Apple CUPS Advanced Course

About this manual

This document provides an in‑depth look at the Common UNIX Printing System (CUPS), its architecture, and the protocols it uses. It explains key terminology such as jobs, classes, filters, backends, and drivers, and describes how CUPS can function both as a client and a server.\n\nThe course walks through installing CUPS packages, configuring the server, managing printers via command‑line tools and the web interface, adding virtual PDF printers, and using driver databases like Foomatic. It includes practical command examples and reference links for further study. This manual is written in Spanish.

What's inside

• CUPS Overview
• Terminology
• Installation
• Drivers and Foomatic
• Administration via Web Interface
• Command‑line Administration
• Adding and Removing Printers
• CUPS as PDF Generator
• References

Specifications

Frequently asked questions

What protocol does CUPS use for printing?

CUPS uses the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) which operates over HTTP.

How can a new printer be added to CUPS from the command line?

Use the lpadmin command with the -p, -E, -v, and -P options to specify the printer name, enable it, set the device URI, and assign a PPD file.

Which package provides the Foomatic driver database?

The foomatic-db package provides a database of printer drivers distributed by linuxprinting.org.

Where are PDF files generated by the virtual CUPS‑PDF printer stored for anonymous users?

They are stored in /var/spool/cups-pdf/ANONYMOUS/ by default.