cupsctl
Control the CUPS printing system
TLDR
Display the current configuration values
Display the configuration values of a specific server
Enable encryption on the connection to the scheduler
Enable or disable debug logging to the error_log file
Enable or disable remote administration
Parse the current debug logging state
SYNOPSIS
cupsctl [options]
PARAMETERS
--share-printers
Enable printer sharing.
--no-share-printers
Disable printer sharing.
--remote-admin
Enable remote administration.
--no-remote-admin
Disable remote administration.
--remote-any
Allow remote access from any host.
--no-remote-any
Disable remote access from any host.
--browse-dns
Enable DNS browsing.
--no-browse-dns
Disable DNS browsing.
--debug-level=N
Set the debug level to N (0-2). 0=Errors, 1=Warnings, 2=Debug.
--user-agent=name
Set the User-Agent header.
--[name]=[value]
Set or clear named configuration options.
--
Clear any remaining options. Useful when specifying options that begin with "-".
-h host[:port]
Set the CUPS host and port to use.
-U username
Set the username to use for authentication.
-v
Show the CUPS server version.
-H
Show usage information.
DESCRIPTION
The cupsctl command allows you to configure the Common UNIX Printing System (CUPS) server settings from the command line.
It primarily modifies the cupsd.conf configuration file. cupsctl is useful for enabling or disabling various features like browsing, remote administration, sharing printers, and debugging. The settings persist across CUPS server restarts.
It offers a more direct alternative to editing the configuration file manually, reducing the risk of syntax errors and enabling simpler automation of CUPS server setup.
SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS
Enabling remote administration or allowing access from any host (with --remote-any) can pose security risks.
Ensure proper authentication and authorization mechanisms are in place to protect your CUPS server.
CONFIGURATION FILE
cupsctl makes changes to the cupsd.conf configuration file.
It's located typically in /etc/cups/cupsd.conf. Always back up this file before making significant changes.
HISTORY
cupsctl was developed as part of the CUPS project to provide a command-line interface for managing the CUPS server configuration. It simplifies tasks like enabling printer sharing and remote administration, offering a user-friendly alternative to manually editing the cupsd.conf file. The command has evolved alongside CUPS, adding new features and options as needed to support the evolving printing landscape.