IT/Procedures/Printer Maintenance/Script to prevent printhead drying out: Difference between revisions
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(Created page with "= Printer Maintenance Script = === About the Issue === A lot of effort has been taken by several people to create a reliable script that prints a test page on all printers every few days. This should prevent the ink drying out which renders the printer unusable. So far this feat has not been fully achieved yet :(") |
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So far this feat has not been fully achieved yet :( | So far this feat has not been fully achieved yet :( | ||
=== How is it setup? === | |||
* the script runs every few days as a cron job on the cnx server | |||
* several scripts are under /home/walt/.scripts/PrinterMaintenance | |||
* <code>crontab -e</code> to check which one is active at the moment | |||
* the newer ones are set to create some logs in the same folder (*.log) | |||
* most if not all scripts try to print with lp and check somewhat with <code>lpstat</code> what's around (printers and/or open print jobs) | |||
==== What is working so far ==== | |||
* there's a script that prints over the access point mode of the printers | |||
** caveat is that the printer need to be set to ap mode, then back again for normal use | |||
** so far this was used as a "holiday setup" | |||
* the other scripts try to print over wlan connected to the router | |||
** this seems to work "mostly" well, at least with the MG3670 printer models | |||
** depending on the mood of the printer, it will not print anything at all | |||
=== The Issues === | |||
* some printers occasionally just don't print anymore and pile up jobs (check <code>lpstat</code>) | |||
** though this also happens with "legit" reasons, e.g. no paper or printer error | |||
* printers sometimes "dissapear" from the network and are no longer visible through e.g. <code>lpstat -v</code> | |||
* so far no reliable way has been found to resolve the issues automatically | |||
=== New Approaches === | |||
* printer-maintenance.sh | |||
** uses a static list of all printers (so no printer is "forgotten" if it dissapears from the network) | |||
** checks if a printer has any unfinished jobs and deletes them (<code>lprm [PRINTER] -</code>) | |||
** sends a new job | |||
** waits 1 min, then checks for unfinished jobs again | |||
*** if there are some, this will be logged | |||
*** those printers then need manual maintenance (or just more paper) | |||
*** sending of notifications could be added (e.g. mail, telegram or line webhook) | |||
** if it works well, will merge with printerPurge.sh | |||
Revision as of 14:33, 18 May 2024
Printer Maintenance Script
About the Issue
A lot of effort has been taken by several people to create a reliable script that prints a test page on all printers every few days.
This should prevent the ink drying out which renders the printer unusable.
So far this feat has not been fully achieved yet :(
How is it setup?
- the script runs every few days as a cron job on the cnx server
- several scripts are under /home/walt/.scripts/PrinterMaintenance
crontab -eto check which one is active at the moment- the newer ones are set to create some logs in the same folder (*.log)
- most if not all scripts try to print with lp and check somewhat with
lpstatwhat's around (printers and/or open print jobs)
What is working so far
- there's a script that prints over the access point mode of the printers
- caveat is that the printer need to be set to ap mode, then back again for normal use
- so far this was used as a "holiday setup"
- the other scripts try to print over wlan connected to the router
- this seems to work "mostly" well, at least with the MG3670 printer models
- depending on the mood of the printer, it will not print anything at all
The Issues
- some printers occasionally just don't print anymore and pile up jobs (check
lpstat)- though this also happens with "legit" reasons, e.g. no paper or printer error
- printers sometimes "dissapear" from the network and are no longer visible through e.g.
lpstat -v - so far no reliable way has been found to resolve the issues automatically
New Approaches
- printer-maintenance.sh
- uses a static list of all printers (so no printer is "forgotten" if it dissapears from the network)
- checks if a printer has any unfinished jobs and deletes them (
lprm [PRINTER] -) - sends a new job
- waits 1 min, then checks for unfinished jobs again
- if there are some, this will be logged
- those printers then need manual maintenance (or just more paper)
- sending of notifications could be added (e.g. mail, telegram or line webhook)
- if it works well, will merge with printerPurge.sh