Printers in the CSB Core Laboratory

The following printers are available in the CSB Core:

mono is an HP LaserJet 8000 monochrome (black only) printer. It is the default printer because it is cheaper to operate.
color is an OKI C710 color laser printer.

You should submit print jobs only from computers locates in the Core, and retrieve your jobs shortly after printing them. This will enable you to detect and correct problems with jammed printers or runaway jobs.

In June, 2007, Core printing was reorganized using a CUPS server. System administration documents are at http://www.csb.yale.edu/sysadm/servers/printserver/0front.html .

Printing from Core linux/Irix/Mac computers Printing from Core Windows computers Configuring your laptop to use Core printers Managing print jobs Common problems and solutions

Printing from Linux, SGI/IRIX, or Mac OSX

From linux and similar computers, you can print to one of several queues:

mono is the default queue. It provides duplex printing on the monochrome printer.
mono2x is an alias for mono.
mono1x provides one-sided printing on the monochrome printer.
color sends jobs to the duplex queue on the color printer.
color2x is an alias for color.
color1x provides one-sided printing on the color printer.

In many applications (such as acroread, firefox, thunderbird), the Print command presents a dialogue box, which enables you to choose among the allowable queues.

You can send a file to the default queue (mono), with the command:
lpr filename.

To print 3 single-sided copies of a file, use
lpr -P mono1x -# 3 filename.

The CUPS printing system used in the Core recognizes most file types. That is, you should be able to use the lpr command to print .jpg, .ps, .pdf and most other common file formats (though probably not .doc or other office documents). However, it is usually safer to print through the appropriate application (gimp for .jpg, acroread for .pdf, etc.).

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Printing from Windows

From Core Windows computers, you can choose from the following printers:

mono_win_PS is the default queue. It prints to the black-and-white printer using the Postscript driver.
mono_win_PCL prints to the black-and-white printer using the PCL driver. Use it if the default driver is giving poor results.
color prints to the color printer.

All options (duplex printing, choice of paper tray, choice of paper type) can be selected from the Properties section of the printer dialogue box.

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Configuring your laptop to use Core printers

N.B. This will only work if your laptop is registered on the Core's rc network. This is usually not the case.

From Windows

Start->Settings->Printers->Add Printer->Network Printer
For printer name, enter one of
- \\printserver\mono_win_PS
- \\printserver\mono_win_PCL
- \\printserver\color
It will claim the remote server has the incorrect driver, and offer to use a local driver. Accept the offer.
Select the driver for the manufacturer and model.
- HP LaserJet8000 PS
- HP LaserJet8000 PCL
- Oki C7400
The icon for the newly-installed printer will appear in the Printers page. When one of the printers is highlighted, there will be a message Status: access denied in the left portion of the window. Ignore this message.
For the HP8000 printers, right-click on printer and select Properties. Then select Device Settings. Scroll down to Installation Options. Tell it that the printer has duplexer installed.
Test printer

From Linux and MacOS

Recent MAC and Linux systems use the CUPS printing system. When connected to the Core's network, they should see the Core's printer queues without any additional measures.

If there are problems, see the Core staff, or look at http://www.csb.yale.edu/sysadm/servers/printserver/0front.html .

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Managing print jobs

The command, lpstat gives you the JobID of any print jobs that are queued. lpstat -a Shows active queues; if it doesn't show anything or hangs, the CUPS printing system has malfunctioned.

cancel JobID will cancel a job already submitted.

A GUI administrative tool is available at https://corevm3.rc.yale.edu:631/. Click on the Jobs tab to list, and possibly delete, jobs. Or click on the Printers tab, then on a particular printer.

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Common problems and solutions

If you can't get something to print properly from a linux workstation, try saving it as a file, and printing it form a Windows computer. (The reverse has less likelihoof of working).
From linux, using a duplex printer, if you request multiple copies of a document with an odd number of pages, the second copy will begin to print on the reverse side of the last page of the first copy. The solution is to submit multiple jobs with one copy in each, OR pad the document with a blank page, OR print from Windows.

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Printer Supplies

The color and mono printers support printing on heavy stock. This is best done by setting the printer properties using a Windows computer.

Don't use transparencies. If you absolutely must, talk to a staff member first. You can destroy the printer by using the wrong media.

Richards Center (www.rc.yale.edu) at Yale University (www.yale.edu)
Contact: webmaster_at_ben^rc^yale^edu

Printers in the CSB Core Laboratory

Printing from Linux, SGI/IRIX, or Mac OSX

Printing from Windows

Configuring your laptop to use Core printers

From Windows

From Linux and MacOS

Managing print jobs

Common problems and solutions

Printer Supplies

Hewlett Packard 8000 Laser Printer

Oki C710 color laser printer

EPSON Stylus Color Inkjet Printers