Keep copy of all print jobs?

[onceagain]

Not sure where the best section for this message is (printers or OS X) - but I just got a new colour laser printer (for my very small business) and I want to ensure employees are not using it for personal stuff.

Our business print volume is VERY low - 20 pages in a day would be unusual - 5 would be typical - 10 would be kind of high.

Is there a way I can set up OS X to automatically retain a copy of all print jobs so I can periodically look at them and ensure the printer is not being used for non-business purposes?

Thanks
-oa

[benwiggy]

You need to look into the CUPS configuration controls., which can be accessed through a browser here:
http://localhost:631

CUPS already keeps a log of the jobs, if not the actual jobs themselves, and it can be obvious if the filenames are NSFW.

Keeping the actual jobs, rather than a log of them would take a lot of disk space over time. You could even have a central print server through which all print jobs are passed on their way to the printer. OF course, this might be more expensive than letting your staff print off the odd bit of personal stuff.

[onceagain]

Quote: Originally Posted by benwiggy You need to look into the CUPS configuration controls., which can be accessed through a browser here: http://localhost:631 CUPS already keeps a log of the jobs, if not the actual jobs themselves, and it can be obvious if the filenames are NSFW.

That's very helpful, thanks.

Quote: Keeping the actual jobs, rather than a log of them would take a lot of disk space over time.

Disk space is virtually free these days. I mean, 1TB for $55? Not worried about taking up space, esp. at the volume we print. Besides which, a week or two of print jobs (for our stuff) isn't going to take up much space.

Quote: You could even have a central print server through which all print jobs are passed on their way to the printer.

Yeah, I'm hoping to avoid that complication. If there is a way to keep a copy of all print jobs, using just the front desk computer that people are printing from, that would be ideal.

Looking at CUPS (rather quickly), I see it has some email capabilities. If I could get it to email a copy of all print jobs to somewhere, that owould be cool.

[hayne]

Quote: Originally Posted by onceagain If I could get it to email a copy of all print jobs to somewhere, that owould be cool.

Maybe just get it to print out a copy that you can pick up later.

[gsahli]

CUPS accepts a "directive" in the /etc/cups/cupsd.conf file to "PreserveJobFiles Yes" so this should be possible. This conf file can be edited, or depending on OS/CUPS version, can be set in http://localhost:631.
Click the Administration Tab, then go to Edit Configuration File.
Don't put the directive within any sub-group like <Location />.

I haven't personally used this directive so, YMMV

Not even sure where the files will be kept - maybe /var/spool/cups.

[onceagain]

Quote: Originally Posted by gsahli CUPS accepts a "directive" in the /etc/cups/cupsd.conf file to "PreserveJobFiles Yes" so this should be possible. This conf file can be edited, or depending on OS/CUPS version, can be set in http://localhost:631. Click the Administration Tab, then go to Edit Configuration File. Don't put the directive within any sub-group like <Location />. I haven't personally used this directive so, YMMV Not even sure where the files will be kept - maybe /var/spool/cups.

Hey, more helpfulness. Thanks. I'll read up on it and check it out.