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Printing at CERN

Printing at CERN. Novell. TCPIP. UNIX. Appletalk. Mac. PC. IPX. Ivan DELOOSE CERN PS Division HEP-NT 4/12/98. Situation before 6/98. Novell. Appletalk. Appletalk. TCP/IP. IPX. Appletalk. TCP/IP. Springer. IPX. TCP/IP. Mac. PC. Major problems.

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Printing at CERN

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  1. Printing at CERN Novell TCPIP UNIX Appletalk Mac PC IPX Ivan DELOOSE CERN PS Division HEP-NT 4/12/98

  2. Situation before 6/98 Novell Appletalk Appletalk TCP/IP IPX Appletalk TCP/IP Springer IPX TCP/IP Mac PC

  3. Major problems • Reliability poor due to some users being disconnected from the print server. • Multiple servers accessing the same printer creates conflicts. (Novell, UNIX, Mac) • Multiple queues for the same printer (UNIX, PC) makes for unpredictable time estimation. • Complex job paths make problem determination difficult and therefore user support complexity.

  4. Single architecture withintermediate NT servers

  5. Single architectureDirect LPR

  6. Why direct LPR from PC clients ? • Single server type environment (UNIX) • maintenance issues • no intermediate NT servers required • Single printer queues • better job visibility for the user • no simultaneous printer access • No permanent attachments required

  7. Printing Architecture Components

  8. Printing architecture blocks • Printer Database • Printer Manager • PC Client Utilities • Printer Wizard • LPR Service • Print Server Environment

  9. Printer Database • MSAccess : availability & easiness • Table of available printer models (drivers) • Standard MS W95/NT drivers (NTPRINT.INF for NT) • Third party added with the Printer Manager (OEM…) • Automatically generated from the .inf files

  10. Printer Database • Defines all CERN supported network printers • Printer name = Queue name • Win95 & NT Driver name + default settings (bin file) • Printer & Queue Server name

  11. Printer Database • Server table • system supports following server types : • NETWARE (phasing out) • Queue server only, Printer object on client • NT (not used at CERN) • Queue & Printer object servers • UNIX • Queue server only, Printer object on client • Queue server name resolved via DNS

  12. DNS host resolution

  13. Printer Database • PrinterTypes table • Used for client filtering facilities

  14. Printer Manager • Add third party printer drivers • Automated procedure

  15. Printer Manager (add driver) • Result & driver repository

  16. Printer Manager • Printer object & queue management • Database entry

  17. Printer Manager • Printer object & queue management (cont’d) • Automated queue management • Netware • Queue creation or deletion in NDS • NT • ‘PrintSync’ tool running permanently on NT printer server • Checks printer objects with database • Printer object & queue creation • Third party drivers must be beforehand installed with Printer Manager • UNIX (not yet implemented) • Remote printcap & filter configuration from MSAccess database

  18. NICE Printer Wizard • Standard W95 & WNT application for client printer installation, configuration and monitoring

  19. NICE Printer Wizard • User interface developed under Visual Basic • Printer & queue access written in C++ (DLL) • Polling mechanism replaced by multi threaded printer data enumeration & job information • Overwrites printer ACL (NT only) to public using the Impersonate mechanism • Supports ports redirected to Novell, UNIX & NT printer servers • Dynamic driver & port update from database at startup

  20. NICE Printer Wizard • LPQ & LPRM integrated in JobInfo window • Common W95 & NT version (VB EXE & DLL)

  21. PC Client Utilities • LPRSERV (LPR client Service) • Gateway between local jobs and UNIX print servers • Apps jobs to local file • filename = queuename • Job detected & renamed • queuename -> hostnameusing DNS • Job sent to UNIX serverusing LPR protocol • Started at logon • Common W95 & NT version

  22. UNIX Printer Servers • Current status • 600/1100 queues on PRINT1 (120/month) • Pbms with old printers to find UNIX filters • PRINT2 spare server, identical to PRINT1 • Planning for 1999 • All queues spread on 2 servers (PRINT 1-2), except IPX only printers • 1 new spare machine • Automated server setup procedure from data stored in the Access Printer Database ? • All servers identical -> clustering via DNS

  23. Future Client Plans ? • Standard Printer Wizard package for non-NICE users (e.g. visitors) • Improve Printer Wizard performances • LPRSERVice merged with PW DLL • Unique service (PWSERV) for all printing interactions • PW just simple front end • Separated JobInfo applications (VB or Java ?) • LPQ via data subscription in UNIX server • Driver update of installed printers at logon • New service (PWSERV) will include a server module for remote printer control (diagonistics, installation) -> Remote Printer Wizard

  24. Printer Manager & Wizard Demo

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