Print monitoring architecture
This section covers PaperCut NG/MF print monitoring architecture from a technical perspective.
PaperCut NG/MF is designed using the latest software design principles. An important design principle used is Service Oriented Architecture (SOA). PaperCut NG/MF divides key operational areas into components. These components communicate using an XML Web Services standard. Two of the main services are:
| Service/Component | Description |
|---|---|
| The Application ServerAn Application Server is the primary server program responsible for providing the PaperCut user interface, storing data, and providing services to users. PaperCut uses the Application Server to manage user and account information, manage printers, calculate print costs, provide a web browser interface to administrators and end users, and much more. | The central logic service responsible calculating user costs and providing the web and Admin web interface. |
| Print ProviderA Print Provider is a monitoring service installed on a secondary print server to allow PaperCut to control and track printers. This monitoring component intercepts the local printing and reports the use back to the primary Application Server. Service | A service responsible for monitoring and analyzing print jobs and reporting this information using XML Web Services to the Application Server. |
In a single server setup, you do not need to be concerned with the two components as they automatically act as one (it's only noticeable in that two processes are running on the server). On a multi-server/system environment a deeper understanding of the architecture is required.