In this example, there are no jobs in the print queue. When files are spooled for printing, the status of those print requests is also displayed:

elm% lpstat -t
scheduler is running
system default destination: tom
system for slw2: bertha
system for slw1: bertha
device for tom: /dev/term/b
slw2 accepting requests since Mon May 11 11:Ø1:54 EDT 1992
slw1 accepting requests since Wed May 27 16:26:38 EDT 1992
tom accepting requests since Wed Jun  3 14:25:41 EDT 1992
printer slw2 is idle. enabled since Mon May 11 11:Ø1:55 EDT 1992.
available.
printer slw1 is idle. enabled since Wed May 27 16:26:38 EDT 1992.
available.
printer tom is idle. enabled since Wed Jun  3 14:25:41 EDT 1992.
available.
character set usascii
character set english
character set finnish
character set japanese
character set norwegian
character set swedish
character set germanic
character set french
character set canadian_french
character set italian
character set spanish
character set line
character set security
character set ebcdic
character set apl
character set mosaic
elm%

The -l option for lpstat, when used with one of the other options, gives you a long listing of the status of the LP print service. To display a long listing of all status information, type lpstat -t l and press Return. All available status information is displayed.

In this example for the same system, additional information is displayed. When files are spooled for printing, the status of those print requests is also displayed:

{:44} lpstat -tl
scheduler is running
system default destination: tom
system for slw2: bertha
system for slw1: bertha
device for tom: /dev/term/b
slw2 accepting requests since Mon May 11 11:Ø1:54 EDT 1992
slw1 accepting requests since Wed May 27 16:26:38 EDT 1992
tom accepting requests since Wed Jun  3 14:25:41 EDT 1992
printer slw2 is idle. enabled since Mon May 11 11:Ø1:55 EDT 1992.
available.
        Content types: any
        Printer types: unknown
        Description:
        Users allowed:
                 (all)
        Forms allowed:
                (none)
        Banner not required
        Character sets:
                 (none)
        Default pitch:
        Default page size:

printer slw1 is idle. enabled since Wed May 27 16:26:38 EDT 1992.
available.
        Content types: simple
        Printer types: unknown
        Description: Located in ia lab
        Users allowed:
                 (all)
        Forms allowed:
                (none)
        Banner not required
        Character sets:
                 (none)
        Default pitch:
        Default page size:

printer tom is idle. enabled since Wed Jun  3 14:25:41 EDT 1992.
available.
        Form mounted:
        Content types: PS
        Printer types: la1ØØ
        Description: hi
        Connection: direct
        Interface: /usr/lib/lp/model/standard
        After fault: continue
        Users allowed:
                 (all)
        Forms allowed:
                (none)
        Banner required
        Character sets:
                usascii
                english
                finnish
               japanese
              norwegian
                swedish
               germanic
                 french
        canadian_french
                italian
                spanish
                   line
               security
                 ebcdic
                    apl
                 mosaic
        Default pitch: 1Ø CPI 6 LPI
        Default page size: 132 wide 66 long
(More information not shown in this example)

Display of Status for Printers

You can request printer status information for individual printers by using the -p option to lpstat. This option shows whether the printer is active or idle, when it was enabled or disabled, and whether it is available to accept print requests.

To request status for all printers on a system, type lpstat -p and press Return. In this example, two printers are idle, enabled, and available. If one of those printers had jobs in the print queue, those jobs would also be displayed:

elm% lpstat -p
printer pinecone is idle. enabled since Wed Jan  1 18:2Ø:22 PST 1992.
available.
printer acorn is idle. enabled since Mon Mar  2 15:53:44 PST 1992.
available.
elm%

To request status for an individual printer by name, type lpstat -p printer-name and press Return.

Display of Printer Characteristics

If you want to see all of the characteristics for a printer, use the -p option together with the -l ( long) option to lpstat. This command can be especially useful for finding the printer type and content type.

To show characteristics for all printers on a system, type lpstat -p -l and press Return. A table shows all the configuration information that is used by the LP print service for each printer.

In this example, all the fields are blank except for the content type and the printer type of the printer pinecone:

elm% lpstat -p pinecone -l
printer pinecone is idle. enabled since Wed Jan  1 18:20:22 PST 1992.
available.
        Content types: PS
        Printer types: PS
        Description:
        Users allowed:
                 (all)
        Forms allowed:
                (none)
        Banner not required
        Character sets:
                 (none)
        Default pitch:
        Default page size:
elm%