How do I troubleshoot a Linux printer

To troubleshoot a print queue on Linux:

• Log into the server as root
• Try to ping the server:

ping -c4 lp1

• Common problems:
  • If the printer doesn’t respond, verify its network connectivity
  • If the printer exhibits packet loss or high latency (round trip) times, check with your network support provider, as these can disrupt printing
• Check the Linux (CUPS) print queue status:

lpstat -p lp1

• Common problems:
  • If the printer is “disabled” or “paused,” enable the queue: cupsenable lp1
• Check the UniVerse (UV) print queue status:

usa -p lp1

• Common problems:
  • If the printer is marked as “off,” enable the queue: usa +o -p lp1