Axis Communications AXIS 5550, Network Print Servers, AXIS 5500 Print Methods on TCP/IP Networks

Adding Printers in UNIX/Linux

Print Methods on TCP/IP Networks

The AXIS 5500/AXIS 5550 supports several different print methods in the TCP/IP environment. axinstall will suggest a print method suitable for your particular UNIX/Linux system, but you might want to use another method depending on your printing requirements (banner pages, status logging, etc).

The diagram below shows the alternative data paths taken by some of the UNIX/Linux print methods. This illustrates some of the advantages and limitations of the different methods. Use the following information to determine which method to adopt.

File to	Print		Devices	Directly
	Spooler			connected
Print		Filter/
				printer
			Parallel Port
		Interface
		Model
			Named Pipe
DIRECT		LPD FTP
FTP		RTELNET PROS B	PROS print
RTELNET			daemon
	Printer		PROS A
		Axis Network Print Server

Illustration of different UNIX/Linux print methods

LPD The Line Printer Daemon is a protocol for transferring print jobs between hosts. This is the recommended method for UNIX/Linux systems, but some System V versions do not support LPD.

Advantages:

Easy to set up — install the AXIS 5500/AXIS 5550 as a remote queue in System V, or add a remote printer to /etc/printcap using the rm and rp fields (BSD).

Limitations:

Spooler features, and printcap or lpr options (BSD) such as multiple copies, are not available.

FTP The File Transfer Protocol is used for transferring files between hosts.

Advantages:

Uses industry standard network software on the host.

Limitations:

No printer status logging. In the case of BSD it may conflict with other input or output filters and does not allow both input and output filters. In System V no filters or interface programs can be used.

80 AXIS 5500 / AXIS 5550 User’s Manual