General

Printing as described here only works while you are authenticated. If you are not authenticated the print jobs will be silently dropped. Print jobs are submitted to the printers as the authenticated-user (not the username you happen to use on your local system). This will affect logs and cover-sheets etc.

Select which kind of system you are using:

Windows
MacOSX
Unix

Windows systems

Windows style printing should be usable from any version of Windows, though you have to configure each printer locally (and possibly install suitable printer drivers). The printers and a download folder (containing common drivers) is available at:

     \\laps.maths.cam.ac.uk

Which you should be able to access by Browsing the Network Neighbourhood, or entering \\laps.maths.cam.ac.uk into the Start -> Run dialog.

Windows users using IE can probably just use the following link to available printers etc.

Make sure you view the list in Details view. That way you will see what make a printer is, what type, e.g. HP LaterJet 4300. The printer model/type is useful if you need to look in the //laps.maths.cam.ac.uk/Download/Win_printer_drivers folder. You'll also see where the printer is located.

Also note the Download directory for downloadable printer drivers (if you don't have them installed already -- these are in case, after you've double clicked on the printer that you want to install, you see a window appear telling you that you don't have the right driver installed...)

...OK it, the Add Printer Wizard will start. Click on the Have Disk button. Press the Browse button and enter the filename

\\laps.maths.cam.ac.uk\download\win_printer_drivers\

then press the Open button.

Choose the sub-folder for your operating system, then the printer model (this information is obtained if you followed the instructions above). If you have the option of going into a PS or a PCL sub-folder, choose PS. When you finally end up with an '.inf' file listed in the 'File Name' box, press the Open button. The printer should now install.

Note that in at least some versions of Windows, the printers shown in the Control Panel will display an error message:

   Access denied, cannot ...

This is simply because it can't connect to find the list of jobs currently queued for printing and should be ignored. It should not affect your ability to print documents.

MacOS-X systems

MaxOS-X users can use lpd printing by specifying IP Printing in the dialog for adding a printer from the Printcenter.

For MacOS X users go to the Printcenter
Click on the Add icon
print center

A configure window will appear
Select IP printing from the list of printing methods.
If you are using MacOS 10.3 and 10.4 you will also be asked for a printer type. Select LPD/LPR from the drop down list.
For the Printer's Address enter: laps.maths.cam.ac.uk
Uncheck the Use default queue on server box
Enter the name of the printer you want to use, in the Queue Name box. In the example this is pidg.
The printer model and model name depends on the printer you selected.
See the printerlist for the list of printers, their locations and types.
Select a Model, e.g. HP, scroll through the list of printer types and select the correct model of printer.
Click the Add button.

adding a printing

You will see the printer you added is now in the list.
To add another printer to the list, repeat the above process.

To set your printer to use A4 paper by default (our printers usually have A4 paper in them, some may get upset if asked to print on other sizes). Select "Print Center" -> "Preferences..." from the toolbar at the top.
Use the pull down menu to select A4.

Those who prefer to use the command-line on MacOS-X, can use the lpadmin command to add the printers, but we don't currently have examples of doing this.

Unix systems

Note that this information is for systems running lpd, e.g. those with lprng configured as their print system. The information here is not useful for those running CUPS or ppr etc.

In particular is is not useful for MacOS-X systems. See the section above for how to add printers on MacOS-X.

Unix/Linux users should edit /etc/printcap (or /etc/printcap.local on some systems), to contain suiltable lines, e.g. something like:

        # laptop users should send jobs to laps.maths.cam.ac.uk
        _laps|default settings for laptops:\
                :lp=:rm=laps.maths.cam.ac.uk:lf=/var/log/lpd-errs:mx#0:
        #
        # Add in new HP8150 (in Post room)
        pidg|pidg-duplex|pidg-long|pidg-duplex-long|LJ8150 near F0.17 duplex long mode:\
                :rp=pidg:sd=/var/spool/lpd/pidg-duplex-long:tc=_laps:
        pidg-short|pidg-duplex-short|pidg-sh|LJ8150 near F0.17 duplex short mode:\
                :rp=pidg-short:sd=/var/spool/lpd/pidg-duplex-short:tc=_laps:
        pidg-simplex|pidg-single|pidg-si|LJ8150 near F0.17 simplex mode:\
                :rp=pidg-simplex:sd=/var/spool/lpd/pidg-simplex:tc=_laps:
        pidg-hires|pidg-highres|pidg-hi|LJ8150 near F0.17 1200dpi simplex mode:\
                :rp=pidg-hires:sd=/var/spool/lpd/pidg-hires:tc=_laps:

to add the 4 queues for the printer pidg. At some point we may provide downloadable example printcap files.

For those using CUPS you can use the lpadmin command to add printers. e.g. To quickly add a printer which won't take options like double sided. Run the following commands replacing pidg with the printer of your choice.

	P=pidg
	/usr/sbin/lpadmin -p $P -E -v lpd://laps.maths.cam.ac.uk/$P

You may find that you need to re-load or re-start the cups server for it to notice the change.

Some more detailed instructions for using the cups lpadmin are available in the DAMTP computing laptop printing pages, though some parts are DAMTP specific.

DPMMS users should probably configure their cups client.conf to point at the dpmms cups-server, which avoids needing to do any further configuration at all.

BUGS

Currently you can't delete jobs from the queues after submitting them.

We cannot easily return error messages to let people know that they have tried to print while not authenticated.

We can't show the list of print jobs queued, and you may see messages like:

   Access denied, cannot ...

This should be ignored (sorry about it, we may find out how to fix it at some point).

For MacOS X users go to the Printcenter Click on the Add icon

A configure window will appear Select IP printing from the list of printing methods. If you are using MacOS 10.3 and 10.4 you will also be asked for a printer type. Select LPD/LPR from the drop down list. For the Printer's Address enter: `laps.maths.cam.ac.uk` Uncheck the Use default queue on server box Enter the name of the printer you want to use, in the Queue Name box. In the example this is pidg. The printer model and model name depends on the printer you selected. See the printerlist for the list of printers, their locations and types. Select a Model, e.g. HP, scroll through the list of printer types and select the correct model of printer. Click the Add button.


You will see the printer you added is now in the list. To add another printer to the list, repeat the above process.


To set your printer to use A4 paper by default (our printers usually have A4 paper in them, some may get upset if asked to print on other sizes). Select "Print Center" -> "Preferences..." from the toolbar at the top. Use the pull down menu to select A4.