CUPS CLI Printing

CUPS CLI Printing: Terminal-Based Print Management

Overview

CUPS (Common UNIX Printing System) provides powerful command-line tools for managing printers and print jobs. This guide covers everything from adding printers to printing documents directly from the terminal.

Why CLI printing?

  • Print directly from terminal workflows

  • Script automated printing tasks

  • Manage remote printers over SSH

  • No GUI required (headless servers)

Prerequisites & Installation

Arch Linux

# Install CUPS, Avahi (mDNS discovery), and NSS plugin
sudo pacman -S cups avahi nss-mdns

# Optional: GUI management
sudo pacman -S system-config-printer

# Enable and start CUPS (localhost only by default - safe)
sudo systemctl enable --now cups

# WARNING: Avahi advertises your machine to the network by default!
# See "Security: Disable Avahi Publishing" section below before enabling.
sudo systemctl enable --now avahi-daemon

# Verify services are running
systemctl status cups
systemctl status avahi-daemon

Security Note: CUPS listens on localhost:631 only (safe). Avahi broadcasts your machine’s presence to the local network. Configure publishing restrictions before use - see security section below.

Debian/Ubuntu

sudo apt install cups avahi-daemon avahi-utils
sudo systemctl enable --now cups
# WARNING: See security section before enabling avahi
sudo systemctl enable --now avahi-daemon

Fedora/RHEL

sudo dnf install cups avahi avahi-tools nss-mdns
sudo systemctl enable --now cups
# WARNING: See security section before enabling avahi
sudo systemctl enable --now avahi-daemon

Configure NSS for mDNS (All Distros)

NSS (Name Service Switch) controls how your system resolves hostnames. Adding mdns_minimal allows resolving .local hostnames (like printer.local) via mDNS/Avahi instead of just DNS.

Edit /etc/nsswitch.conf and add mdns_minimal [NOTFOUND=return] to the hosts line:

# Before
hosts: mymachines resolve [!UNAVAIL=return] files dns

# After
hosts: mymachines resolve [!UNAVAIL=return] files mdns_minimal [NOTFOUND=return] dns

Verify Installation

# Check CUPS is running
lpstat -r

# Check Avahi is running
avahi-browse -a   # Should list services on network

# Check CUPS commands available
which lp lpstat lpadmin lpinfo

Security: Disable Avahi Publishing (Recommended)

By default, Avahi advertises your machine’s services to the network. For discovery-only (outbound queries), disable publishing:

# Edit avahi config
sudo nvim /etc/avahi/avahi-daemon.conf

# Add/modify these lines under [publish] section:
[publish]
publish-hinfo=no
publish-workstation=no
publish-domain=no

# Restart avahi
sudo systemctl restart avahi-daemon

# Verify your machine isn't advertising
avahi-browse -a -t | grep $(hostname)   # Should return nothing

Alternative: Nmap Discovery (No Avahi)

If you don’t want avahi at all, use nmap for printer discovery:

# Disable avahi
sudo systemctl disable --now avahi-daemon

# Scan for printer ports
nmap -p 9100,631,515 192.168.1.0/24

# Ports:
# 9100 = RAW/JetDirect
# 631  = IPP (CUPS)
# 515  = LPD (legacy)

Quick Reference

Task Command

List printers

lpstat -p

Print file

lp document.pdf

Print to specific printer

lp -d PrinterName file.txt

Check print queue

lpq

Cancel job

cancel job-id

Cancel all jobs

cancel -a

Set default printer

lpoptions -d PrinterName

Adding a Network Printer

Method 1: IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) - Recommended

# Basic syntax
sudo lpadmin -p <printer-name> -E -v ipp://<ip-address>/ipp/print -m everywhere

# Example: Add office printer
sudo lpadmin -p OfficePrinter -E -v ipp://10.50.10.113/ipp/print -m everywhere

# With description and location
sudo lpadmin -p OfficePrinter -E \
  -v ipp://10.50.10.113/ipp/print \
  -m everywhere \
  -D "Office HP LaserJet" \
  -L "Building A, Room 101"

Flags explained:

  • -p : Printer name (no spaces, use underscores)

  • -E : Enable the printer and accept jobs

  • -v : Device URI (printer address)

  • -m everywhere : Use driverless IPP Everywhere (modern printers)

  • -D : Description

  • -L : Location

Method 2: Raw Socket (Port 9100)

# For printers that support raw/JetDirect
sudo lpadmin -p RawPrinter -E -v socket://10.50.10.113:9100 -m raw

Method 3: LPD Protocol (Port 515)

# Legacy LPD/LPR protocol
sudo lpadmin -p LPDPrinter -E -v lpd://10.50.10.113/queue -m everywhere

Method 4: USB Printer

# List USB printers
lpinfo -v | grep usb

# Add USB printer (URI from above command)
sudo lpadmin -p USBPrinter -E -v usb://HP/LaserJet?serial=ABC123 -m everywhere

Discovering Printers

Find Network Printers

# Scan for IPP printers (requires avahi)
avahi-browse -rt _ipp._tcp

# List all available printer URIs
lpinfo -v

# Filter for network printers
lpinfo -v | grep -E "ipp|socket|lpd"

# Test if printer is reachable
ping -c 2 10.50.10.113
nc -zv 10.50.10.113 9100   # Raw port
nc -zv 10.50.10.113 631    # IPP port

List Available Drivers

# All drivers
lpinfo -m

# Search for specific manufacturer
lpinfo -m | grep -i "hp"
lpinfo -m | grep -i "brother"

# Driverless (recommended for modern printers)
lpinfo -m | grep "everywhere"

Printing Files

Basic Printing

# Print to default printer
lp document.pdf

# Print to specific printer
lp -d OfficePrinter document.pdf

# Print multiple files
lp -d OfficePrinter file1.pdf file2.pdf file3.pdf

# Print from stdin (pipe)
echo "Hello World" | lp
cat report.txt | lp -d OfficePrinter

# Print with title (shows in queue)
lp -t "Monthly Report" report.pdf

Print Options

# Multiple copies
lp -n 5 document.pdf

# Double-sided (duplex)
lp -o sides=two-sided-long-edge document.pdf    # Portrait
lp -o sides=two-sided-short-edge document.pdf   # Landscape

# Page range
lp -o page-ranges=1-5 document.pdf
lp -o page-ranges=1,3,5-10 document.pdf

# Landscape orientation
lp -o landscape document.pdf

# Fit to page
lp -o fit-to-page document.pdf

# Multiple pages per sheet (n-up)
lp -o number-up=2 document.pdf    # 2 pages per sheet
lp -o number-up=4 document.pdf    # 4 pages per sheet

# Paper size
lp -o media=letter document.pdf
lp -o media=a4 document.pdf
lp -o media=legal document.pdf

# Combined options
lp -d OfficePrinter -n 2 -o sides=two-sided-long-edge -o media=a4 report.pdf

Printing Different File Types

# Plain text
lp textfile.txt

# PDF (native support)
lp document.pdf

# Images
lp image.jpg
lp -o fit-to-page photo.png

# PostScript
lp document.ps

# Convert and print (using other tools)
# Markdown to PDF then print
pandoc document.md -o /tmp/doc.pdf && lp /tmp/doc.pdf

# Man page to printer
man bash | lp

# Code with syntax highlighting (requires enscript)
enscript -E -p - script.py | lp

Managing Print Queue

View Queue

# Default printer queue
lpq

# Specific printer queue
lpq -P OfficePrinter

# All printers
lpq -a

# Detailed status
lpstat -o           # All jobs
lpstat -u username  # Jobs by user
lpstat -p           # Printer status
lpstat -t           # Complete status

Cancel Jobs

# Cancel specific job
cancel 123
cancel OfficePrinter-123

# Cancel all jobs on printer
cancel -a OfficePrinter

# Cancel all your jobs
cancel -a

# Cancel all jobs (admin)
sudo cancel -a -x

Hold and Release Jobs

# Hold a job (pause)
lp -H hold document.pdf

# Release a held job
lp -i job-id -H resume

# Print at specific time
lp -H 14:30 document.pdf        # Today at 2:30 PM
lp -H 23:00 report.pdf          # Tonight at 11 PM

Printer Management

List and Status

# List all printers
lpstat -p

# Show default printer
lpstat -d

# Detailed printer info
lpstat -p -l

# Check if printer is accepting jobs
lpstat -a

Set Default Printer

# Set system default (requires sudo)
sudo lpadmin -d OfficePrinter

# Set user default (no sudo)
lpoptions -d OfficePrinter

Enable/Disable Printer

# Disable printer (stop accepting jobs)
sudo cupsdisable OfficePrinter

# Enable printer
sudo cupsenable OfficePrinter

# Reject new jobs (queue stays)
sudo cupsreject OfficePrinter

# Accept new jobs
sudo cupsaccept OfficePrinter

Modify Printer

# Change description
sudo lpadmin -p OfficePrinter -D "New Description"

# Change location
sudo lpadmin -p OfficePrinter -L "New Location"

# Set default options for printer
sudo lpadmin -p OfficePrinter -o sides=two-sided-long-edge

Remove Printer

# Delete printer
sudo lpadmin -x OfficePrinter

Printer Options

View Available Options

# List all options for a printer
lpoptions -p OfficePrinter -l

# Example output:
# PageSize/Media Size: Letter *A4 Legal
# Duplex/Double-Sided: None *DuplexNoTumble DuplexTumble
# Resolution/Resolution: 300dpi *600dpi 1200dpi

Set Default Options

# Set default options (user level)
lpoptions -p OfficePrinter -o sides=two-sided-long-edge -o media=a4

# Set default options (system level)
sudo lpadmin -p OfficePrinter -o sides=two-sided-long-edge

# Clear user options (reset to system defaults)
lpoptions -x OfficePrinter

Practical Examples

Print Code Files with Line Numbers

# Using enscript (install: sudo dnf install enscript)
enscript -E -C -p - script.py | lp -d OfficePrinter

# Options:
# -E    Syntax highlighting
# -C    Line numbers
# -p -  Output to stdout (pipe to lp)

Print Directory Listing

ls -la ~/projects | lp -d OfficePrinter -t "Project Directory"

Print Git Log

git log --oneline -20 | lp -t "Recent Commits"

Print Man Page

man -t bash | lp -d OfficePrinter    # Formatted as PostScript

Print with Header/Footer

# Using enscript
enscript --header='$n|Page $% of $=' -p - document.txt | lp

Batch Print PDFs

# Print all PDFs in directory
for f in *.pdf; do lp -d OfficePrinter "$f"; done

# With delay between jobs
for f in *.pdf; do lp -d OfficePrinter "$f"; sleep 2; done

Print from Remote Machine

# SSH and print
ssh user@remote "cat /path/to/file.pdf" | lp -d OfficePrinter

# Or if CUPS is configured for network
lp -h remote.server:631 -d RemotePrinter document.pdf

Troubleshooting

Check CUPS Service

# Service status
systemctl status cups

# Restart CUPS
sudo systemctl restart cups

# View logs
sudo journalctl -u cups -f
tail -f /var/log/cups/error_log

Test Printer Connection

# Ping test
ping -c 3 10.50.10.113

# Port test
nc -zv 10.50.10.113 9100   # Raw
nc -zv 10.50.10.113 631    # IPP
nc -zv 10.50.10.113 515    # LPD

# Get printer capabilities (IPP)
ipptool -tv ipp://10.50.10.113/ipp/print get-printer-attributes.test

Common Issues

“Printer not found”

# Verify printer exists
lpstat -p | grep PrinterName

# Re-add printer
sudo lpadmin -x PrinterName
sudo lpadmin -p PrinterName -E -v ipp://10.50.10.113/ipp/print -m everywhere

“Filter failed”

# Install cups-filters
sudo dnf install cups-filters

# Check file type
file document.pdf

# Try raw printing
lp -o raw document.pdf

“Access denied”

# Add user to lpadmin group
sudo usermod -aG lpadmin $USER
# Log out and back in

CUPS Web Interface

For complex configuration, CUPS provides a web interface:

# Access at
http://localhost:631

# Or enable remote access
sudo cupsctl --remote-admin

Configuration Files

File Purpose

/etc/cups/cupsd.conf

CUPS daemon config

/etc/cups/printers.conf

Printer definitions

/etc/cups/ppd/

Printer drivers

~/.cups/lpoptions

User printer options

Quick Setup Checklist

  1. Test connectivity:

    ping -c 2 PRINTER_IP
nc -zv PRINTER_IP 631

  2. Add printer:

    sudo lpadmin -p MyPrinter -E -v ipp://PRINTER_IP/ipp/print -m everywhere

  3. Set as default:

    lpoptions -d MyPrinter

  4. Test print:

    echo "Test page from $(hostname) at $(date)" | lp

  5. Verify:

    lpstat -p
lpq

Appendix: Printer Setup & Fun Examples

My Printer Setup

# Add printer and set as default
sudo lpadmin -p OfficePrinter -E -v ipp://10.50.10.113/ipp/print -m everywhere
lpoptions -d OfficePrinter

Printer Info: - Model: Brother MFC-J5945DW - URI: ipp://10.50.10.113/ipp/print - Ports: 631 (IPP), 9100 (Raw)

Printing Multi-line Text (Heredoc Method)

When printing ASCII art or multi-line messages, use the heredoc method to avoid shell quoting issues:

cat > /tmp/message.txt << 'EOF'
Your message content here...
Multiple lines work fine.
Special characters are preserved.
EOF
lp -d OfficePrinter /tmp/message.txt

Example: Simple Alert Message

cat > /tmp/alert.txt << 'EOF'

================================================================================
================================================================================

    ██████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████
    █                                                                    █
    █   ███████ ███    ███ ███████ ██████   ██████  ███████ ███    ██    █
    █   ██      ████  ████ ██      ██   ██ ██       ██      ████   ██    █
    █   █████   ██ ████ ██ █████   ██████  ██   ███ █████   ██ ██  ██    █
    █   ██      ██  ██  ██ ██      ██   ██ ██    ██ ██      ██  ██ ██    █
    █   ███████ ██      ██ ███████ ██   ██  ██████  ███████ ██   ████    █
    █                                                                    █
    ██████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████

                     CRITICAL SYSTEM ALERT

================================================================================

    ATTENTION: THIS IS NOT A DRILL

    Your device has been SELECTED for immediate inspection.

    VIOLATION DETECTED:

    - Excessive gaming hours logged
    - Suspicious snack consumption patterns
    - Room cleanliness below acceptable threshold
    - Homework completion: UNVERIFIED


    IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED:

    1. Step away from all electronic devices
    2. Report to nearest parent IMMEDIATELY
    3. Prepare for room inspection
    4. Await further instructions

    FAILURE TO COMPLY WILL RESULT IN:
    - WiFi termination
    - Device confiscation
    - Extended chore assignment

================================================================================

                    The House Monitoring System
                        is always watching.

================================================================================
================================================================================

EOF
lp -d OfficePrinter /tmp/alert.txt

Example: ASCII-Only Version (Better Print Compatibility)

Use basic ASCII characters for reliable printing on any printer:

cat > /tmp/scary.txt << 'EOF'

################################################################################
#                                                                              #
#     W   W  EEEEE       SSS   EEEEE  EEEEE      Y   Y   OOO   U   U           #
#     W   W  E          S      E      E           Y Y   O   O  U   U           #
#     W W W  EEEE        SSS   EEEE   EEEE         Y    O   O  U   U           #
#     WW WW  E              S  E      E            Y    O   O  U   U           #
#     W   W  EEEEE      SSSS   EEEEE  EEEEE        Y     OOO    UUU            #
#                                                                              #
################################################################################


================================================================================
                    D A R K N E T   S U R V E I L L A N C E
                         PARENTAL MONITORING DIVISION
================================================================================


         SSSS   CCCC    A    N   N       A    L      EEEEE  RRRR   TTTTT
        S      C       A A   NN  N      A A   L      E      R   R    T
         SSS   C      AAAAA  N N N     AAAAA  L      EEEE   RRRR     T
            S  C      A   A  N  NN     A   A  L      E      R  R     T
        SSSS    CCCC  A   A  N   N     A   A  LLLLL  EEEEE  R   R    T


   +-----------------------------------------------------------------+
   |                                                                 |
   |   SUBJECT IDENTIFICATION: [REDACTED]                            |
   |   THREAT LEVEL: ########## MAXIMUM ##########                   |
   |   LOCATION: TRACED                                              |
   |   STATUS: UNDER SURVEILLANCE                                    |
   |                                                                 |
   +-----------------------------------------------------------------+


   >>> BEHAVIORAL ANOMALIES DETECTED <<<

       [X] Screen time exceeded by 847%
       [X] Vegetable consumption: ZERO
       [X] Bed not made in 14 consecutive days
       [X] Suspicious browser history detected
       [X] Chores ignored: 23 instances
       [X] Back-talk incidents: CLASSIFIED


   >>> INITIATING PROTOCOL: CONSEQUENCES <<<

       PHASE 1: WiFi password changed....... COMPLETE
       PHASE 2: Gaming console locked....... COMPLETE
       PHASE 3: Phone privileges revoked.... PENDING
       PHASE 4: Early bedtime activated..... PENDING
       PHASE 5: Extra chores assigned....... PENDING


         #################################################
         #                                               #
         #     YOU HAVE 5 MINUTES TO COMPLY.             #
         #                                               #
         #     REPORT TO PARENTS IMMEDIATELY.            #
         #                                               #
         #     RESISTANCE IS FUTILE.                     #
         #                                               #
         #################################################


                     ___________
                    /           \
                   |  0       0  |
                   |      __     |
                   |     ____    |
                    \___________/
                         |||
                    THE HOUSE IS
                      WATCHING.


================================================================================
         This message will self-destruct. Your move.
================================================================================

EOF
lp -d OfficePrinter /tmp/scary.txt

Example: Educational Math Worksheet (3rd Grade Variables)

cat > /tmp/math_lesson.txt << 'EOF'

################################################################################
#                                                                              #
#     M   M   AAA   TTTTT  H   H       M   M   AAA   SSSS  TTTTT  EEEEE  RRRR  #
#     MM MM  A   A    T    H   H       MM MM  A   A  S       T    E      R   R #
#     M M M  AAAAA    T    HHHHH       M M M  AAAAA   SSS    T    EEEE   RRRR  #
#     M   M  A   A    T    H   H       M   M  A   A      S   T    E      R  R  #
#     M   M  A   A    T    H   H       M   M  A   A  SSSS    T    EEEEE  R   R #
#                                                                              #
################################################################################

          ******************************************************
          *                                                    *
          *   WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF MYSTERY NUMBERS!         *
          *                                                    *
          *          (Also Known As VARIABLES)                 *
          *                                                    *
          ******************************************************


================================================================================
                      WHAT IS A VARIABLE?
================================================================================

    A VARIABLE is like a mystery box!

         +-------+
         |       |
         |   ?   |    <-- We don't know what's inside yet!
         |       |
         +-------+

    We use letters like  X  or  N  to represent the mystery number.

    YOUR JOB: Figure out what number is hiding inside!


================================================================================
                      HOW TO SOLVE THE MYSTERY
================================================================================

    Example:    X + 3 = 7

    Think: "What number plus 3 equals 7?"

         +-------+
         |       |
         |   X   |   +   3   =   7
         |       |
         +-------+

    Count up from 3 until you reach 7:

         3 ... 4 ... 5 ... 6 ... 7
             +1  +2  +3  +4

    You added 4!  So X = 4

    CHECK YOUR WORK:  4 + 3 = 7  <<<  YES!


================================================================================
                      PRACTICE PROBLEMS
================================================================================


    LEVEL 1: ADDITION MYSTERIES
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    1)   X + 2 = 5          X = _____

    2)   N + 4 = 9          N = _____

    3)   A + 6 = 10         A = _____

    4)   Y + 3 = 11         Y = _____


    LEVEL 2: SUBTRACTION MYSTERIES
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    5)   X - 2 = 4          X = _____

         (Hint: What number MINUS 2 gives you 4?)

    6)   N - 5 = 3          N = _____

    7)   B - 4 = 6          B = _____


================================================================================
                      WORD PROBLEM CHALLENGES!
================================================================================


    PROBLEM 1: THE COOKIE JAR
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         ,---.  ,---.  ,---.
        ( @ @ )( @ @ )( @ @ )
         `---'  `---'  `---'

    Mom baked some cookies. After you ate 4 cookies,
    there were 8 cookies left.

    How many cookies did Mom bake?

    Write it as an equation:   X - 4 = 8

    X = _____ cookies



    PROBLEM 2: THE TOY COLLECTION
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         ___
        |   |    [CAR]  [CAR]  [CAR]
        | T |
        | O |    Your friend gave you 5 more toy cars.
        | Y |    Now you have 12 toy cars total.
        | S |
        |___|    How many did you have before?

    Write it as an equation:   N + 5 = 12

    N = _____ toy cars



    PROBLEM 3: THE STICKER BOOK
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         .---.
        /     \     *  *  *
        |STICK|     *  *  *
        |ERS! |     *  *  *
        \     /
         `---'

    You had some stickers. You gave 7 stickers to your friend.
    Now you have 15 stickers left.

    How many stickers did you start with?

    Write it as an equation:   _______________

    Answer = _____ stickers



    PROBLEM 4: THE BIRTHDAY PARTY
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

          _|___|_
         |       |
         | HAPPY |
         |  B-DAY|
         |_______|

    There were some kids at the party.
    Then 6 more friends arrived.
    Now there are 14 kids at the party.

    How many kids were there at first?

    Equation:   _______________

    Answer = _____ kids


================================================================================
                      REMEMBER THE TRICKS!
================================================================================


    FOR ADDITION PROBLEMS:     X + 5 = 12
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Think: 12 - 5 = ?         So X = 7


    FOR SUBTRACTION PROBLEMS:  X - 3 = 9
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Think: 9 + 3 = ?          So X = 12


                     +------------------------+
                     |                        |
                     |   YOU CAN DO THIS!     |
                     |                        |
                     |   Math is just a       |
                     |   puzzle to solve!     |
                     |                        |
                     +------------------------+


================================================================================
                      ANSWER KEY (No Peeking!)
================================================================================

    Fold this part under or check AFTER you finish!

    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Level 1:  1) X=3   2) N=5   3) A=4   4) Y=8
    Level 2:  5) X=6   6) N=8   7) B=10

    Word Problems:
    1) 12 cookies (12 - 4 = 8)
    2) 7 toy cars (7 + 5 = 12)
    3) 22 stickers, equation: X - 7 = 15
    4) 8 kids, equation: X + 6 = 14

================================================================================

           *  *  *  GREAT JOB, MATH SUPERSTAR!  *  *  *

================================================================================
EOF
lp -d OfficePrinter /tmp/math_lesson.txt

Tips for Printing ASCII Art

  1. Avoid Unicode block characters - They may not render correctly on all printers

  2. Use basic ASCII - #, =, -, +, |, /, \, * work everywhere

  3. Use heredoc with quotes - << 'EOF' prevents shell interpretation

  4. Write to temp file first - Avoids quoting issues in terminal

  5. Check queue - lpq to verify job was sent

Document Version: 1.0 Last Updated: 2025-11-30 Your Printer: 10.50.10.113 (Brother MFC-J5945DW)