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 lpr(8) man page, even though the man page is explicit in noting that the /etc/printcap file is read by lpd at startup time. The lpr(8) man page should be revised 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.
(In reply to Ronald F. Guilmette from comment #0) I am a bit confused, as your talking about both lpr and lpd and it sounds as if your asking for lpd behavior to be documented in the lpr man page, which I do not think is desirable. This may also purely be a typographical mistake.
(In reply to Rodney W. Grimes from comment #1) Sorry. Yes. That was just a very unfortunate typo... or more accurately, two of them. The man page at issue here is the lpd(8) one. My bad.
Created attachment 228073 [details] lpd(8) patch Document when lpd re-reads the printcap file.