lprm Command in Linux



lprm is a command-line tool that is used in Linux to manage print jobs. It stands for "line printer remove" and helps you cancel or delete print jobs that are in the queue. This command is pretty useful when you need to stop a print job that was sent by mistake or if there's an issue with the printer. Using this command, you can remove a specific job by its job ID, or you can remove all jobs from a specific user.

Table of Contents

Here is a comprehensive guide to the options available with the lprm command −

Syntax of lprm Command

Here's how you generally use the lprm command on a Linux system −

lprm [options] [job ID]

Where,

  • [options] are multiple parameters available to adjust the command's behavior.
  • [job ID] is the identifier of the print job you want to cancel.

lprm Command Options

Linux users can customize their printing tasks with the many options provided by lprm. Here's a table summarizing some of these options −

Options Description
- Remove all jobs for the current user.
-E Encrypt the connection to the print server to ensure secure communication.
-h server[:port] Connect to a specified server and optional port for managing print jobs.
-P printer Specify which printer's job to cancel.
-U username Cancel all jobs submitted by the specified user.

Examples of lprm Command in Linux

Here are several scenarios demonstrating the use of the logsave command on a Linux system.

  • Removing a Specific Job
  • Removing All Jobs for a User
  • Removing All Jobs for the Current User
  • Removing Jobs on a Specific Printer
  • Using a Remote Server

Removing a Specific Job

Suppose you have a print job with the ID 1234 that you want to cancel. You can use the lprm command like this −

lprm 1234

This command removes the print job with ID 1234 from the queue, and stops it from being printed.

Removing All Jobs for a User

If you want to cancel all print jobs submitted by a specific user, use the -U option. For example, to remove all jobs for the user john, you would run −

lprm -U ubuntu

This command cancels all print jobs submitted by the user ubuntu, and clears their queue.

Removing All Jobs for the Current User

To remove all print jobs submitted by the current user (the one running the command), simply use −

-

This command deletes all the print jobs that you have submitted, and helps you quickly clear your own print jobs.

Removing Jobs on a Specific Printer

If you need to cancel jobs on a specific printer, you can specify the printer with the -P option. For instance, to cancel jobs on printer1, you would use −

lprm -P printer1

This command targets the print queue for printer1, and allows you to manage jobs on that particular printer.

Using a Remote Server

To cancel print jobs on a remote server, use the -h option followed by the server address. For example −

lprm -h remote_server:631

This command connects to remote_server on port 631 and allows you to manage print jobs remotely.

Conclusion

The lprm command is an essential tool for Linux users who need to manage print jobs directly from the command line. Whether you're canceling specific print jobs, clearing an entire queue, or handling jobs submitted by multiple users, lprm provides the necessary functionality to efficiently control printing tasks.

This tutorial covered the lprm command's syntax, various options, and practical examples of using lprm. Mastering this command will enhance your ability to manage print queues and ensure a smooth, organized printing process in your Linux environment.

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