Client printer auto-creation

In this mode, client-side printers are auto-created for each user session on the server during logon. For each client printer, Print-IT auto-creates and configures a server-side printer using the Print-IT driver and having the same device capabilities (aka. printer features) as the client printer (figure 1). Device capabilities include, to name a few, the supported bins, paper sizes, margins, print quality, color, duplex, fonts, max copies, and much more).

Print-IT enables the administrator to specify what types of client printers to auto-create. The client’s local printers, the network printer connections, only the default printer, or all the printers and printer connections may be auto-created. If so desired, the user may be allowed to choose which printers and printer connections to be auto-created (figure 2).

The administrator may also configure several preferences and performance parameters including the printer naming convention, print bandwidth upper limit, compression options, and more.

Client printer auto-creation relies on a custom virtual channel driver to transfer the print job from the server to the client. This mode of operation requires that the Print-IT client software be installed on the client computers. Currently, only Windows clients (i.e., 9x/Me, NT/W2K/XP) are supported, but support for MAC, Linux, and Java will soon become available as well.

Figure 1 illustrates a scenario in which client-side printing is enabled using Print-IT. The ICA or RDP client software is installed on the client PC alongside the Print-IT client software. During logon, the client printers and their associated capabilities are enumerated and sent to the server. The server then auto-creates the Print-IT client printers and configures each one to mimic the capabilities of the manufacturer-specific driver.

Figure 1 – Print-IT auto-creates a distinct server-side printer for each client-side printer.

Figure 2 – The administrator may specify what types of printers to auto-create or allow the user to make this decision.

Next: Network Printer Auto-Creation