Remote Site Relay

Distributed printing is a WAN-optimized adaptation of the network printer auto-creation mode (see previous section); it has been specifically designed for organizations with multiple remote/satellite offices interconnected using limited-bandwidth WAN links. An organization with multiple geographically dispersed branch offices, each with one or more local print servers, may employ this mode to allow their branch office users to print from server-based applications hosted at a central location (i.e., Headquarters). Likewise, Application Service Providers (ASP) may employ this same mode to deliver bandwidth-efficient printing capabilities to their customers over private links, the Internet, and VPN connections.

The Remote Site Relay (RSR) extends the capabilities of the network printer auto-creation mode (see previous section) to remote offices, partners, and ASP customers. The advantages of using the RSR include:

• Clientless printing: no Print-IT client software is required on the remote clients. Only the RSR service is required on the remote print servers.
• Bandwidth management: Print-IT print jobs are “throttled” down the WAN link at a pre-set rate (specified in Kbps) to prevent them from consuming all the available bandwidth.
• Size optimization: using techniques such as intelligent/partial font embedding, duplicate image removal, and dynamic compression, Print-IT produces print streams as small as 10 percent the sizes of conventional PCL or Postscript print jobs.

The Remote Site Relay (RSR) mode of printing works as follows (figure 6): the RSR is installed on each remote print server. Using the RSR’s Control Panel applet (figure 7), the remote office administrator specifies the printers that must be made available to the local users when they connect to the centrally hosted applications. Back at the central office, the remote site printers and associated information are imported using the Provision Management Console (PMC) by contacting the RSR at the remote site (figures 8). For each imported printer, a Print-IT printer is then created and shared on a Print-IT print server nearby the Terminal Servers or Citrix Presentation Servers. Finally, the Print-IT printers are assigned to the appropriate clients using the Provision Management Console (PMC), the Citrix Management Console (CMC), or scripted logic (figures 9).

Referring back to figure 6, a scenario is depicted in which the RSR is installed on a branch office print server. At the central office, the Print-IT server software is installed on the Terminal Servers (or Citrix Presentation Servers) and on one or more designated Print-IT print servers. The three printers, HP Color LaserJet 8550 PCL, Xerox DocuTech 120 C/P PS, and HP DeskJet 990C, are imported by contacting the RSR using the PMC. For imported printer, a corresponding Print-IT printer is created on the Print-IT print server, namely, HP Color LaserJet 8550 PCL (NY), Xerox DocuTech 120 C/P PS (NY), and HP DeskJet 990C (NY). Please note that the suffix “(NY)” trailing the printer names is arbitrary and is usually reserved to designate the location of the branch office from which the printers are imported.

Figure 6 – The Print-IT Remote Site Relay (RSR) delivers clientless, bandwidth-efficient printing to remote branch offices, partners, and ASP customers.

Figure 7 – Using the RSR’s Control Panel applet, the remote site administrator specifies the printers that must be made available to the local users when they connect to the centrally hosted applications.

Figure 8 – Remote-site printers are imported, and then auto-created and shared on a Print-IT print server nearby theTerminal Servers or Citrix Presentation Servers.

Figure 9 – Using the Provision Management Console (PMC), remote-site printers are assigned to the appropriate clients.

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