Name

lpx − line printer exerciser

Syntax

/usr/field/lpx [ −h ] [ −ofile ] [ −pn ] [ −tm ] −ddev

Description

The line printer exerciser outputs a rolling character pattern to the printer. Five pages are output and then the printer will pause for 15 minutes (default).  Then 5 more pages are output, followed by a pause.  This pattern continues until the process receives a <CTRLC> or a kill -15 pid. 

Disable the line printer queue of the printer to be tested before running lpx. Check the /etc/printcap file to determine the line printer queue, and then run line printer control program /etc/lpc to disable the printer. This will stop other jobs from interfering with the testing.

Arguments

You must specify the following function flag and its argument to the lpx exerciser:

−ddevThe line printer device name and unit number to test as listed in the /dev directory.  For example, lp, lp1.

Options

The lpx options are:

−hPrint the help messages for the lpx command.

−ofileSave the output diagnostics in file. 

−pnSet pause for n minutes.  During the pause period, lpx will only exercise the controller, saving paper. The default value for n is 15.  A value of n = 0 indicates no pause. 

−tmRun time in minutes (m).  The default is to run lpx run until the process receives a <CTRLC> or kill -15 pid. 

Restrictions

If there is a need to run a system exerciser over an NFS link or on a diskless system there are some restrictions.  For exercisers that need to write into a file system, such as fsx(,), the target file system must be writable by root.  Also the directory, in which any of the exercisers are executed, must be writable by root because temporary files are written into the current directory.  These latter restrictions are sometimes difficult to overcome because often NFS file systems are mounted in a way that prevents root from writing into them.  Some of the restrictions may be overcome by copying the exerciser to another directory and then executing it.

Examples

The following example causes lpx to exercise lp1 until the process receives a <CTRLC> or kill -15 pid. 

% /usr/field/lpx -dlp1

The following example exercises lp for 120 minutes in the background.

% /usr/field/lpx -t120 -dlp &

See Also

Guide to System Exercisers