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<H2>System Overview</H2>

<P>CUPS provides a portable printing layer for UNIX&reg;-based
operating systems. It has been developed by
<A HREF="http://www.easysw.com">Easy Software Products</A> to promote a
standard printing solution for all UNIX vendors and users. CUPS
provides the System V and Berkeley command-line interfaces.

<P>CUPS uses the Internet Printing Protocol ("IPP") as the basis for
managing print jobs and queues. The Line Printer Daemon ("LPD") Server
Message Block ("SMB"), and AppSocket (a.k.a. JetDirect) protocols are
also supported with reduced functionality. CUPS adds network printer
browsing and PostScript Printer Description ("PPD") based
printing options to support real-world printing under UNIX.

<P>CUPS includes an image file RIP that supports printing of
image files to non-PostScript printers.  A customized version of
GNU Ghostscript 7.05 for CUPS called ESP Ghostscript is
available separately to support printing of PostScript files
within the CUPS driver framework.  Sample drivers for Dymo,
EPSON, HP, and OKIDATA printers are included that use these
filters.

<P>Drivers for thousands of printers are provided with our ESP
Print Pro software, available at:

<PRE>
    <A HREF="http://www.easysw.com/printpro/">http://www.easysw.com/printpro/</A>
</PRE>

<P>CUPS is licensed under the GNU General Public License and GNU
Library General Public License.  Please contact Easy Software
Products for commercial support and "binary distribution"
rights.