprinting.org/printer_list.cgi +</programlisting> + +<para> +Before CUPS-1.1.16 your only option was to use the Adobe PostScript +Driver on the Windows clients. The output of this driver was not always +passed thru the "pstops" filter on the CUPS/Samba side, and therefor was +not counted correctly (the reason is that it often --- depending on the +"PPD" being used --- did write a "PJL"-header in front of the real +PostScript which made CUPS to skip the pstops and go directy to +the "pstoraster" stage). +</para> + +<para> +From CUPS-1.1.16 onward you can use the "CUPS PostScript Driver +for Windows NT/2K/XP clients" (it is tagged in the download area of +http://www.cups.org/ as the "cups-samba-1.1.16.tar.gz" package). +It is *not* working for Win9x/ME clients. But it: +</para> + +<simplelist> + <member>>it guarantees to not write an PJL-header</member> + <member>it guarantees to still read and support all PJL-options named in the driver PPD with its own means</member> + <member>it guarantees the file going thru the "pstops" filter on the CUPS/Samba server</member> + <member>it guarantees to page-count correctly the printfile</member> +</simplelist> + +<para> +You can read more about the setup of this combination in the +manpage for "cupsaddsmb" (only present with CUPS installed, only +current with CUPS 1.1.16). +</para> + +<para> +These are the items CUPS logs in the "page_log" for every single *page* of a job: +</para> + +<para><programlisting> + * Printer name + * User name + * Job ID + * Time of printing + * the page number + * the number of copies + * a billing info string (optional) +</programlisting></para> + +<para> +Here is an extract of my CUPS server's page_log file to illustrate +the format and included items: +</para> + +<para><programlisting> + infotec_IS2027 kurt 40 [22/Nov/2002:13:18:03 +0100] 1 2 #marketing + infotec_IS2027 kurt 40 [22/Nov/2002:13:18:03 +0100] 2 2 #marketing + infotec_IS2027 kurt 40 [22/Nov/2002:13:18:03 +0100] 3 2 #marketing + infotec_IS2027 kurt 40 [22/Nov/2002:13:18:03 +0100] 4 2 #marketing + infotec_IS2027 kurt 40 [22/Nov/2002:13:18:03 +0100] 5 2 #marketing + infotec_IS2027 kurt 40 [22/Nov/2002:13:18:03 +0100] 6 2 #marketing +</programlisting></para> + +<para> +This was Job ID "40", printed on "infotec_IS2027" by user "kurt", a 6-page job +printed in 2 copies and billed to "#marketing"... +</para> + +<para> +What flaws or shortcomings are there? +</para> + +<simplelist> + <member>the ones named above</member> + + <member> + CUPS really counts the job pages being *processsed in software* + (going thru the "RIP") rather than the physical sheets successfully + leaving the printing device -- if there is a jam while printing + the 5th sheet out of 1000 and the job is aborted by the printer, + the "page count" will still show the figure of 1000 for that job + </member> + + <member> + all quotas are the same for all users (no flexibility to give the + boss a higher quota than the clerk) no support for groups + </member> + + <member> + no means to read out the current balance or "used-up" number of current quota + </member> + + <member> + a user having used up 99 sheets of 100 quota will still be able to send and print a 1.000 sheet job + </member> + + <member> + a user being denied a job because of a filled-up quota doesn't get a meaningful + error message from CUPS other than "client-error-not-possible". + </member> +</simplelist> + +<para> +But this is the best system out there currently. And there are +huge improvements under development: +</para> + +<simplelist> + <member>page counting will go into the "backends" (these talk + directly to the printer and will increase the count in sync with the + actual printing process -- a jam at the 5th sheet will lead to a stop in the counting)</member> + + <member>quotas will be handled more flexibly</member> + + <member>probably there will be support for users to inquire their "accounts" in advance</member> + + <member>probably there will be support for some other tools around this topic</member> +</simplelist> + +<para> +Other than the current stage of the CUPS development, I don't +know any other ready-to-use tool which you could consider. +</para> + +<para> +You can download the driver files from +<ulink url="http://www.cups.org/software.html">http://www.cups.org/software.html</ulink>. +It is a separate package from the CUPS base software files, tagged as "CUPS 1.1.16 +Windows NT/2k/XP Printer Driver for SAMBA (tar.gz, 192k)". The filename to +download is "cups-samba-1.1.16.tar.gz". Upon untar-/unzip-ping it will reveal +the files: +</para> + +<para> +<programlisting> + cups-samba.install + cups-samba.license + cups-samba.readme + cups-samba.remove + cups-samba.ss +</programlisting> +</para> + +<para> +These have been packaged with the ESP meta packager software "EPM". The +*.install and *.remove files are simple shell script, which untars the +*.ss (which is nothing else than a tar-archive) and puts its contents +into <filename>/usr/share/cups/drivers/</filename>. Its contents are 3 files: +</para> + +<para> +<programlisting> + cupsdrvr.dll + cupsui.dll + cups.hlp +</programlisting> +</para> + +<note><para> +ATTENTION: due to a bug one CUPS release puts the <filename>cups.hlp</filename> +into <filename>/usr/share/drivers/</filename> instead of +<filename>/usr/share/cups/drivers/</filename>. To work around this, copy/move +the file after running the "./cups-samba.install" script manually to the right place: +</para> + +<para> +<programlisting> + cp /usr/share/drivers/cups.hlp /usr/share/cups/drivers/ +</programlisting> +</para> +</note> + +<note> +<para> +This new CUPS PostScript driver is currently binary-only, but free +no source code is provided (yet). The reason is this: it has +been developed with the help of the Microsoft Driver Developer Kit (DDK) +and compiled with Microsoft Visual Studio 6. It is not clear to the driver +developers if they are allowed to distribute the whole of the source code +as Free Software. However, they will likely release the "diff" in source +code under the GPL, so anybody with a license of Visual Studio and a DDK +will be able to compile for him/herself. +</para> + +<para> +Once you have run the install script (and possibly manually moved the +"cups.hlp" file to "/usr/share/cups/drivers/"), the driver is ready to be +put into Samba's [print$] share (which often maps to "/etc/samba/drivers/" +and contains a subdir tree with WIN40 and W32X86 branches), by running +"cupsaddsmb" (see also "man cupsaddsmb" for CUPS 1.1.16). [Don't forget to +put root into the smbpasswd file by running "smbpasswd" should you run +this whole procedure for the first time.] Once the driver files are in the +[print$] share, they are ready to be downloaded and installed by the +Win NT/2k/XP clients. +</para></note> + + +<note><para> +NOTE 1: Win 9x/ME clients won't work with this driver. For these you'd +still need to use the ADOBE*.* drivers as previously. +</para></note> + +<note><para> +NOTE 2: It is not harming if you've still the ADOBE*.* driver files from +previous installations in the "/usr/share/cups/drivers/" directory. +The new cupsaddsmb (from 1.1.16) will automatically use the +"newest" installed driver (which here then is the CUPS drivers). +</para></note> + +<note><para> +NOTE 3: Should your Win clients have had the old ADOBE*.* files and the +Adobe PostScript drivers installed, the download and installation +of the new CUPS PostScript driver for Windows NT/2k/XP will fail +at first. +</para> +<para> +It is not enough to "delete" the printer (as the driver files +will still be kept by the clients and re-used if you try to +re-install the printer). To really get rid of the Adobe driver +files on the clients, open the "Printers" folder (possibly via +"Start --> Settings --> Control Panel --> Printers"), right-click +onto the folder background and select "Server Properties". A +new dialog opens; select the "Drivers" tab; on the list select +the driver you want to delete and click on the "Delete" button. +(This will only work if there is no single printer left which +uses that particular driver -- you need to "delete" all printers +using this driver in the "Printers" folder first.) +</para> +</note> + +<note><para> +Once you have successfully downloaded the CUPS PostScript driver +to a client, you can easily switch all printers to this one +by proceeding as described elsewhere in the "Samba HOWTO +Collection" to change a driver for an existing printer. +</para></note> + +<para> +What are the benefits with the "CUPS PostScript driver for Windows NT/2k/XP" +as compared to the Adobe drivers? +</para> + +<para> +<itemizedlist> + <listitem><para> + no hassle with the Adobe EULA + </para></listitem> + + <listitem><para> + no hassle with the question "where do I get the ADOBE*.* driver files from?" + </para></listitem> + + <listitem><para> + the Adobe drivers (depending on the printer PPD associated with them) + often put a PJL header in front of the core PostScript part of the print + file (thus the file starts with "<replaceable>1B</replaceable>%-12345X" or "<replaceable>escape</replaceable>%-12345X" + instead of "%!PS"). This leads to the CUPS daemon autotyping the + arriving file as a print-ready file, not requiring a pass thru the + "pstops" filter (to speak more technical, it is not regarded as the + generic MIME type "application/postscript", but as the more special + MIME type "application/cups.vnd-postscript"), which therefore also + leads to the page accounting in "/var/log/cups/page_log" not receiving + the exact mumber of pages; instead the dummy page number of "1" is + logged in a standard setup) + </para></listitem> + + <listitem><para> + the Adobe driver has more options to "mis-configure" the PostScript + generated by it (like setting it inadvertedly to "Optimize for Speed", + instead of "Optimize for Portability", which could lead to CUPS being + unable to process it) + </para></listitem> + + <listitem><para> + the CUPS PostScript driver output sent by Windows clients to the CUPS + server will be guaranteed to be auto-typed as generic MIME type + "application/postscript", thusly passing thru the CUPS "pstops" filter + and logging the correct number of pages in the page_log for accounting + and quota purposes + </para></listitem> + + <listitem><para> + the CUPS PostScript driver supports the sending of additional print + options by the Win NT/2k/XP clients, such as naming the CUPS standard + banner pages (or the custom ones, should they be installed at the time + of driver download), using the CUPS "page-label" option, setting a + job-priority and setting the scheduled time of printing (with the option + to support additional useful IPP job attributes in the future). + </para></listitem> + + <listitem><para> + the CUPS PostScript driver supports the inclusion of the new + "*cupsJobTicket" comments at the beginnig of the PostScript file (which + could be used in the future for all sort of beneficial extensions on + the CUPS side, but which will not disturb any other application as those + will regard it as a comment and simply ignore it). + </para></listitem> + + <listitem><para> + the CUPS PostScript driver will be the heart of the fully fledged CUPS + IPP client for Windows NT/2k/XP to be released soon (probably alongside + the first Beta release for CUPS 1.2). + </para></listitem> + +</itemizedlist> +</para> +</sect1> + +<sect1> +<title>Advanced Postscript Printing from MS Windows</title> + +<para> +Let the Windows Clients use a PostScript driver to deliver poistscript to +the samba print server (just like any Linux or Unix Client would also use +PostScript to send to the server) +</para> + +<para> +Make the Unix printing subsystem to which Samba sends the job convert the +incoming PostScript files to the native print format of the target printers +(would be PCL if you have an HP printer) +</para> + +<para> +Now if you are afraid that this would just mean using a *Generic* PostScript +driver for the clients that has no Simplex/Duplex selection, and no paper tray +choice, but you need them to be able to set up print jobs, with all the bells +and whistles of your printers:- +</para> + +<simplelist> + <member>Not possible with traditional spooling systems</member> + + <member> + But perfectly supported by CUPS (which uses "PPD" files to + describe how to control the print options for PostScript and + non-PostScript devices alike... + </member> +</simplelist> + +<para> +CUPS PPDs are working perfectly on Windows clients who use Adobe PostScript +drivers (or the new CUPS PostScript driver for Windows NT/2K/XP). Clients can use +them to setup the job to their liking and CUPS will use the received job options +to make the (PCL-, ESC/P- or PostScript-) printer behave as required. +</para> + +<para> +If you want to have the additional benefit of page count logging and accounting +then the CUPS PostScript driver is the best choice (better than the Adobe one). +</para> + +<para> +If you want to make the drivers downloadable for the clients then "cupsaddsmb" is +your friend. It will setup the [print$] share on the Samba host to be ready to serve +the clients for a "point and print" driver installation. +</para> + +<warning> +<para>What strings are attached?</para></warning> + +<para> +There are some. But, given the sheer CPU power you can buy nowadays, +these can be overcome easily. The strings: +</para> + +<para> +Well, if the CUPS/Samba side will have to print to many printers serving many users, +you probably will need to set up a second server (which can do automatic load balancing +with the first one, plus a degree of fail-over mechanism). Converting the incoming +PostScript jobs, "interpreting" them for non-PostScript printers, amounts to the work +of a "RIP" (Raster Image Processor) done in software. This requires more CPU and RAM +than for the mere "raw spooling" task your current setup is solving. It all depends +on the avarage and peak printing load the server should be able to handle. +</para> + +</sect1> + +<sect1> +<title>Auto-Deletion of CUPS spool files</title> + +<para> +Samba print files pass thru two "spool" directories. One the incoming directory +managed by Samba, (set eg: in the "path = /var/spool/samba" directive in the [printers] +section of "smb.conf"). Second is the spool directory of your UNIX print subsystem. +For CUPS it is normally "/var/spool/cups/", as set by the cupsd.conf directive +"RequestRoot /var/spool/cups". +</para> + +<para> +I am not sure, which one of your directories keeps the files. From what you say, +it is most likely the Samba part. +</para> + +<para> +For the CUPS part, you may want to consult: +</para> + +<programlisting> + http://localhost:631/sam.html#PreserveJobFiles and + http://localhost:631/sam.html#PreserveJobHistory and + http://localhost:631/sam.html#MaxJobs +</programlisting> + +<para> +There are the settings described for your CUPS daemon, which could lead to completed +job files not being deleted. +</para> + +<para> +"PreserveJobHistory Yes" -- keeps some details of jobs in +cupsd's mind (well it keeps the "c12345", "c12346" etc. files +in the CUPS spool directory, which do a similar job as the +old-fashioned BSD-LPD control files). This is set to "Yes" +as a default. +</para> + +<para> +"PreserveJobFiles Yes" -- keeps the job files themselves in +cupsd's mind (well it keeps the "d12345", "d12346" etc. files +in the CUPS spool directory...). This is set to "No" as the +CUPS default. +</para> + +<para> +"MaxJobs 500" -- this directive controls the maximum number +of jobs that are kept in memory. Once the number of jobs +reaches the limit, the oldest completed job is automatically +purged from the system to make room for the new one. If all +of the known jobs are still pending or active then the new +job will be rejected. Setting the maximum to 0 disables this +functionality. The default setting is 0. +</para> + +<para> +(There are also additional settings for "MaxJobsPerUser" and +"MaxJobsPerPrinter"...) +</para> + +<para> +For everything to work as announced, you need to have three things: +</para> + +<simplelist> + + <member> + a Samba-smbd which is compiled against "libcups" (Check on Linux by running "ldd `which smbd`") + </member> + + <member> + a Samba-smb.conf setting of "printing = cups" + </member> + + <member> + another Samba-smb.conf setting of "printcap = cups" + </member> + +</simplelist> + +<note><para> +Note, that in this case all other manually set printing-related +commands (like "print command", "lpq command", "lprm command", +"lppause command" or "lpresume command") are ignored and they +should normally have no influence what-so-ever on your printing. +</para></note> + +<para> +If you want to do things manually, replace the "printing = cups" +by "printing = bsd". Then your manually set commands may work +(haven't tested this), and a "print command = lp -d %P %s; rm %s" +may do what you need. +</para> + +<para> +You forgot to mention the CUPS version you're using. If you did +set things up as described in the man pages, then the Samba +spool files should be deleted. Otherwise it may be a bug. On +the CUPS side, you can control the behaviour as described +above. +</para> + +<para> +If you have more problems, post the output of these commands: +</para> + +<para> +<programlisting> + grep -v ^# /etc/cups/cupsd.conf | grep -v ^$ + grep -v ^# /etc/samba/smb.conf | grep -v ^$ | grep -v "^;" +</programlisting> +</para> + +<para> +(adapt paths as needed). These commands sanitize the files +and cut out the empty lines and lines with comments, providing +the "naked settings" in a compact way. +</para> +</sect1> +</chapter> |