Linux / UNIX: Administer The Printer From a Web Browser

Q. How do I administer the printer configured under Linux file and printer server from a web browser?

A. Most modern Linux / UNIX system uses CUPS, which provides a portable printing layer for UNIX-based operating systems. It is developed and maintained by Apple Inc. to promote a standard printing solution. CUPS is the standard printing system used on MacOS X and most Linux distributions.

CUPS uses the Internet Printing Protocol ("IPP") as the basis for managing print jobs and queues and adds network printer browsing and PostScript Printer Description ("PPD") based printing options to support real-world printing.

Open your web browser and type the following url:
http://localhost:631
631 is default TCP port used by CUPS system. If you are asked for a username and password, enter your login username and password or the "root" username and password. Once opened click on 'Printer' tab to view and modify current printer properties.

Fig.01: CUPS printer Administer Web Interface

You can also access this interface from remote computer by typing the server IP address. If printer server IP address is 192.168.1.100, enter:
http://192.168.1.100:631/

You can easily manage following tasks without touching a shell prompt: