How can I print on a local printer from the lp command on my droplet?

February 12, 2016 1.7k views
Linux Commands System Tools Getting Started Ubuntu
seabrook2015
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seabrook2015

QUESTION:
I'm developing shell programs on my droplet. How can I print them directly to my home printer rather than have to download the files for printing?

ANSWER:
Set up the connection to the droplet with
ssh -R 6311:localhost:631 userid@dropletIPaddress
then print with
print -o5 filename | lpr -H localhost:6311
For this to work you MUST have Apple's form of cups installed to get the right lp command. So before printing do apt-get install cups-bsd

(After discovering this I couldn't figure out how to pass it around to the rest of the community so I just made it a question and provide the answer. -- Dick S.)

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1 Answer
AndrewTheTechie MOD February 18, 2016

Hey There seabrook2015,

Wow, that is not one I thought I'd ever see...how to print from a droplet. Awesome job getting it working!

--Andrew

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  • seabrook2015 February 18, 2016

    Thanks. I wish I could take the credit, but I found the solution in a discussion posted elsewhere of remote printing from Linux and implemented it using a droplet. The original poster just signed off with "shareedit" so I have no idea who it was. The ssh technique involved is called "port forwarding"
    Dick S.

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