cups

Common UNIX Printing System

TLDR

List available printers

$ lpstat -p

Print file to default printer

$ lp [file.pdf]

Print to specific printer

$ lp -d [printer-name] [file.pdf]

Print multiple copies

$ lp -n [3] [file.pdf]

Check print queue

$ lpq

Cancel print job

$ cancel [job-id]

Add printer

$ lpadmin -p [printer-name] -E -v [ipp://printer/ipp/print] -m everywhere

SYNOPSIS

lp [options] [file...]
lpr [options] [file...]
lpstat [options]

DESCRIPTION

CUPS (Common UNIX Printing System) manages printing on Linux. Uses IPP protocol for network printing. Provides lp, lpr, lpstat, and other commands. Web interface at http://localhost:631.

CONFIGURATION

/etc/cups/cupsd.conf

Main CUPS daemon configuration file controlling server behavior, access control, and logging.

/etc/cups/printers.conf

Printer definitions and settings (managed automatically by cupsd).

~/.cups/lpoptions

User-specific default printer options and preferences.

PRINT COMMANDS

lp, lpr

Print files

lpstat

Show printer status

lpq

Show print queue

lprm, cancel

Remove print jobs

lpadmin

Administer printers

lpoptions

Set printer options

lpinfo

List drivers and devices

PRINT OPTIONS

-d printer

Destination printer

-n copies

Number of copies

-o media= size

Paper size (Letter, A4, etc.)

-o sides= mode

two-sided-long-edge, two-sided-short-edge

-o number-up= N

N pages per sheet (1,2,4,6,9,16)

-o job-hold-until= time

Hold until time (indefinite, night, weekend)

-o job-priority= N

Priority 1-100

WEB INTERFACE

Administration: http://localhost:631/admin
Requires user in lpadmin group.

CAVEATS

Use lpstat -p -d to see printers and default. Configure via web interface for easiest setup. cups-browsed auto-discovers network printers.