ePrint FAQ

• What is ePrint and how do I use it?
• How do I print from a Linux workstation in an OIT lab?
• How do I print from my own Linux or Unix system?
• My print job was of poor quality (smudges, low toner, paper jam, etc.) and I was charged for the print-out. How do I request a refund?
• What kinds of printers are available in the labs and how are they identified?
• How do I cancel a print job?
• How do I print on both sides of the paper?
• Can I print to a lab or quad printer from my residence hall or from home? How?

What is ePrint and how do I use it?

ePrint is a print management system that was implemented to make printing faster, easier and less wasteful.

To print a document:

1. Select the print option from your application (for example, go to File in the task bar, then go to Print).
2. If you're using a PC, enter your NetID in the Pharos Popup Client dialog box.
3. Your document will be sent to a centralized print queue.
4. Go to any OIT computer lab or residential quad printer and swipe your DukeCard at one of the ePrint stations. You will see your print queue, and you then click on the document you wish to print.

Print jobs will remain in the print queue for 12 hours, then will be deleted.

How do I print from a Linux workstation in an OIT lab?

ePrint is automatically configured as the default printer in all OIT workstations, and will appear by default when you choose Print in any GUI application. From the command line, use lpr filename, where filename is the name of the document you wish to print.

How do I print from my own Linux or Unix system?

OIT has no installer for Linux/Unix printing and we cannot provide official support for printing from your own workstation. However, it is possible to configure most systems to print to the ePrint system. Use the following settings as a guide for installing ePrint on your own workstation.

To begin, add a new printer on your workstation with the following settings:

• Queue type: choose LPR/LPD/Networked Unix
• Server: oitepps01.oit.duke.edu
• Server-side queue name: ePrint-OIT
• Workstation-side queue name: selected by user (OIT recommends ePrint-OIT)
• Printer type: Use HP LaserJet 4100dtn (or closest equivalent)

When you send print jobs from your personal Unix or Linux system, you need to include your Duke NetID as a parameter to the lpr printing command – both from the GUI and from the command line. To do so, add the -U flag followed by your username.

For example, to print foo.txt from the command line on your Linux system, a user with the NetID of jbduke would enter lpr -P ePrint-OIT -U jbduke foo.txt.

From a GUI/XWindows application, you will need to modify the print command. This is usually changed within the Print dialog box, often under the Properties button for the selected printer. Add -U followed by your NetID (as in the -U jbduke example) to the print command.

My print job was of poor quality (smudges, low toner, paper jam, etc.) and I was charged for the print-out. How do I request a refund?

Black & white ePrint: Charges for black & white print jobs that are unacceptable in quality (low toner, smudging, paper jam, etc.) and which are charged to FLEX or public printing cards will be refunded on request. Complete our online refund request form now.  Please note that refund requests are accepted only for charges to FLEX or public print cards, not free ePrint allocation.

Color ePrint: Contact Office Products and Services to request a refund for poor-quality print jobs for color printing charged to FLEX or public print cards.

What kinds of printers are available in the labs and how are they identified?

The following types of printers are available:

• HP LaserJet 4100dtn – a black-and-white laser printer with a resolution of 1,200 dpi and a maximum output of 25 ppm.
• HP LaserJet 4300dtn – a black-and-white laser printer with a resolution of 1,200 dpi and a maximum output of 25 ppm.
• HP LaserJet 4350dtn – a black-and-white laser printer with a resolution of 1,200 dpi and a maximum output of 25 ppm.
• HP LaserJet 9050dn – a black-and-white laser printer with a resolution of 1,200 dpi and a maximum output of 50 ppm.
• HP LaserJet 5500dtn – a color laser printer with a resolution of 600 dpi and a maximum output of 21 ppm. Available only in Perkins and Lilly libraries.

The printers are identified with an L for laser printer and a number (for example, L67 in Edens). Use this identifier if you need to make out a problem report.

How do I cancel a print job?

Your ePrint job will automatically be cancelled if you have not printed it within 12 hours.

How do I print on both sides of the paper?

Printing on both sides of the paper (duplex printing) is available in all of the public computing labs.  See our page on printing duplex.

Can I print to a lab or quad printer from my residence hall or from home? How?

Yes, you can print to a lab printer or quad printer from your residence hall. To do so, get the ePrint client and instructions from the Site License page and select your computer's operating system. To print from home (e.g., an off-campus network), you will need to be using Duke's VPN client, which is also available from the Site License website.

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