1.2 iPrint Component Overview
iPrint consists of three main components: the Print Manager, the Driver Store, and the iPrint Client. Other supporting components include the Apache Web Server, iManager, and eDirectory.
Figure 1-1 iPrint Component Overview
1.2.1 Print Manager
The Print Manager, which is an object in the eDirectory tree as well as software that runs on an OES server, provides a platform for Printer Agents on the server. As print jobs are submitted to the Print Manager, the print job is forwarded to a printer when the printer is ready.
A single Print Manager can handle print jobs for multiple printers. Depending on your network configuration (for example, remote locations), you can create additional Print Managers on other servers, but only one Print Manager can exist on any one server. The Print Manager user access control allow authorized users to print.
Figure 1-2 Workflow through a Print Manager
Printer Agent: The Printer Agent is an entry in the Print Manager database that represents the physical printer. When you create a printer, a Printer Agent is created in the Print Manager’s database and a Printer object is added to eDirectory. The Printer Agent manages the processing of print jobs; answers queries from network clients about a print job or attributes of a printer; and provides SNMP information that is displayed in the Print Manager Health Monitor.
IPP server: The IPP server’s main function is to handle IPP requests from the Web server and deliver the requests to the Print Manager or to the Broker.
iPrint Gateway: The gateway maintains communication with the printers. When a printer is ready, the gateway requests print jobs from the Print Manager for the printer. The print jobs are sent to the printer through LPR and the TCP/IP protocol.The gateway also uses SNMP to query printers to get their status and other printer information.
1.2.3 iPrint Client
The iPrint Client is available on the following platforms:
Windows iPrint Client
The Windows iPrint Client lets you install iPrint printers and configure iPrint on your workstation. It includes the following components:
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Print Provider: The iPrint Print Provider communicates directly with the Windows spooler, which takes print jobs from applications and delivers them to a print provider. Upon startup, the iPrint Client ensures that the iPrint Print Provider is the first one in the list of providers. When a print job is intended for an iPrint printer, the iPrint Print Provider delivers the print job to the Print Manager.
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Browser plug-in: The iPrint Client contains a browser plug-in for Mozilla-based browsers and Internet Explorer. The IE plug-in is an OCX-based plug-in that lets you install printers through your IE browser.
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Client configuration: Through the iPrint Client configuration screen, you can take advantage of several advanced client features. For more information on each of these features, see the associated documentation. These features include the following:
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Command line utilities: The iPrint MS-DOS commands let you install iPrint printers without a Web browser and capture LPT ports to iPrint printers. These commands are useful when you have legacy applications that require output to an LPT port, or when you want to add printers through a login script.
For more information, see Section 4.5.4, Implementing iPrint by Using the Command Line.
For more information, including client requirements, see Section 4.1.3, Windows: iPrint Client.
Macintosh iPrint Client
The Macintosh iPrint Client contains a browser plug-in for the Safari Web browser that lets you install printers through your Web browser. For more information, see Section A.1, iPrint Client Supported Browsers.
The client integrates with CUPS and uses the CUPS local spooler to send print jobs to the Print Manager.
For more information, including client requirements, see Section 4.1.2, Macintosh: iPrint Client.
Linux iPrint Client
This client lets Linux workstations install iPrint clients. It includes the following components:
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Browser plug-in: The iPrint Client contains a browser plug-in for Mozilla-based browsers. This plug-in lets you install printers through your Web browser.
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Console utility: The Linux iPrint Client includes the iprntcmd utility that lets you install printers, print test pages, and upload drivers to a driver store from a console prompt. For more information, see Section 4.6, Using iprntcmd on Linux and Macintosh.
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CUPS Integrator: The client integrates with the CUPS (Common UNIX Printing System) software and uses the CUPS local spooler to send print jobs to the Print Manager.
For more information, including client requirements, see Section 4.1.1, Linux: iPrint Client.
1.2.4 iManager
You use iManager to create, configure, and manage your iPrint system. For complete management, including, uploading printer drivers and PostScript Printer Description (PPD) files, you must access iManager from a workstation on which the iPrint Client is installed. For more information, about iPrint tasks in iManager, see Section 3.0, Installing and Setting Up iPrint on Your Server and Section 9.0, Managing Your Print System. For more information about iManager, see the NetIQ® iManager Administration Guide.
Figure 1-3 iManager Web Interface
