Solaris Print Package Redesign

This section describes the redesign of the Solaris print packages starting with the Solaris 2.6 release and the additional features that were added with that release.

Redesign of Print Packages

Starting with the Solaris 2.6 release, print packages are redesigned to provide greater flexibility and modularity of print software installation and to enable installation of a print client that takes up less disk space.

In the print package redesign, the default is to install all of the packages. Print servers require installation of all packages, including both client and server. For print clients, you can choose to install only the print client packages. PostScript filter software is provided in its own print package, which provides client configuration files and commands for the print service. Table 56 describes the redesigned set of print packages.

Table 56. Solaris Redesigned Print Packages

Package	Base Directory	Description
SUNWpcr	/ (root)	Sun Print-Client.
SUNWpcu	/usr	Sun Print-Client.
SUNWpsr	/ (root)	Sun Print-LP Server.
SUNWpsu	/usr	Sun Print-LP Server.
SUNWpsf	/usr	PostScript Filters.
SUNWscplp	/usr	Sun Print-Source Compatibility.
SUNWppm	/usr/sadm/admin/bin	Solaris Print Manager (new in the Solaris 8 release).

The following print packages have been removed from Solaris 2.6 and later releases.

• SUNWlpr—LP print service, (root).

• SUNWlpu—LP print service-Client, (usr).

• SUNWlps—LP print service-Server, (usr).

Print commands from SUNWscpu have been moved into the SUNWscplp (Sun Print-Source Compatibility) package.

Print Protocol Adaptor

Starting with the Solaris 2.6 release, the print protocol adapter replaces the Service Access Facility (SAF), the network listener, and lpNet on the inbound side of the LP spooler with a more modular and modern design.

The print protocol adapter provides the following features.

• The complete BSD print protocol, plus extended Solaris functionality, is implemented.

• Multiple spooling systems can coexist on the same host and have access to the BSD print protocol.

• Third-party application developers can extend the print protocol adapter to support other printing protocols such as those of Apple and Novell.

The new print protocol adapter is compatible with print clients set up in previous Solaris releases if the BSD protocol was used to configure these clients. If the BSD protocol was not used, you must modify the previous Solaris print client configuration to use the BSD protocol with Admintool, the Solaris Print Manager, or the lpsystem command.

Print Client Software

Starting with the Solaris 2.6 release, the Print Client software is bundled with the Solaris release as packages SUNWpcr and SUNWpcu. This software was previously released as an unbundled product.

The Print Client software uses an NIS map, NIS+ table, or a single file to provide centralized client administration in the Solaris release. The Print Client software includes the following features.

• Replaces the /etc/lp directory structure with a configuration database that can be stored in a user file ($HOME/.printers), a system file (/etc/printers.conf), an NIS map (printers.conf.byname), or an NIS+ FNS context.

• Uses a more streamlined implementation that provides reduced client overhead and quicker, more accurate responses to print status requests.

• Uses the lpset(1M) command to create the printers.conf file.

• Reduces the size of the package from previous Solaris releases.

• Provides interoperability with the BSD protocol, HP-UX, and other systems as described in RFC-1179.

Enhanced Network Printer Support

Starting with the Solaris 2.6 release, print software provides better support for network printers than in previous Solaris releases.

Network printer support including the following features.

• A new interface script, /usr/lib/lp/model/netstandard, which is specifically designed to support network printers. This script collects the spooler and print database information necessary for performing network printing and passes that information to the print output module.

• A new print output module, netpr, is called from the netstandard interface script to print the print job. It opens a network connection to the printer, creates the correct protocol instructions, and sends the data to the printer. The netpr program currently supports two protocols: BSD print protocol and a TCP pass-through.

New arguments to the lpadmin -o command are available for specifying destination name, protocol, and timeout values for the network printer.

The Solaris 8 Operating Environment supports the printers database in the /etc/nsswitch.conf nameservice switch file. The printers database provides centralized printer configuration information to print clients on the network. The Solaris Print Manager creates and manages the printers database.

With the printers database and corresponding sources of information in the nameservice switch file, print clients can automatically access centralized printer configuration information without having it added to their own systems. Table 57 shows the default printers entry for each of the nameservice environments.

Table 57. Default printers Entries in the /etc/nsswitch.conf File

Nameservice	Default printers Entry
files	printers: user files
nis	printers: user files nis
nis+	printers: user nisplus files xfn

For example, if the nameservice is NIS, print client configuration information is looked up in the following order.

• user—The $HOME/.printers file for the user.

• files—The /etc/printers.conf file.

• nis—The printers.conf.byname table.

If the nameservice is NIS+, print client configuration information is looked up in the following order.

• user—The $HOME/.printers file for the user.

• nisplus—The printers.org_dir table.

• files—The /etc/printers.conf file.

• xfn—The FNS printer contexts.

See “Converting Printer Configuration in NIS+ (xfn) to NIS+ Format” for more information about FNS printer contexts.

See “Adding a Network Printer” for information about configuring network printers.