TroubleshootingPrinterProblemsHPUX.

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Troubleshooting Printer Problems in HPUX

Information to gather:
a. Model of printer (ie..lj4mv, lj5si, or third party printer). NOTE:(HP doesn't support the functionality of
third party printers)
b. Printer connection type (ie..LOCAL, REMOTE, or NETWORK). NOTE: Local printer could have a serial
or parallel connection.
c. Does the problem affect all printers. See the section below: All printers will not print
d. Does the problem only affect some of the printers or one printer. See the section below: Some printers will
not print

2.) TROUBLESHOOTING:
a. All printers will not print
i. Is the scheduler running? (lpstat -r)
ii. If it is not running, start it -> lpsched
iii. If scheduler is running, stop it (lpshut) then restart it.

NOTE: When stopping or starting the schedule,r always run lpstat -r to verify that it is really stopped
or started.

If scheduler will not stop, run ps -ef|grep lp, kill all lpsched processes, and remove SCHEDLOCK
and FIFO from /var/spool/lp directory.

If scheduler will not start, run lpsched -v and check /var/spool/lp/log. If nothing is in the log, check
permissions of the log. /var/spool/lp/log should be a link to /var/adm/lp/log and the permissions
should be 644 lp:lp and make sure the log is a file not a directory. Run /usr/sam/lbin/lpmgr and
make sure that there is a space between the last two colons of each printer's entry and no corrupt
characters.

Example from running /usr/sam/lbin/lpmgr :

dj855c:remote:yes, idle:yes:dj855c on tbird.rose.hp.com:0: :

lj3:local:yes, idle:yes:/dev/c0p0_lp:0: :
lj4mv:network:yes, idle:yes:-:0: :

NOTE: This is a check of the pstatus and qstatus files. If there is corruption, remove the printer and
reinstall it.

To check the output queue (/var/spool/lp/outputq), cp outputq outputq.old then stop the scheduler.
(lpshut) Clear the outputq file (cat /dev/null > outputq), start the scheduler (lpsched), and see if the
printers will work.

NOTE: If this fixes the problem and there are print jobs in the outputq that need to be printed, do the
following:

a.) cd /var/spool/lp
b.) cp -R request request.old
c.) cd request (run pwd to verify -> /var/spool/lp/request)
d.) rm */*
e.) cd ../request.old
f.) lp -dprintername printername/d*

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Michael Shapiro
TroubleshootingPrinterProblemsHPUX.doc
NOTE: This will need to be done for each printer.

Still not working? Try running SAM and going into:

Printers and Plotters -> LP Spooler -> Save/Restore Spooler Configuration.

Make sure the saved configuration is the same as the original spooler configuration or go to actions
and choose Save Spooler Configuration then choose Restore Spooler Configuration.

If all else fails, remove all printers and recreate them or restore from a backup. Files to restore:

/etc/lp
/var/adm/lp
/var/spool/lp.

b.) Some printers will not print

1. Run lpstat -t Is printer enabled and accepting? (enable printername, accept printername)

2. How is the printer connected? (LOCAL, REMOTE, or NETWORK)

LOCAL -> Serial, Parallel, or DTC

Verify printer is online and connected.

Testing: (From the command line)

Serial -> nohup sleep 999999 < ixon cs8 -parenb onlcr 9600 stty &>/device_file

Parallel -> cat /etc/inittab >/device_file

DTC -> cat /etc/inittab >/device_file

- If the printer prints using cat, then try canceling the oldest print
- Try canceling all jobs to this printer (cancel -e printername)
- Remove and re-add printer (use SAM)
- If it is still not working, do the procedure above "To check the output queue ".

REMOTE

- Check to see if the printer prints on the receiving system

- Check /var/spool/lp/lpd.log on receiving system
- Check /var/spool/lp/log on sending system. From sending system telnet hostname
515 This should come back with connected
- Verify model script is rmodel on sending system (/etc/lp/interface/printername)
- Try canceling the oldest print job (cancel printer-XXX)
- Try canceling all jobs to this printer (cancel -e printername)
- Remove and re-add printer (use sam)
- If it is still not working, do the procedure above "To check the output queue ".

NETWORK

Run jetadmin or hppi (depending on the network utility being used)

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1.) Choose Diagnostics.
2.) Choose option 4 (Print a test page to printer).
3.) Enter the network printer name or IP address
4.) Choose 1 (text file)

If it doesn't print do the following:

Ping and telnet to the hostname or IP address. If either fails, then it is a networking
problem. If this works then contact HP customer support for Jetadmin and HP
Installer support.

If this prints then do the following:

- Verify interface script is hpnp.model in /etc/lp/interface/printername and that in

the interface script, PERIPH=hostname or IP

- Verify in /etc/lp/interface/model.orig, the model script is correct.

- Check permissions on lp, interface, model.orig, and the printer underneath
model.orig, these files should be 755 lp:bin
- Remove and add printer using Jetadmin or hppi
- Try canceling the oldest print job -> cancel printer-XXX
- Try canceling all jobs to this printer -> cancel -e printername
- If it is still not working, do the procedure above "To check the outputq".

Paraphrased/Plagiarized by Page 3 of 3 4/16/02

Michael Shapiro