RedHat Linux Printer Setup

Owned by NetSarang Support
Aug 03, 2018
2 min read

RedHat Enterprise Linux 4.x, 5.x

  1. Run /usr/sbin/system-config-printer with root permissions. For remote execution, run in a PC X server, such as Xmanager.
  2. Click [Add a new printer] to proceed with installation according to the screen instructions.


Fig. 4: RedHat Enterprise Linux printer setup 1

  • Printer Name: Name designated when printing a file with the lpr command or in a Linux application program.
  • Description (optional): Enter remote printer information, such as printer model. This item is not used at the printing command.
  • Location (optional): Enter remote printer location. This item is not used at the printing command.



Fig. 5: RedHat Enterprise Linux printer setup 2

  • Devices: Select [LPD/LPR Host or Printer].
  • Hostname: Enter the name or IP address of a PC with Xlpd installed.
  • Printername: Xlpd queue name. Xlpd generates a queue using this name. Printing can be processed with the default queue without generating a queue according to Xlpd settings.


Fig. 6: RedHat Enterprise Linux printer setup 3

  • Select Printer from database: Select Xlpd connected printer model. If model does not exist, select a printer compatible with the printer concerned. Initially, UNIX/Linux application program supported PostScript only. Recently however, PCL printer language has also been supported. Check compatibility of model to use and select compatible printer in the Generic printer section.
  1. Click [Apply] to complete printer registration.
  2. The command to print a file in RedHat Enterprise Linux is as follows: $ /usr/bin/lpr –Pprinter_name filename ex) $ /usr/bin/lpr –Pxlpd /etc/hosts

RedHat Linux 9.x, Redhat Enterprise Linux 3.x

  1. Run /usr/sbin/printtool or /usr/bin/redhat-config-printer with root permissions.
  2. Click [Add (a new printer)] and proceed with installation according to the screen instructions.


Fig. 7: RedHat Linux printer setup 1

  • Queue Name: Printer name designated when printing a file with the lpr command or in Linux application program.
  • Short Description: Enter information to give a brief description of the printer. This is optional.



Fig. 8: RedHat Linux printer setup 2

  • Select Queue Type: Select [Network Linked UNIX (LPD)].
  • Server: Enter the IP address name of an Xlpd installed PC.
  • Queue: This is the Xlpd queue name. Xlpd generates a queue using this name. Printing can be processed with the default queue without generating a queue according to Xlpd settings.


Fig. 10: RedHat Linux printer setup 3

  • Printer Model: Select Xlpd connected printer model. If model does not exist, select a printer compatible with the printer concerned. Initially, UNIX/Linux application program supported PostScript only. Recently, however, PCL printer language has also been supported. Check compatibility of model to use and select compatible printer in the Generic printer section.
  1. Click [Apply] to complete printer registration.
  2. Command to print a file in RedHat 7.x, 8.x, 9.x is as follows: $ /usr/bin/lpr –Pqueue_name filename ex) $ /usr/bin/lpr –Pxlpd /etc/hosts