I would like to run a Virtual Print Server for Solaris, Windows, Linux and Mac
clients.
Currently our Windows and Mac clients print directly to the network printers
and we have no control over the print jobs that are submitted.
The plan is to move all of our printers to a new VLAN that the clients cannot
connect to. The clients will be forced to print thru the Virtual Print Server.
Our printing environment includes:
Xerox 90 ppm network copier/printers with professional finishers that
can collate, staple, trifold and bookletfold. Available media include
Letter, Letterhead, Bond, Punched, A4 and 11x17.
Several 26 ppm convenience printers for small simplex or duplex jobs.
Color printer with transparencies and color paper.
The requirements for the Virtual Print Server are:
Count pages and redirect or reject the job if a page limit is exceeded.
Redirect jobs if needed (for example an A4 document should be redirected
to a printer with A4 media regardless of which printer it was sent to).
Check the size in bytes of each document and reject the job if it is too large.
Pass options: simplex, duplex, staple, fold, number of copies, media selection.
Convert different formats to PS (for example PDF to PS).
Log usage details including user, source, destination printer, copies, total
pages, size in bytes, document type and filename.
Currently we have a custom solution for Solaris and Linux. We use a
script that meets the requirements described above. The script then calls
lp with the correct options and the job is sent to a Solaris print server
running CentreWare. However we do not have a solution for Windows or MacOS.
We are looking to redesign our entire printing architecture without using
CentreWare. Here are some questions:
1. Is there a commercial or open source solution that would meet our
requirements ? (probably not).
2. Should our Virtual Print Server run on Solaris or Linux?
3. Should we use the CUPS or the LP print service on Solaris?
(sounds like CUPS is going to be the preferred print service).
4. In order to support the Windows clients, should I use Samba on top
of our Virtual Print Server? Or should the Windows clients print
directly to the Virtual Print Server?
5. Should the Macs use CUPS or Samba for printing?
6. Is there a way to force anonymous print users to identify themselves?
For example, a user printing from a Windows laptop can currently not
be identified.
Thanks.
Edgar
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