printer-profile

printer-profile printer_name PPD_file [IPP_options...]

printer_name
    The name of the CUPS printer to which the PPD file will be applied. This printer must already be configured in CUPS.

PPD_file
    The full path to the PostScript Printer Description (PPD) file that contains the printer's capabilities and settings. This file will be used to update the printer's driver.

[IPP_options...]
    Optional Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) options to pass to the CUPS backend during the printer update. These are typically specified as key=value pairs (e.g., 'PageSize=A4', 'ColorMode=Grayscale') and allow for additional printer configuration.

printer-profile is a command-line utility, typically part of the cups-pk-helper package, designed to apply a specified PostScript Printer Description (PPD) file to an existing printer configured in the CUPS (Common Unix Printing System) environment. It acts as an authentication agent that leverages PolicyKit to allow unprivileged users to perform operations that would otherwise require root privileges, such as changing a printer's driver. This command is often invoked by graphical frontends or system scripts when a user selects a new PPD file for their printer. Its primary purpose is to simplify printer configuration updates by handling the necessary permissions through a secure, authenticated process.

PolicyKit Dependency: The command relies heavily on PolicyKit for privilege escalation and authentication. If PolicyKit is not installed or properly configured, or if the user lacks the necessary permissions, the operation will fail or require authentication.

CUPS Environment: This utility is specific to CUPS and will not function in environments without a running CUPS daemon.

Existing Printer Requirement: The specified printer must already exist and be configured in CUPS; printer-profile does not create new printers.

Valid PPD File: The provided PPD file must be a valid and well-formed PostScript Printer Description file for the printer model.

Backend Usage: While runnable from the command line, it's most commonly used by graphical user interfaces (GUIs) or scripts as a backend tool for printer management.

Many desktop environments (e.g., GNOME, KDE) integrate cups-pk-helper and, by extension, printer-profile, into their printer configuration utilities. When users update a printer's driver or change its PPD through the graphical interface, printer-profile is frequently invoked behind the scenes to securely and efficiently apply these changes to the CUPS system, handling the necessary PolicyKit authentication.

printer-profile is a component of the cups-pk-helper project, which emerged to facilitate secure printer administration within modern Linux desktop environments. Its development was driven by the need to integrate CUPS operations with PolicyKit, allowing unprivileged users to perform administrative tasks related to printers (like changing drivers) after successful authentication, without granting them full root access. This tool bridges the gap between user-friendly graphical interfaces and the underlying CUPS administrative commands that typically require elevated privileges.

lpadmin(8), cupsd(8), pkexec(1), ppd(5)