How to print from the ESX 3 host?

[coafark]

I"m new to Linux/ESX, so maybe I'm going by this all wrong so toss some suggestions if you can

I'm building out some ESX servers 3.0.2 with VI 2.0.2 to spread through out the State. I already set up e-mail on them so that they email me when they reboot, backup etc. I would like to send some things to an HP printer (LaserJet 4050TN). I can't find any documentation on how to do this from the HOST/bash via an *.SH script. One thing would be the vmksummary.html file that I found on the ESX host (anything else cool out there you guys can think of)??? Having this automatically print out monthly would be nice.

If I can't print, I can always send them as attachments via e-mail, but would rather print them and other things out.

The printers we have all have built in Jet Direct cards (we print via IP here). If I have to, I can share the printer from an XP box I leave logged on 24/7.

[TWashington]

I'm also trying to do this and have not had any luck in finding any information on it. I was going to post something here and seen your request. Hopefully someone will be able to help here.

[coafark]

Guess not.

Have you figured out a way to do this yet?

[admin]

If your Jet Direct support SNMP printing you could use that, or you could download and install RHEL3 CUPS (.rpm) on your ESX service console, although really I would have to advise against this for security reasons.

[oreeh]

The required print spooler and supporting files are not part of ESX...

[TomHowarth]

Why would you want to do this, of you require regular print outs of log files, why not have the relavant files SCP'd to a central site via a bash script. and use the proper tool to print them out. this would reduce the requirement to add additional services on your ESX servers

Tom Howarth

VMware Communities User Moderator

[coafark]

Tom my bad.  I just found this post that I had worked up an answer from from something you suggested so I necro'd it so I could give you credit for helping me.

I took your idea of bashing (scp) the files from my server and e-mailed them instead.  This way, I have a good backup (don't we all use email as a file system to back things up in haha) and easily can print them.

I've since moved from ESX 3 to ESX 4.1 and still do this.  Especially monthly for the vmksummary.html file and a Health Check script that I found in these forums.