How to Use the Command 'cupsaccept' (with examples)

The cupsaccept command is a part of the Common UNIX Printing System (CUPS) that allows system administrators to manage print jobs for printers or printer classes on a network. Primarily, this command is used to accept print jobs sent to specified destinations, ensuring that the printers are ready to receive and process them. It is frequently used in conjunction with other CUPS commands for holistic print server management. Understanding how to use cupsaccept effectively can help maintain a smooth and efficient printing workflow in various network scenarios.

Use case 1: Accept print jobs to the specified destinations

Code:

cupsaccept destination1 destination2 ...

Motivation:

This use case is fundamental when an administrator needs to start accepting print jobs for one or more printers that were previously set to reject jobs. This could be necessary after maintenance, updates, or troubleshooting when printers need to be reintegrated into the network workflow. By using cupsaccept, the administrator enables the printers to receive pending print jobs that were on hold or to accept new ones in the queue.

Explanation:

• cupsaccept: This is the command that tells CUPS to begin accepting print jobs for the specified destinations.
• destination1 destination2 ...: These are placeholders for the actual printer names or classes where the print jobs should be accepted. For instance, if you have two printers named “PrinterA” and “PrinterB,” you would replace these placeholders with their actual names to direct the command to the specific devices.

Example output:

Accepting jobs for destination "destination1".
Accepting jobs for destination "destination2".
...

In this output, each line confirms that the corresponding printer has been set to accept incoming print jobs, allowing for an uninterrupted print service.

Use case 2: Specify a different server

Code:

cupsaccept -h server destination1 destination2 ...

Motivation:

Sometimes, print servers are set up in a networked environment where multiple servers manage different sets of printers. In such cases, explicit communication with a specific server is crucial to ensuring that the right printers receive the right commands. This use case is particularly useful when an administrator needs to manage printers across different geographic locations or subnetworks from a central administration point. By specifying a server, the command precisely targets the desired printers managed by that server.

Explanation:

• cupsaccept: Continues to represent the command initiating the acceptance of print jobs.
• -h server: This option allows the administrator to specify a particular server that hosts the CUPS service where the command should be applied. The server here should be replaced by the hostname or IP address of the printer’s server.
• destination1 destination2 ...: These represent the printers or classes on the specified server that should start accepting print jobs. As before, replace these placeholders with the actual printer designations being targeted on the given server.

Example output:

Connecting to server "server"...
Accepting jobs for destination "destination1" on server "server".
Accepting jobs for destination "destination2" on server "server".
...

This output indicates that the command successfully communicated with the specified server and arranged for the listed printers to resume accepting print jobs. It also reassures administrators by confirming connection to the intended server.

Conclusion:

The cupsaccept command is an essential utility within CUPS for controlling the operational state of printers in terms of job acceptance. Whether dealing with local or networked printer environments, understanding these use cases allows administrators to effectively manage printers, ensuring that downtime is minimized and print operations remain smooth and efficient. The flexibility of the command, with its ability to target specific servers, provides powerful control over complex printing infrastructures.