The LPRng software is an enhanced, extended, and portable implementation of the Berkeley LPR print spooler functionality. While providing the same interface and meeting RFC1179 requirements, the implementation is completely new and provides support for the following features: lightweight (no databases needed) lpr, lpc, and lprm programs; dynamic redirection of print queues; automatic job holding; highly verbose diagnostics; multiple printers serving a single queue; client programs do not need to run SUID root; greatly enhanced security checks; and a greatly improved permission and authorization mechanism.

The source software compiles and runs on a wide variety of UNIX systems, and is compatible with other print spoolers and network printers that use the LPR interface and meet RFC1179 requirements.

LPRngTool is a Graphical User Interface for the monitoring and configuration of the LPRng printing system.

• Printer Monitoring
  • Monitoring facility for spool queues
  • Detailed queue and device status
• Printcap Entry Editor
  • Supports system (/etc/printcap) and user ($HOME/.printcap) printcap file display and editting.
  • Sets up and configures printcap entries for:
    1. Device (local printers, lp=/dev/lpt0)
    2. Spool Queues (LPD spool queues, lp=queue@host),
    3. Socket (JetDirect or other Network Printers, lp=ipaddress%port),
    4. SMB (Windows shared printers using Samba, lp=|/.../smbprint), Novell Print Servers, and others.
    5. Printer Pools (sv=printer1,printer2,...).
  • Sets up printcap entries for use by LPRng clients only (:client), server (:server) or both.
• Easy configuration of the IFHP filter and Options
  • Uses the IFHP configuration file (/etc/ifhp.conf) to extract available printer configurations
  • Allows selection of options and flags to be passed to the IFHP filter (letter, a4, landscape, duplex, etc.)
  • Sets up the printcap entry to pass the various flags and options to the IFHP filter

This tool is extremely simple to use and very flexible.

The IFHP filter does job and format conversion for for PostScript and PCL printers as well as the usual 'dumb' printers. For printers which provide status information over a bidirectional connection, it can monitor the printer for conditions and report current page usage. This information is incorporated into the LPRng printer status information.

The IFHP filter provides facilities to do format conversion from a wide range of input formats. By default, IFHP uses the Unix file utility to determine the input job type, then uses various conversion programs including GhostScript (www.ghostscript.com) to convert the file to the appropriate format for a printer, and then transfers the job to the printer. It also produces extremely detailed error and status messages explaining the various conversion steps and and error conditions encountered.

The IFHP filter is extremely simple to install and configure using the LPRngTool facility.

LPRng provides emulation packages for the SVR4 lp and lpstat programs, eliminating the need for another print spooler package. These emulation packages can be modified according to local requirements, in order to support vintage printing systems.

For users that require secure and/or authenticated printing support, LPRng supports Kerberos V, MIT Kerberos IV Print Support, and PGP authentication. LPRng is being adopted by MIT for use as their Campus Wide printing support system. Additional authentication support is extremely simple to add.

LPRng is Open Source Software, and the current public distribution is available from the listed FTP and Web Sites. LPRng is distributed under the GPL or Artistic license. Licenses and support agreements for users who do not want to use the terms of the above licenses may be obtained from AStArt Technologies which provides commercial support and enhancements for the LPRng and other network software. AStArt provides network and system consulting services for UNIX and NT systems, as well as real time and network software.

The LPRng software has no known Year 2000 data dependencies. Where necessary, dates are generated using values relative to the UNIX Epoch, and will be consistent to 2034 at a conservative estimate. Details are available in the Y2K Compliance file in the source distribution.

Samba (www.samba.org) is an open source software suite that provides seamless file and print services to SMB/CIFS (Microsoft Windows) clients. Samba is freely available under the GNU General Public License. LPRng printing support is part of the Samba Distribution, and LPRng has facilities to provide enhanced printing services to Samba users.

Alek Komarnitsky (http://www.komar.org) has developed LPINFO, a command line/Web-based tool for use with LPRng. This provides a simple to use Web Interface to LPRng with the functionality that both users and administrators need. LPInfo works fine on small sites but it really shines at managing large sites with its features that help handle large numbers of printers. Sites with over 1000 printers are easily managed with this software.

PostScript(R) is a Registered Trademark of Adobe Systems Inc.
PCL(R) is a Registered Trademark of Hewlett-Packard Co.

The RESOURCES directory contains a collection of files and documents which contain valuable information for print suppport staff.

ADOBE	PostScript Language documentation and utilities.
EPSON	Epson Printer support documentation.
HP	HP PCL5, PJL, and other printer support documenation. These are versions cira 2001, newer versions may be available.
MIB	SNMP MIB files for various printers. These are versions cira 2001, newer versions may be available.
PPD	PostScript Printer Description Files for various printers. These are versions cira 2001, newer versions may be available.
RFC	Printer and printing related Request for Comments. These are versions cira 2001, newer versions may be available.
XEROX	Xerox Printer related documentation. These are versions cira 2001, newer versions may be available.

Web Page: http://www.lprng.com

The software may be obtained from ftp://ftp.lprng.com/pub/LPRng (Main site)

Mirrors:
ftp://ftp.cise.ufl.edu/pub/mirrors/LPRng (US)
ftp://sunsite.ualberta.ca/pub/Mirror/LPRng (CA)

Due to SPAM attacks, the LPRng mailing list has been shut down.

If support or assistance is needed, contact Astart Technologies by phone at the address below:

Patrick Powell
AStArt Technologies, 1530 Jamacha Road, Suite X, San Diego, CA 92123
(858) 874-6543; FAX (858) 357-9931