system-config-printer

system-config-printer [OPTION...]

--help
    Displays a help message and exits, showing available command-line options.

--host HOST
    Specifies the CUPS server hostname or IP address to connect to, instead of the local server.

--port PORT
    Specifies the port number to use when connecting to the CUPS server (default is 631).

--dialog
    Forces the main printer configuration dialog to open. This is often the default behavior when run from a desktop environment menu.

--install-driver DRIVER
    Attempts to install a specified printer driver. Requires the driver name as an argument.

--default-printer PRINTER
    Sets the specified printer as the system's default printer.

system-config-printer is a graphical user interface (GUI) tool designed to simplify the management and configuration of printers on Linux systems that utilize the Common Unix Printing System (CUPS).

It provides an intuitive way for users to add, remove, and modify printer settings, as well as manage print jobs. This utility abstracts the complexities of direct CUPS configuration, offering a user-friendly interface for tasks such as setting up network printers (including IPP, Samba, and LPD), local USB printers, and configuring printer drivers.

It's commonly found in Red Hat-based distributions like Fedora and CentOS, and is also widely available on Debian/Ubuntu systems, serving as a primary tool for desktop printer administration.

Caveats:
1. Requires the Common Unix Printing System (CUPS) to be installed and running on the system.
2. Most configuration changes, such as adding or removing printers, require administrative (root) privileges.
3. Primarily a graphical application; while it has command-line options, its core functionality is accessed through its GUI.
4. Its exact appearance and some minor features might vary slightly across different Linux distributions and versions.

While system-config-printer offers various command-line options for specific tasks, its primary and most common usage is as a graphical application for interactive printer configuration. Users typically launch it from their desktop environment's system settings or applications menu.

All configurations made through system-config-printer are ultimately managed by the CUPS daemon. Therefore, understanding basic CUPS concepts and configurations (like those in /etc/cups/) can be helpful for advanced troubleshooting or specific use cases not covered by the GUI.

system-config-printer was developed primarily for Red Hat-based systems to provide a user-friendly graphical interface for printer management, complementing the underlying CUPS system. It emerged as a robust tool to simplify printer setup and configuration for desktop users, integrating well with desktop environments like GNOME.

Its development is closely tied to the evolution of CUPS and the ongoing need for more accessible printer administration on Linux desktops, moving away from purely command-line or less intuitive tools. It has since been widely adopted by various distributions due to its reliability and ease of use in managing printing resources.

cupsd(8), lp(1), lpstat(1), lpadmin(8), cups(7), printers.conf(5)