Thread: How to: Poor Labs' Pay to Print System

this first how to. feel free suggest improvements, offered as-is, no warranty intended or implied, etc etc. hope useful resource!

use linux, room setup , program policy make poor labs' pay print system

impetus: the public computer lab work exists on shoe-string budget of less $11,000. previous print setup publicly-accessible. print @ time directly of program's available printers. printing setup in lab subject excessive problems , relatively large hole money, time , other program resources. however, program not able acquire assistance purchase expensive, proprietary "pay print" system.

question remains: reduce , recover printing costs? had take multi-pronged approach:

1. move printers away direct public access, behind administrative area, accessible program staff.
2. dedicate printer (or two) scratch paper, , collect scratch paper (clean on 1 side; no wrinkles, tears or folds; no personal, private or confidential information) main office , nearby organizations or agencies. many places happy set aside unused single-sided printouts scratch paper.
3. make paying print jobs mandatory
4. incentivize scratch paper use making less expensive (we charge 5 cents vs 10 cents new paper printouts)
5. we got rid of color printing -- if needs color or high quality graphics need take job professional print service.
6. setup linux computer print server directly shares 1 printer
7. setup lab computers print print server default, allow staff option of cancelling job or moving different printer
8. the lock box people put donations , program service payments in same location lab users go pick printouts.

supplies needed:

• two old monochrome laser printers in decent, reliable working order, capable of using generic pcl drivers
  
  • one needs network-capable, either build-in print server or external print server (e.g., jetdirect)
• an computer system use lab monitor's computer , print server, remain on , ready long lab open
• a clear print policy , set of guidelines , instructions lab users , volunteers (see attached)
  
  • page 1. new print policy , procedures lab users print using new paper or scratch paper in computer lab.
  • page 2. new lab monitor procedures , responsibilities. follow these directions.

description: computer lab print clients connected 1 printer via print server, set hold jobs indefinitely. client computer uses generic pcl 5 driver compatibility, , server passes job through either releasing job default printer (e.g., new paper) or moving secondary (e.g., scratch paper) printer, both of use generic raw print queue driver transparent.

setup details

printers in computer lab set through linux-powered print server. printers dedicated either scratch paper or new paper, , labled such following how set , install printers via linux print server, , on linux, mac , windows clients:

print server (using linux mint 11)

1. setup computer use manual ip address. in case, computer uses 10.1.10.72
2. connect , install 1 printer print server using serial parallel port or usb. install printer normal. make sure printer not shared.
3. connect second computer printer via own network print server: new printer, network printer, enter ip address of print server. make sure printer not shared.
   
   • note: may need manually change correct driver after installation. if outdated printers, need use pcl instead of postscript drivers. hp laserjets, recommend generic pcl 5e driver consistency , simplicity.
4. once local printers set up, ready print directly print server. use “test page” function of printer setup process verify working correctly installed.
5. now need recreate these same printers, instead,
   
   • use “local raw printer” driver. allows server pass print jobs gets client computers through directly printer
   • rename printer “new-paper-raw” or “scratch-paper-raw” respectively, depending on type of paper use. printer name serves queue, needed install printers on client computers. keeping queues , ip addresses consistent means can theoretically change printers connected server without worrying having update client computers.
   • under ‘job options,’ make sure printer setup “hold indefinitely” default. gives lab monitors ability choose whether, when , printer release print job.
6. you should have 4 printers installed: 2 function directly printer server, , 2 printer server use.
7. now configure firefox launch on startup, full screen, localhost:631/jobs home page. here, volunteers can click "jobs" tab refresh list when has printed, , learn whether send scratch paper or new paper printer, , how printout costs.

it's not perfect -- more ideally, there non-web gui front end autorefreshes , monitors print queues, 1 not exist yet. news, though: on way.

linux client setup

1. add new network printer, search 10.1.10.72 host, choose "new-paper-raw" queue
2. finish, no test print
3. change driver > generic make (top of list) > pcl 5e foomatic ljet4
4. set default printer

mac client setup

1. add new printer using ipp; host: 10.1.10.72:631; queue: /printers/new-paper-raw
2. choose driver: generic pcl 5e gutenprint
3. use print name new-paper-raw (this more consistency’s sake)
4. set default printer

windows (xp) client setup

1. install hp univeresal print driver (available hp website). add printer dialogue should pop automatically.
2. add new “network printer” (2nd option) select "connect via url" (3rd option)
3. use following url: http://10.1.10.72:631/printers/new-paper-raw
4. driver: choose "have disk." installer step #1 above automatically unpacked software , made available via dropdown menu.
5. select hp universal pcl5 package, choose universal printing 5 driver
6. set default printer, logout, , login other accounts , set new printer default

attached files

• print_policy.pdf (77.7 kb, 3 views)

since writing this, we've revised our printer setup, has multi-tray printer handling both scratch , new paper, backup printer, , color laser printer.

we've since learned don't need additional raw printer on server, halves number of printers installed on server. accomplished outsourcing printer selection , paper type participant: select either scratch paper or new paper or color printing (or backup printer if necessary) , lab volunteer needs release or cancel print job.

updated setup eliminates technical problem of transferring print job between potentially-incompatible devices. new setup details , corresponding print policies , volunteer staff procedures attached.

pg 1 (7) instructions program participants
pg 2 (20) instructions program volunteers
pg 3-4 (38-39) technical setup , install notes system has scratch paper, new paper, color , backup printing on linux, mac , windows clients.

basic idea print jobs routed through second computer – print server – volunteer staff approve or cancel.

attached files

• printing - setup_policy_procedures.pdf (114.7 kb, 8 views)

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