>
>
> > We have the need to track printer usage (pages used).
> > Right now, my Samba printer share defines the print command
> > as "print command = lpr -Pprinter.domain.edu -r %s"
> > (The printer is a LaserJet 4000N, with the JetDirect card and
> > its built-in LPD server.)
> >
> > What is the best way to figure out how much paper a given
> > user printed?
> >
> You need to replace your lpr printing system with the LPRing stuff. This
> is a re-write
> of lpr/lpd but with major enhancements. They talk about HP printers a
> LOT.
> They speciallize in this sort of stuff. Sorry I don't have the link
> handy, but do have there
> own web page handy. It is distributed much the same as Samba ,
> and works a treat on Red Hat, where it is the default printing system.
>
I have been running this setup for more than a year now and it works great
with HP laserjet 4M, 5M and 5SiMX printers. My HP deskjet 1600M wasn't
really up to it but I didn't need accounting on it so I haven't bothered
so much.
All printers are connected to the net with JetDirect-cards.
What you need to do is replace your current printing-system with
LPRng and CTI-if-filters from ftp.astart.com.
As database I use Mysql from www.tcx.se. It holds information about
which printers each user can use, how many papers printed and how many
pages can be printed before he/she has to refill the account.
A couple of perl-scripts is run for each job to check permissions and
update accounts.
The number of pages printed is calculated from the hardware-counter
in the printer which is checked by the ifhp-filter before and after
each job is sent to the printer.
Running on Solaris 2.5.1 btw...
/Ulf
--
Ulf Noren, Systems engineer | Phone: +46 (0)66057899
Mid Sweden University | Fax : +46 (0)66057805
Dept of Industrial technology | Email: Ulf.Noren@ind.mh.se
Jarnvagsgatan 3 | <URL:http://www.ind.mh.se>
S-891 18 Ornskoldsvik, Sweden | <URL:http://www.ind.mh.se/~ulf>