How to set default printer in Linux or Unix

If you are using terminal setup in Unix systems like Linux, you can configure your default printer by:

1. csh shell version (by editing ~/.cshrc or ~/.tcshrc configuration files)

setenv PRINTER your-printer-name

2. bash shell version (by editing ~/.bashrc configuration file)

export PRINTER=your-printer-name

If CUPS is available in your system, you may issue the following command to have this change:

lpoptions -d printer-name

The ‘d’ option sets the default printer.

In the case of Ubuntu Linux, you can just go System->Administration->Printing to set up a printer as the default printer. Just click the Make default button on the Settings tab.

How to restart CUPS in Linux

Simply execute the following command will restart CUPS (Common UNIX Printing System) service in Linux like Ubuntu:

#/etc/init.d/cupsys restart

By the way, CUPS is the standards-based, open source printing system developed by Apple Inc. for Mac OS X and other UNIX-like operating systems.

How to use RPM in Fedora Linux

RPM is used to build, install, query, verify, update, and erase individual software packages.

It was originally designed to work with Red Hat / Fedora Linux. Currently it also works on other rpm-based distributions: Suse, Mandriva Linux, Conectiva and etc.

To install software packages, use the following command:

rpm -i foobar.rpm

To uninstall a software package:

rpm -e foobar.rpm

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Learning GIMP

GIMP is the GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freeware for creating and manipulating graphic images that runs on different types of OS like Windows, Linux and Mac. GIMP offers photo retouching, image composition, and image authoring. It is considered to be Photoshop alternative and has been extensively use in professional graphics and film production for graphic design.

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