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Clarify lpd(8) for when printcap(5) is read
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Authored by felix.the.red_gmail.com on Jun 25 2025, 2:38 AM.
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Summary

Document the three conditions for printcap(5) to be read.

  • On daemon startup
  • When a new print job is received
  • When receiving a queue control command (lpc disable, enable, stop, etc.)

From the original PR:
It appears to be the case that the print spooler, lpd, re-reads
the /etc/printcap file when changes to that file are made.
This important operational fact is not documented in the lpd(8) man page.

Please revise lpd(8) so as to specify ALL of the times and/or
conditions which will cause lpr to process or reprocess the
current contents of the current /etc/printcap file.

PR:238407

Test Plan

mandoc -Tlint

Diff Detail

Repository
rG FreeBSD src repository
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Event Timeline

usr.sbin/lpr/lpd/lpd.8
319

New sentence, new line.

usr.sbin/lpr/lpd/lpd.8
319

Do we have to restate this in FILES? The files tables are usually kept terse, with descriptions in DESCRIPTION. This information is mostly above, and I think that is a better place for it.

Move printcap(5) read information from FILES to DESCRIPTION.