Unable to print with lpr command

I can't print with the lpr command even though I can print without the use of command line.

What am I doing wrong?

2 Answers

You need to specify which printer to use. Either use lpr -P HP-PSC-1500-series ..., or set one of them (it? They have the same serial=. Confusion warning!), or set one as the System Default Printer, either via command line:

sudo lpoptions -d HP-PSC-1500-series

Or by using the CUPS web interface:

Open in a browser, then navigate to (You will be prompted for a username/password along the way. Enter your login userid and password).

In the Administration drop-down, select Set As Server Default, then click Go.

You need to set one of these printers to be default.

At your example, system detected two printers, appointing to same device:

- HP-PSC-1550-series
- PSC-1500-series

To pick one as the default lpd printer, type at the terminal

~$ lpoptions -d HP-PSC-1500-series
~$ lpq

to see if the printer you selected is now the default.

If these commands didn't work, you may edit /etc/cups/printers.conf.

sudo systemctl stop cups
sudo nano /etc/cups/printers.conf

Supposing you will find it here below as sample:

# Printer configuration file for CUPS v2.2.2
# Written by cupsd
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE WHEN CUPSD IS RUNNING
<Printer HP-PSC-1550-series>
UUID xxxxx...
Info HP-PSC-1550-series
....
</Printer>
<Printer PSC-1550-series>
UUID xxxxx...
Info PSC-1550-series
....
</Printer>

Change at your default Printer tags:

<Printer></Printer>

by

<DefaultPrinter></DefaultPrinter>

Save this file and

sudo systemctl start cups.

After that, it's possible to print by line-command.