Deleting queues in hp-ux B.11.23

[Manuales]

Hi, how can i delete the configuration of 2000 printers? i mean the queue configuration.
I want to create a script but i am not sure where the configuration is created (paths, configuration files, etc) when a queue is added into the system.
Also i need to make a backup before deleting the configuration of all those 2000 printers.

Please give me suggeestions.
Note: i know that i can do it using sam but i need to create the script instead of delete one by one.

[Dennis Handly · Accepted solution]

You can use SAM to make a backup.

You can use lpstat(1) to get a list of printers then loop on "lpadmin -xdest" to remove each one.

[Manuales]

I found this command:
removequeue -q dilbert -f

when this command is used, what configurations files are deleted? (what path? )

[Manuales]

Hi Denniss, if i use sam for the backup? what are the steps to do that? i have 4000 printers configured, i only need to delete 2000? can i do that manually?

[Manuales]

what is the difference in using below commands?

removequeue -q queuename -f

lpadmon -xqueuename

[Dennis Handly]

>if i use sam for the backup? what are the steps to do that?

Something to do with save and restore spooler config. Lots of threads about this:
http://forums.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=1011463

>I only need to delete 2000? can I do that manually?

Do you have a list of them?
for printer in $(< delete-list); do
lpadmin -x$printer
done

[Manuales]

Hi Dennis
thanks a lot ..

i would like to know what directory paths are affected when i apply

lpadmin -x$printer

thanks.

[Tim Nelson]

man lpadmin

FILES
/var/spool/lp/*
/var/adm/lp/*
/etc/lp/*
/usr/lib/lp/*

[Manuales]

thanks!!!
what is the difference in using below commands?

removequeue -q queuename -f

lpadmon -xqueuename

[Bill Hassell]

> what is the difference in using below commands?

> removequeue -q queuename -f

This is part of the hppi package for HP JetDirect print interfaces. It is not designed for remote printers or direct-connect printers such as serial or parallel.

lpadmon -xqueuename

I believe you meant lpadmin -x and this is the lp spooler command to remove remote and direct-connect printers, but not HP JetDirect connections.

[Manuales]

Thanks a lot Bill..
could you please let me know what directories or files should i create a backup in case i need to recover some printer configuration?

[James R. Ferguson]

Hi Manuales:

> what directories or files should i create a backup in case i need to recover some printer configuration?

As Dennis suggested, use SAM. Look at the thread he referenced, for example.

Regards!

...JRF...

[Bill Hassell]

When you delete a printer (lpadmin -x or removequeue), there are a few files that are removed, but some binary files in /var/spool/lp such as pstatus and qstatus are changed. There is no way to edit these files so if you wanted to restore one or two printers, replacing those status files would corrupt the spooling system.

Since recreating a printer is a simple one line command, before you delete a bunch of printers, you need to document all the printers starting with lpstat -v. For remote printers, you just need the 3 values: local queuename, remote server IP or hostname, and the remote printer name. For JetDirect printers, the local queuename and remote IP or hostname is all you need unless the printer is not connected. Then you'll need to provide the printer ID number. After collecting this into a couple files, you'll be able to recall a deleted printer in a few seconds of typing.

[Manuales]

Thanks all of you for your super help and support.