Specifications

3-16
Guide to Printers and Printing
/etc/qconfig Spooler Configuration File
The /etc/qconfig file describes all of the queues defined to the base operating system. A
queue is a named, ordered list of requests for a specific device. A device is something
(either hardware or software) than can handle those requests one at a time. The queue
provides serial access to the device. Each queue must be serviced by at least one device;
often it can be handled by more than one device.
/etc/qconfig File Structure
The /etc/qconfig file is the most important file in the spooler domain:
• It contains the definition of every queue known to the spooler.
• A system administrator can read this file and discern the function of each queue.
• Although it is not recommended, this file can be edited ( Editing the /etc/qconfig File on
page 4-153) to modify spooler queues without halting the spooler.
The qdaemon reads the ASCII version of /etc/qconfig and creates a binary version,
/etc/qconfig.bin. /etc/qconfig must adhere to a specific structured format in order for the
qdaemon to be able to parse it. This format is detailed in the /etc/qconfig File Structure
examples below.
Local Queue
queue_name:
device = device_name
up = TRUE or FALSE
discipline = fcfs or sjn
device_name:
file = physical_device_name or FALSE
header = always or group or never
trailer = always or group or never
access = both or write
backend = full_path_name_to_backend_program
Remote Queue
queue_name:
device = device_name
up = TRUE or FALSE
host = remote_hostname
s_statfilter = full_path_to_short_filter
l_statfilter = full_path_to_long_filter
rq = remote_queue_name
device_name:
backend = full_path_name_to_backend_program
/etc/qconfig is composed of text blocks referred to as stanzas. Each queue is represented
by a pair of stanzas. The first stanza in a pair is referred to as the queue stanza; the second
stanza in a pair is referred to as the device stanza. Stanzas are composed of parameters
and parameter values that describe the queue’s properties and function.
When the qdaemon parses the ASCII version of /etc/qconfig, the first non–commented line
it identifies must be a word followed by a colon; this line represents the beginning of the
queue stanza. This word is the name of a queue to which a user can submit jobs. There
must be one or more lines indented by tabs following this line. One of these lines must be
device = device_name. The value of the device parameter is a link from the queue stanza
to the device stanza; this parameter has no other function. When a queue is initially setup,
the operating system will frequently use the name of a printer, such as lp1, as the value of
the device parameter. While the queue may actually be setup to use lp1, the use of lp1
as the value of the device parameter only means that the device stanza will be named lp1.
This is not related to the fact that there is a real printer known to the operating system as
lp1.