Sharing printers in a network printing environment requires a print server. A print server is the hardware or software that is responsible for sending the jobs from multiple clients to a printer in the right order and at the right time.

To be effective in today’s network printing environments, print servers must be able to accept print requests from multiple platforms (for example, AS/400®, Windows®-based PCs, UNIX, Linux, Mac®, and so on) independent of whether a client is local or remote, using TCP/IP or LAN/WAN.

A capable, flexible print server is the key to running an efficient network printing environment.

Software or Hardware Print Servers

The question needs to be asked before pursuing a new print server solution; do I want to buy hardware or software? We always recommend going the software route. Whenever possible, stay away from buying new hardware vs. software.

Hardware print servers will add extra maintenance and costs and most hardware print servers are hard to upgrade in comparison to a software print server. Software is more economical, offers more features, and provides more upgradeability than any other hardware print server. Plus there are not shipping requirements, added space needed, or “return nightmares” through the mail.

What are you trying to accomplish?

RPM Print Server Software installs on ANY Windows PC, server or client. Once RPM is installed, the PC can be used as a print server and can perform many print server type tasks. RPM print server can receive files from ANY host system (UNIX, AS400, Windows, AIX, Linux, and more), printing them to your local or networked printers, or print to file. Print Server software usually includes more features than hardware print servers such as Insert & Append Bytes, Remove PCL Codes, Convert LF to CRLF, Character translations, ASA Carriage Control, EBCDIC to ASCII Conversion, Convert SCS to ASCII, and the list goes on.

Affordable Software Solutions

The best thing about a software Print Server solution is you can easily download a trial copy, install, set it up, and purchase. The key is the ability to test the print server software when needed, not having to wait for someone to ship hardware to you. Most software solutions can do anything the hardware counterpart can do, usually for half the price. RPM Print Server software can be downloaded and tested for 21 days free! There are no commitments or purchasing hardware. Download RPM and try it for FREE. If you have questions, contact tech support and they will have you up and running in minutes! RPM is extremely affordable and backed by excellent personalized tech support.

Print Queues

Print queues have long been the key to stable UNIX printing environments and at the heart of network printing. Print queues are simply places for print jobs to line up and wait to be printed, either to a network printer or to a folder. This type of repository allows multiple users to send jobs to the same printer without conflict: the jobs enter the queue and wait their turn to be printed or archived. Read more about print queues and their functions, or learn more about the scenarios where software print servers can provide solutions.