Mac printing in detail

Terminology

Below is an overview of the common terminology.

Print queue: There are typically two ways of providing shared multi-system access to a printer:

1. Configure each system to print directly to the device. The device needs to be networkable (e.g. have an Ethernet connection) and support multiple connections.

2. Configure a shared print queue. In this setup, only one system connects directly to the device (e.g. a server) and in turn the device is shared on the network via a print queue. Other systems on the network print to the shared queue rather than directly to the device.

Option 2 is regarded as a better solution on multi-user networks as it provides a higher level of scalability, allows for centralized administration, and allows administrators to move or remap devices without needing to propagate changes to workstations. PaperCut NG/MF requires a shared print queue as it works by intercepting the jobs as they pass through the server's queue.

CUPSCommon User Printing System (CUPS) is a printing system for Unix operating systems that allows a computer to act as a print server. A computer running CUPS is a host that can accept print jobs from client computers, process them, and send them to the appropriate printer.: CUPS is the print queue system used by Mac. This is the same queue system used by many other UNIX based platforms including popular Linux distributions. Apple is a major supporter of CUPS.

IP PrintingIP Printing is a generic term used to describe a number of print protocols that are used to exchange print documents between a computer, a server queue, or a physical printer.: This is a generic term used to describe a number of print protocols that are used to exchange print documents between a computer, a server queue, or a physical printer. (Note: This term is also occasionally used incorrectly to describe the "JetDirect" print protocol discussed below)

IPPThe Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) is an Internet protocol for communication between a print server and its clients. It allows clients to send one or more print jobs to the server and perform administration such as querying the status of a printer, obtaining the status of print jobs, or cancelling individual print jobs. IPP can run locally or over the Internet. Unlike other printing protocols, IPP also supports access control, authentication, and encryption, making it a much more capable and secure printing mechanism than older ones.: This is an acronym for Internet Printing Protocol. This is the "native" print protocol used by CUPS and the Mac. It's a modern protocol designed to work well on modern networks including local networks, or even over the internet or a WAN.

LPRThe Line Printer Remote protocol (LPR) is a network protocol for submitting print jobs to a remote printer. A server for the LPD/LPR protocol listens for requests on TCP port 515. A request begins with a byte containing the request code, followed by the arguments to the request, and is terminated by an ASCII LF character. An LPD printer is identified by the IP address of the server machine and the queue name on that machine. Many different queue names may exist in one LPD server, with each queue having unique settings. The LPR software is installed on the client device.: LPR/LPDThe Line Printer Daemon protocol (LPD) is a network protocol for submitting print jobs to a remote printer. A server for the LPD/LPR protocol listens for requests on TCP port 515. A request begins with a byte containing the request code, followed by the arguments to the request, and is terminated by an ASCII LF character. An LPD printer is identified by the IP address of the server machine and the queue name on that machine. Many different queue names may exist in one LPD server, with each queue having unique settings. The LPD software is stored on the printer or print server. is the traditional UNIX based print protocol.

JetDirect/Socket: This is a very simple print protocol used to transmit print jobs to a physical printer on a TCP network. The printer accepts connections on port 9100. In Windows, this print protocol is often referred to as a Standard TCP/IP Port, and in some cases generally as IP Printing. Almost all network printers support this method.

BonjourBonjour is Apple's implementation of zero-configuration networking (zeroconf), a group of technologies that includes service discovery, address assignment, and hostname resolution. Bonjour locates devices such as printers, other computers, and the services that those devices offer on a local network using multicast Domain Name System (mDNS) service records. Printing: This is not a print protocol, but instead is Apple’s method of publishing printers on a network so workstations can locate the device/queue.

Where possible PaperCut NG/MF works with all print protocols, however, we do recommend some over others. The following set up procedure highlights methods that have shown to work in most environments.

PaperCut’s recommended setup procedure is:

• Install the printers on the server using a compatible driver.

• Test printing from the server.

• Share your printers.

• Set up the workstations to connect to the server's shared print queues.