lpstat Command in Linux
lpstat is a command used in Linux to check the status of printers and print jobs. It's like a snapshot of your printing environment that lets you see which printers are available, their current status, and details about print jobs.
With the help of lpstat command, you can find out if a printer is busy, idle, or even down. You can also check the status of specific jobs in the print queue, including their job IDs and current progress.
Table of Contents
Here is a comprehensive guide to the options available with the lpstat command −
Syntax of lpstat Command
Here's the general syntax for the lpstat command on Linux −
lpstat [options]
In this command −
- [options] are various flags you can use to customize the information displayed by lpstat.
lpstat Command Options
You can customize your printing tasks using several options available with the Linux lpstat command. Here's a summary of some key options −
| Options | Description |
|---|---|
| -E | Encrypts the connection to the print server, ensuring secure data transfer. |
| -h server[:port] | Connects to the specified server and port. |
| -l | Provides a detailed, long listing of print status information. |
| -U username | Allows specification of a username for accessing the print server. |
| -H | Displays the default server and port information. |
| -W completed | Displays completed jobs. |
| -W not-completed | Displays pending jobs. |
| -a | Indicates whether printers are accepting jobs, showing their acceptance status. |
| -c | Lists the available printer classes, which group printers for easier management. |
| -d | Displays the system's default printer, aiding in quick identification. |
| -e | Enumerates all available printers that can be used for printing. |
| -o | Shows the status of all print jobs, detailing each job in the queue. |
| -p | Displays the current status of all printers, such as idle or busy. |
| -r | Verifies if the print scheduler is operational, ensuring the print service is running. |
| -R | Provides configuration details of printers, useful for troubleshooting. |
| -s | Summarizes the printing system status, including printers and classes. |
| -t | Produces a comprehensive status report of the entire printing system. |
| -u | Shows print jobs submitted by a specified user, filtering the queue by user. |
| -v | Displays the device URI of printers, indicating their network address. |
Examples of lpstat Command in Linux
Here are a few situations where the command lpstat can be effectively employed in Linux.
- Displaying the Status of All Printers
- Showing the Default Printer
- Checking Print Jobs for a Specific User
- Show Detailed Printer Information
- Summarizing the Printing System Status
- Checking If the Print Scheduler Is Running
- Displaying All Print Jobs in Queue
Displaying the Status of All Printers
If you want to check on all printers connected to your Linux system to see if any are currently busy or experiencing errors, use the following command −
lpstat -p
This command provides a status report for each printer, indicating whether it is idle, printing, or encountering issues. This overview helps you quickly identify any printers that may require attention or are ready for use.
Showing the Default Printer
If you're unsure which printer is set as the default on your system, you can easily find out by using −
lpstat -d
This command displays the name of the default printer. Knowing your default printer is useful, especially when you send print jobs without specifying a printer, ensuring that your documents go to the right place.
Checking Print Jobs for a Specific User
In case you want to see all print jobs submitted by a user named john to monitor their printing activities or troubleshoot issues, you can use −
lpstat -u ubuntu
This command lists all active print jobs submitted by ubuntu. It provides detailed information about each job, and helps you manage and oversee printing tasks for that specific user.
Showing Detailed Printer Information
To get an in-depth look at the status of your printers, including detailed descriptions of their states, you can use −
lpstat -l
This command gives a comprehensive listing that includes detailed status information about each printer. It’s useful for administrators who need to diagnose printer problems or ensure everything is functioning correctly.
Summarizing the Printing System Status
When you need a quick summary of the entire printing setup, including all printers and their classes, you can run −
lpstat -s
This command provides a snapshot of your printing environment, listing all printers and the classes they belong to. It gives a high-level overview, which is helpful for understanding the overall status of your printing system.
Checking If the Print Scheduler Is Running
To make sure that the print scheduler, which manages the queue and execution of print jobs, is operational, use −
lpstat -r
This command checks whether the print scheduler is running. If the scheduler is down, print jobs won't be processed, so it's crucial to verify its status for smooth printing operations.
Displaying All Print Jobs in the Queue
If you want to see every print job currently waiting to be printed, you can use −
lpstat -o
This command lists all print jobs in the queue, and provides details about each one. It's useful for monitoring the queue, managing print priorities, and ensuring that all jobs are accounted for and processed in order.
Conclusion
The lpstat command is an essential utility for Linux users who need to monitor printer statuses and manage print jobs from the command line. Whether you're checking printer availability, viewing detailed job statuses, or ensuring your print scheduler is running smoothly, lpstat provides the versatility and functionality required for comprehensive print management.
This tutorial explored the syntax, diverse options, and practical examples of using the lpstat command. Mastering this command will boost your proficiency in handling print operations and optimize your workflow in a Linux environment.