Setting up for Printing from AirBears -- Unix/Linux without CUPS

These instructions apply to Unix or Linux laptops not using the Common Unix Printing System (CUPS); instructions for laptops using CUPS are different.

To set up printing for a Unix or Linux computer that does not use CUPS, follow these steps:

Edit /etc/printcap. For each printer to be added, add lines such as these to the end of /etc/printcap:
```
744:\
	:rm=printserver-1.math.berkeley.edu:\
	:rp=744:\
	:sd=/var/spool/lpd/744:
```
Note that some private printers use a machine other than printserver-1 for controlling the print queue. You can check this by the command
```
ypmatch 744 printers.conf.byname
```
(for example); the host running the printer is identified in the bsdaddr field.
Create the spool directories. For each printer to be supported, type the lines:
```
cd /var/spool/lpd
mkdir 744
chown lp 744
```
This needs to be done as root. The first line only needs to be typed once, and the second and third lines can be combined for the various printers.

Notes

These instructions assume that you are using the lpr printing mechanism. If you use CUPS, then see the instructions for CUPS.
These instructions have only been tested on a Debian GNU/Linux machine. You may need to do something different for other distributions or other operating systems.

Last updated 9 February 2006