Files in the /etc directory

Here, you will find the details on the various /etc files that we altered in order to implement our 'print-to-email' lpd support. They were:

  • /etc/hosts
  • /etc/hosts.lpd
  • /etc/printcap

    /etc/hosts

    An entry was added to /etc/hosts to provide the Windows NT-based VPS protocol converter with an IP-to-hostname mapping. The Windows NT system obtains a long-term DHCP lease on it's IP address, but (because of our LAN configuration) does not have a DNS-based hostname. 

    #
# hosts	This file describes a number of hostname-to-address
#		mappings for the TCP/IP subsystem.  It is mostly
#		used at boot time, when no name servers are running.
#		On small systems, this file can be used instead of a
#		"named" name server.  Just add the names, addresses
#		and any aliases to this file...
#
# By the way, Arnt Gulbrandsen <agulbra@nvg.unit.no> says that 127.0.0.1
# should NEVER be named with the name of the machine.  It causes problems
# for some (stupid) programs, irc and reputedly talk. :^)
#
# For loopbacking.
127.0.0.1		localhost
#
# Fake hostname for VPS 'protocol converter' hosted on WinNT
10.100.100.1	vps_on_nt
#
# End of hosts.



    /etc/hosts.lpd

    An entry was added to /etc/hosts.lpd to permit the Windows NT-based VPS protocol converter access to the print spool hosted by the Linux server. The Slackware lpd is based on the BSD Line Printer Daemon, which apparently requires the /etc/hosts.lpd file to carry hostnames rather than IP addresses. 

    #
# hosts.lpd	This file describes the names of the hosts which are
#		allowed to use the remote printer services of this
#		host. This file is used by the LPD subsystem.
#
# Version:	@(#)/etc/hosts.lpd	2.00	04/30/93
#
# Author:	Fred N. van Kempen, <waltje@uwalt.nl.mugnet.org
#
#
# For lpd 'print-to-email': "NT protocol converter" lpd client
vps_on_nt
# End of hosts.lpd.



    /etc/printcap

    An entry was added to /etc/printcap to define the Linux print spool for the "print-to-email" printer. The entry defines an "input filter" called /var/spool/lpd/jesprt.filter, which will take care of the mechanics of respooling received output into the email system. 

    #
#	/etc/printcap
#===============================
# Experimental Email printer   =
#====================================================================
jesprt:\
      :lp=/dev/null:sh:mx#0:\
      :sd=/var/spool/lpd/jesprt:\
      :if=/var/spool/lpd/jesprt.filter:
#====================================================================

    Copyright (©) Lew Pitcher, March 2002