print on two devices at once

[MICHAEL_30]

Is it possible to always send print jobs to two devices at once? If so, how?? Thank you very much.

[Jeff Schussele · Accepted solution]

Hi Michael,

To do this you essentially create a new printer, point it to an exixting ptr & then modify it's interface to also kick out a job to the other.

This is an example lpstat output:

# lpstat -t
scheduler is running
no system default destination
device for LS5000bw: /dev/null
remote to: 1_5000_2bw on 11.222.11.22
device for LS4500C: /dev/null
remote to: 1_4500_1cl on 11.222.22.23
device for LSboth: /dev/null
remote to: 1_4500_1cl on 11.222.11.22
LS5000bw accepting requests since Sep 23 19:31
LS4500C accepting requests since Sep 23 19:32
LSboth accepting requests since Sep 23 20:02
printer LS5000bw is idle. enabled since Sep 23 19:31
fence priority : 0
printer LS4500C is idle. enabled since Sep 23 19:32
fence priority : 0
printer LSboth is idle. enabled since Sep 23 20:02
fence priority : 0

printer queue for LS5000bw
JetDirect lpd: no jobs queued on this port

hpkc231: LS5000bw: ready and waiting

printer queue for LS4500C
JetDirect lpd: no jobs queued on this port

hpkc231: LS4500C: ready and waiting

printer queue for LSboth
JetDirect lpd: no jobs queued on this port

hpkc231: LSboth: ready and waiting
no entries

In this case LSboth points to LS5000bw when created.
Here's the entry you'd put in LSboth interface - /etc/lp/interface/LSboth

lp -dLS4500C $1

The normal I/F functions will send the job to LS5000bw & the line you add sends it to LS4500C as well.
Then when you want both printouts send it to LSboth.

HTH,
Jeff

[Hai Nguyen_1]

# lp -dDEST1 FILE && lp -dDEST2 FILE
where: DEST1 and DEST2 are the two printers the file "FILE" is sent to.

Hai

[MICHAEL_30]

Jeff, thanks for the reply. In LSboth inferface file, is there a specific line I want to put the "lp -dprint_name $1"??
And do you think this will work on non-jetdirect printer?? Thank you again!!

[Jeff Schussele]

Hi (again) Michael,

I generally put it down towards the bottom, right before the standard rlp command used for the "actual" printer.

And both of these printers are setup as remote printers, not network or JetAdmin style printers even though they are HP printers & have JetDirect I/Fs on them. I don't have JetAdmin SW on my workstation so I just define them as remote.

Rgds,
Jeff