2.3. Network Mounted File System and Spool Directories

WarningIt is strongly recommended that the print spool directories and essential printer configuration file files should NOT be in an NFS mounted file system or on a file system which is NFS exported.

The LPRng lpd print server makes heavy use of file locking to coordinate and synchronize process activities. Given the historical and ongoing problems of file locking on and NFS mounted file system, not to mention the high overhead for doing file locking in a distributed environment, it is strongly recommended that spool directories NOT be on an NFS mounted partition or on a partition that is NFS exported.

This warning extends to other network file systems as well.

In addition, the configuration file such as /etc/printcap must be available or printing will not function. Care should be taken to ensure that these files are stable and available at all times.