[comp.unix.wizards] printer queue gets stuck

tr@ctt.bellcore.com (tom reingold) (02/17/89)

We get stuck printer queues almost every day, and it is driving me
crazy, since I am one of the people that everyone asks to unstick the
queue.  Usually, I end up removing lock files etc. and killing and
restarting lpd.  But why is this necessary?  Is this frequency of
sticking normal?  What causes it, and what can I do to prevent it?

Tom Reingold                   |INTERNET:       tr@bellcore.bellcore.com
Bell Communications Research   |UUCP:           bellcore!tr
444 Hoes La room 1E225         |PHONE:          (201) 699-7058 [work],
Piscataway, NJ 08854           |                (201) 287-2345 [home]

cgh018@tijc02.UUCP (Calvin Hayden ) (02/21/89)

You write:

> We get stuck printer queues almost every day, and it is driving me
> crazy, since I am one of the people that everyone asks to unstick the
> queue.  Usually, I end up removing lock files etc. and killing and
> restarting lpd.  But why is this necessary?  Is this frequency of
> sticking normal?  What causes it, and what can I do to prevent it?

We often encounter a similar problem ( Unix V R2 V2 on vax 8600 connected
to the would via ethernet LAN ).  I end up having to halt the print
scheduler, rm lockfiles, and restarting the scheduler.  We have finally
determined that often, whenever a NetCommander (print server) on our
LAN is rebooted that the scheduler on our Unix system will hose up.  The 
above always manages to restart everything.  Maybe this'll help -- maybe
it won't.
----------------

Calvin Hayden
Sys. Admin. Unix System
Texas Instruments
Johnson City, TN
UUCP:  mcnc!rti!tijc02!cgh018