CUPS Disaster: printer queues going AOL or becoming disfunctional

[James Freer]

On Sun, 29 Jun 2014, Robert Heller wrote:

> Software versions:
>   1) Host Server: CentOS 6.5 (up to date), cups-1.4.2-50.el6_4.5.x86_64
>   2) VM server:   Ubuntu 14.04 (up to date), cups 1.7.2-0ubuntu1  amd64
>   3) Diskless workstations: Ubuntu 14.04 (up to date), cups 1.7.2-0ubuntu1 amd64
>
> We have two networked (hard Ethernet, with static IP addresses) Laser
> printers, a HP LaserJet 4200 (old but works great) and a Brother Color
> MFC-9970CDW.
>
> What happened:
>
> I updated the Host Server (standard yum update) and then rebooted it (the
> update brought in a new kernel). And then printer queues became
> 'disfunctional'. Printing a test page resulted in a
> client-error-document-format-not-supported type of error. Deleting and
> re-installing the print queues fixed it. Why did this happen? And why does
> re-installing the print queues fix it? Followup question: is there a way to do
> fix this from the command line? It is a royal pain to have to do this with the
> web GUI, esp. since it precludes doing it remotely.
>
> Also, just as a side adventure, the Ubuntu VM system decided to (on its own!)
> remove the color printer. I have not clue as to  why that happened.  I did
> *uninstall* the pesky cups-browserd package (which is a total disaster for a
> server or even fixed desktop machines with fixed hardwired printers).
>
>
> (Longing for the good old days of LPD! -- CUPS can be a total pain in the butt
> at times.)
>

AOL? Do you mean AWOL?

james