Master Linux Print and Transfer Commands: lpr, lprm, lpq, ftp, tftp & More

lprm command

Linux lprm removes a job from the printer queue. Unfinished jobs are stored in a printer's queue; this command cancels jobs that have not yet been sent to the printer. Use -P to specify the target printer; otherwise the system default printer is used. Only the job owner or a system administrator can delete a job.

Syntax:

Example: remove job 1123 from printer hpprinter.

Example: remove job 1011 from the default printer.

lpr command

lpr (line printer) queues one or more files for printing. It can send data to local or remote printers.

-p Printer : send data to the specified printer (default lp).

Example: print report on printer mailroom.

Example: print three files on printer laser1.

lpq command

Linux lpq shows the status of a print queue, listing pending jobs.

-P printer : specify a printer (default is the system default).

-l: list detailed information about each file in the job.

Example: display an empty queue for the default printer.

lpd command

Linux lpd is a daemon that manages local or remote printers based on /etc/printcap. Each printer defined in printcap has a corresponding directory under /var/lpd. Files prefixed with cf represent pending print jobs, usually created by lpr. The daemon monitors printer status and dispatches jobs when the printer becomes available.

-l: display debugging information on standard output.

#port: force lpd to use the specified TCP/IP port.

Example: this daemon is typically started by scripts in /etc/rc.d during system boot.

bye command

Linux bye terminates an FTP session.

ftp command

Linux ftp provides interactive file transfer capabilities.

-d: display detailed command execution for debugging.

-i: disable interactive prompting.

-g: disable special character expansion for local filenames.

-n: disable automatic login.

-v: show command execution details.

Example: anonymously connect to ftp.kernel.org and download README.

uuto command

Linux uuto transfers files to a remote UUCP host (wrapper around uucp).

Parameters are the same as for uucp.

Example: send a file to localhost ’s /tmp directory.

uupick command

Linux uupick processes files received via UUCP.

-I<config> or --config<config>: specify configuration file.

-s<host> or --system<host>: process files from the given host.

-v or --version: display version.

--help: display help.

Example: process files sent from host localhost.

uucp command

Linux uucp transfers files between Unix systems using the UUCP protocol.

-c or --nocopy: do not copy files to a buffer.

-C or --copy: copy files to a buffer.

-d or --directories: create necessary directories on the destination.

-f or --nodirectories: skip job if directories need to be created.

-g<grade> or --grade<grade>: set job priority.

-I<config> or --config<config>: specify configuration file.

-j or --jobid: display job ID.

-m or --mail: email a report after job completion.

-n<user> or --notify<user>: email a report to a specific user.

-r or --nouucico: queue the job without starting uucico immediately.

-R or --recursive: copy directories recursively.

-t or --uuto: treat the last argument as host!user.

-v or --version: show version.

-W or --noexpand: do not prepend current directory to the path.

-x<type> or --debug<type>: enable debugging mode.

--help: display help.

[source...] : source files or paths.

[destination] : target file or path.

Example: send all files under temp/ to localhost ’s Public/ directory.

uucico command

Linux uucico is the UUCP file‑transfer service program.

-c or --quiet: do not modify log files when idle.

-C or --ifwork: call the specified host only if there is work.

-D or --nodetach: stay attached to the controlling terminal.

-e or --loop: run in slave mode and display login prompts.

-f or --force: retry immediately on error.

-i<type> or --stdin<type>: specify input type when using standard input.

-I<file> or --config<file>: configuration file.

-l or --prompt: display login prompt.

-p<port> or --port<port>: specify connection port.

-q or --quiet: do not start uuxqt.

-r0 or --slave: start in slave mode.

-s<host> or --system<host>: call the specified host.

-u<user> or --login<user>: specify login user.

-v or --version: show version and exit.

-w or --wait: display login prompt in active mode.

-x<type> or -X<type> or outgoing‑debug<type>: enable debugging.

-z or --try-next: try next option on failure.

--help: display help and exit.

Example: start uucico in active mode.

tftp command

Linux tftp transfers files using a simple text‑mode FTP protocol.

connect: connect to a remote tftp server.

mode: set transfer mode.

put: upload a file.

get: download a file.

quit: exit.

verbose: show detailed processing information.

trace: display packet path.

status: show current status.

binary: binary transfer mode.

ascii: ascii transfer mode.

rexmt: set packet retransmission timeout.

timeout: set overall timeout.

help / ?: display help.

Example: connect to server 218.28.188.288 and download README using put.

ncftp command

Linux ncftp is an advanced text‑mode FTP client with features such as transfer rate display, resume, bookmarks, and firewall support.

-u<user>: specify FTP username.

-p<password>: set password.

-P<port>: specify FTP port (default 21).

-j<account>: specify account.

-h: show help.

-v: show version.

Example: anonymously connect to ftp.kernel.org without typing a username.

Resulting session information:

Prompt shows ncftp / > instead of ftp / >. Commands such as cd, ls, get, and quit work similarly to FTP.

ftpshut command

Linux ftpshut shuts down an FTP server at a specified time, optionally issuing warnings.

-d<minutes>: disconnect all FTP sessions after the given minutes.

-l<minutes>: stop accepting new FTP logins after the given minutes.

Example: at 23:00 shut down the server, refuse new logins 5 minutes before, and disconnect all sessions 3 minutes before.

ftpwho command

Linux ftpwho displays information about users currently logged into the FTP server.

-v: show version information.

Example: query active FTP users.

ftpcount command

Linux ftpcount shows the number of users currently logged into the FTP server and the maximum allowed.

-f<config>: specify configuration file path.

-h, --help: display help.

Example: display current FTP user count.