Printing on CSE Unix Systems

The primary command used to access all printing facilities in Unix is lpr. The simplest way to print a file called <filename> is: lpr -P<xxx> <filename>. Where <xxx> is the name of a printer. The table below gives printer names and locations. Note that each user has a print quota and there is a charge per sheet printed (charged on your print quota) on each printer (charges are listed below.)

Department printer locations and information

Name Lab Location Type Charge
bone IN 3203 EB HP Color LaserJet 4600 2
boned IN 3203 EB HP Color LaserJet 4600 (Duplex) 3
skeleton IN 3203 EB HP LaserJet 8150 DN 1
skeletond IN 3203 EB HP LaserJet 8150 DN (Duplex) 1.5
creek IN 3320 EB HP LaserJet 8150 DN 1
creekd IN 3320 EB HP LaserJet 8150 DN (Duplex) 1.5
bob IN 3350 EB HP LaserJet 8150 DN 1
bobd IN 3350 EB HP LaserJet 8150 DN (Duplex) 1.5

Sending print jobs and obtaining print job status

Use lpq -P<xxx> to check the status of the printer the printer named <xxx>. To cancel a printing job, first use the lpq command to find the job number of the job you wish to cancel. It will be of the form <job-number>.

For example, if I wanted to print the file /etc/motd to printer sound, I would do and should see the following:

    prompt> lpr -Psound /etc/motd
    Quota is 450 pages; you have printed 30.00 pages so far.
If I wanted to check its status:
    prompt> lpq -Psound
    sound-60 bang.cse.msu.edu!zoe 1157 Jun 02 14:25
and if I wanted to cancel it:
    prompt> lprm -Psound 60
    okhotsk: sound-60 dequeued

In the examples above,
  • 450 pages was my print quota
  • I have printed 30 pages thus far
  • My job's request-id was sound-60
  • it was printed from a machine named bang, by a user with username zoe and cancelled from print server okhotsk's print queue


    • How To Check Your Print Quota

    The command lpquota will report the number of pages you have printed, as well as your allotted print quota.

    How To Increase Your Print Quota

    From The Computer Science Department Acceptable Use Policy:
    Each user is granted an equitable share of our printing resources (typically 450 pages/semester). Users who exceed this quota may gain an addition 100 pages/semester by purchasing a ream (500 sheets) of unpunched standard white printer paper (19410-0) from the MSU Bookstore, and bringing it (unopened, with receipt) to the consultant station. This 100 page increase is limited to once a semester.

    		 
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