Large Scale Parallel Print Service

1. European Organization for Nuclear Research Geneva - Switzerland Large Scale Parallel Print Service Ivan Deloose - CERN IT Division PC UNIX TCPIP Mac Novell Appletalk

2. Agenda • Some Figures • The Previous Situation • Problems • Project Requirements and Implementations • Server Backend • DNS & Clustering mechanism • CERN Windows Printing Package • Unix Clients • Conclusions

3. Some Figures • 1200 Printers • HP, Apple, QMS, Tektronix, Xerox… • Netports, remote, ... • Protocols • Appletalk, IPX, TCP… • 5000 PCs running Windows 95 and NT • 2500 Unix boxes • 1700 X-terminals

4. Situation before 6/98 Novell Appletalk Appletalk TCP/IP IPX Appletalk TCP/IP Springer IPX TCP/IP Mac PC

5. Major problems • Reliability poor for PC users • connections to the print server lost (mostly IPX) • Multiple servers accessing the same printer creates conflicts • Multiple queues for the same printer (UNIX, PC) makes for unpredictable time estimation • Complex job paths make problem determination difficult • Single Points of Failure • Performance issues

6. Requirements - Implementations • Support both Windows and Unix clients with single protocol • Unique RFC1179 (LPR) protocol chosen • Unify server back-end for Windows and Unix • Single server type : Standard commodity PCs running Linux • No single points of failure • Array of identical back-end servers • Scalable • DNS for dynamic naming resolution • Automated driver + printer installation on Windows clients • CERN Windows Printing Package

7. Initial proposal withintermediate NT servers

8. Final implementation:Single server architecture

9. Server back-end • Array of PC servers • Each server running the Linux OS • LPRng spooler • CAP V198 + DDP Linux module for Appletalk + CERN patches • Powerful set of filters for UNIX clients: papif, CTI-ifhp, qfilter… modified for integration and device support • Accounting, banner programs • Automated kickstart + SUE server installation • Configuration management

10. Server Clustering and DNS

11. Clustering: Recovery

12. CERN Windows Printing Package Windows Client Components Printer Management Tools Applications Printer Wizard LPR Client Service Job Information Printer Database & Driver Repository UNIX queue server cluster Network Printers

13. Package Components • Central Database • Defines all centrally maintained network printers • List of available printer drivers, linked to printer driver repository • Single driver repository • Single entry point for all W9x, WNT4 & 2000printer drivers (no OS installation CDs needed). • Printer Manager • Printer object creation andconfiguration • Add third party drivers

14. Package Components • Printer Wizard : The main application for client printer installation and configuration. • Simple drag & drop to installany centrally supportednetwork printer • Unique version (9x,NT4-5) • Uses local DB copy + automated version update • Dynamic driver & port updatefrom database at startup • Loads printer drivers fromrepository on the server

15. Package Components • Job Info : Printer job information tool. • Returns status about all network and local queues & jobs • Scans ports redirected to Novell, NT & UNIX (LPQ) printer servers • Printer job handling : job(s) deletion • Includes printer setup capabilities : document default settings • Multi-threaded job scanning : UI never blocked

16. Package Components • LPRSERV (LPR client Service) • Gateway between applications and UNIX print servers • Apps jobs to local file • filename = queuename • Job detected & renamed • queuename -> hostnameusing DNS • Job sent to UNIX serverusing LPR protocol • Job History • Appears as single iconduring job transmission

17. Installation and Updates • Installation from • Distribution folder (network share) • FTP Server via Web page • Updates and maintenance • Program package • Automated version check and updatedif needed at every logon • Manual update possible via About dialog • Local database • Automated version check and updatedif needed at every startup of the Printer Wizard. • Non-availability of database server • Package runs using current program and database version • Taskbar icon indication

18. Unix print Clients • From LPRng • Modified to support DNS resolution for print server addressing • -P printername => -P printername@printername.print.cern.ch • Lightweight • no spooling configuration • Backwards compatibility implemented • CERN’s XPRINT adapted

19. Conclusions • Server back-end based on cheap commodity hardware and ‘Open Source’ software (LPRng) • User benefits • No specific CERN configuration required, any visitor can run it • Runs on any Windows PC having TCP/IP installed • No Netware or NT client required • Stability : runs from the local hard disc • Reliability : database server not required to run the package • Supports other preinstalled printer objects (Novell, NT) • Maintenance benefits • Same binary on W9x, NT4 and Windows 2000 (MSI package) • Centralized management for all Windows platforms • Complete package can easily deployed at other laboratories • http://cern.ch/printpackage • General user satisfaction at CERN.

20. Contacts • ivan.deloose@cern.ch • Windows Printing Package • Download and information:http://cern.ch/printpackage • ignacio.reguero@cern.ch • Print Server backend and UNIX clients