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Hello Slackers,

I use Slackware 10.2 at work to provide printing services in our class
room. (I work as an aide in a special ed class.) The Linux box is
configured with CUPS to print to a usb color printer. The printer's
usb cable plugs into the Linux box.

The children in our class run games on Macs. Some of the games provide
opportunities for the children to print. This is a useful experience
for them--using the printer, but I need some control over it. They
would print too much otherwise.

I can turn the printer on and off from the Linux box by use of

accept <printer name>
reject <printer name>

but I would like to try using authentication instead. I would like for
attempts to print to result in an authentication window popping up. I
would then enter the password each time for the child.

Is this OT here? I am using Slackware to do this, so I thought I'd
give this group first crack at the question.

I can supply my papd.conf file or other information if you need it.

-Joe

On 2008-03-05, Joseph Rosevear <joe@max.hopto.org> wrote:
>
> I can turn the printer on and off from the Linux box by use of
>
> accept <printer name>
> reject <printer name>
>
> but I would like to try using authentication instead. I would like for
> attempts to print to result in an authentication window popping up. I
> would then enter the password each time for the child.
>
> Is this OT here? I am using Slackware to do this, so I thought I'd
> give this group first crack at the question.

It may or may not be OT, but I think you're more likely to get help from
the netatalk mailing list. Last I looked (last week) it seemed
relatively active.

--keith

--
kkeller-usenet@wombat.san-francisco.ca.us
(try just my userid to email me)
AOLSFAQ=http://www.therockgarden.ca/aolsfaq.txt
see X- headers for PGP signature information

On Wed, 05 Mar 2008 06:46:11 +0000, Joseph Rosevear wrote:

> This is a useful experience for them--using the printer, but I need some
> control over it. They would print too much otherwise.
>
> I can turn the printer on and off from the Linux box by use of
>
> accept <printer name>
> reject <printer name>
>
> but I would like to try using authentication instead.

Would it be acceptable to just go through the job queue on the CUPS
server, delete jobs you don't want printed, and then "turn on" the
printer, Joe? You can probably do this right now, since you already know
how to prevent the printer from printing new jobs. Or do you feel you
need to see what the kids want to print before deciding to let them print
it?

--
Chick Tower

For e-mail: aols2 DOT sent DOT towerboy AT xoxy DOT net

Chick Tower <c.tower@deadspam.com> wrote:

[snip]

> Would it be acceptable to just go through the job queue on the CUPS
> server, delete jobs you don't want printed, and then "turn on" the
> printer, Joe? You can probably do this right now, since you already know
> how to prevent the printer from printing new jobs. Or do you feel you
> need to see what the kids want to print before deciding to let them print
> it?

Thanks, Chick, for your suggestion. Not a bad idea, but it may not
meet my needs. Some of these children know how to turn on the printer,
and it sits within easy reach. Plus I *would* like to see what I'm
approving as you suggested.

I've gotten "AuthType Basic" working in /etc/cups/cupsd.conf, so that
is something else I may pursue, although so far I haven't gotten the
authentication that that provides to work from anything but a Linux
box.

Another avenue I'm looking into is trying to take advantage of the fact
that some of these Macs (that the kids are using) are running CUPS.
The CUPS interface is hidden under the Mac OSX gui, but I can still get
at it via "http://localhost:631".

By the way, I found the Netatalk mailing list (suggested by someone).
I haven't taken full advantage of that yet.

So that's where I'm at. Any comments, anyone?

-Joe

Chick Tower <c.tower@deadspam.com> wrote:

[snip]

> Would it be acceptable to just go through the job queue on the CUPS
> server, delete jobs you don't want printed, and then "turn on" the
> printer, Joe? You can probably do this right now, since you already know
> how to prevent the printer from printing new jobs. Or do you feel you
> need to see what the kids want to print before deciding to let them print
> it?

Chick, I misunderstood your suggestion the first time. Or perhaps it
was necessary for me to work out the details.

I don't need to turn the printer off at the printer, I can use
"/usr/bin/disable <printer name>" instead. Here is the method I'm
planning to use (in case you or other readers are interested):

I'll make six scripts and use them as tools. Since I use SAM (see
SourceForge), I'll use it to organize the tools in a menu. These are
the tools I'm planning to make:

vvv
collect accept $printer; /usr/bin/disable $printer; status

park reject $printer; /usr/bin/disable $printer; status; queue

send reject $printer; /usr/bin/enable $printer; status; queue

remove lprm $1 -P $printer; queue

status lpstat -t | grep "$printer "

queue lpq -P $printer
^^^

Or something like this.

I hope to use the tools to make controlling the printer easier. Thanks
again for your help.

BTW, I've about given up on my hopes to do this via authentication.

-Joe