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Print Server / Print Logs

Posted by lukebianco
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Printers, Copiers, Scanners & Faxes Windows Server

First of all happy new year.


We currently have multiple sites in different Geolocations. Some of these sites do not have a server room and have just a small cabinet with a simple Modem  -> Firewall -> Router -> Wireless Access Point. 

We currently have 1 print server on the main site and every user from different sites use the Windows 2019 Print Server to print. The current issue is that big jobs may take long to process since they have to go from Site A to Site B (print server) and back to Site A to print through vpn tunnels. The reason we are using a print server is to log the prints of each user for budget and control purposes.

Is there a simple way to solve it without installing a print server on each site?

Spice (1) Reply (8)
lukebianco

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8 Replies

  • If you have multi-function copiers/printers/scanners type machines, why not enable account tracking within the machines themselves? Then all you'd have to do monthly (or whatever timeframe you determine) is to access the machine logs (or automate sending) for the account usage and bill accordingly.

    This would alleviate the delay in large print jobs.

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  • What brand of printers do you have? Any HP Enterprise level product has built in accounting capability, which means you will not need capture that information at the server level.

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  • lukebianco​ yes there is.

    From Windows 8 forward, Microsoft has a feature called Branch Office Direct Printing.   Here are the technical details.  

    https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-server-2012-R2-and-2012/jj...

    This is ONLY a Windows solution so if you have Macs printing, they will send the job the whole route.

    The logging of the job will be copied to the Windows PrintService / Operational logs on the print server even though the printing never goes through the server.  

    The status of the patent on the feature is listed as abandon.  https://patents.google.com/patent/US20120127512A1/en  but let me know if you have questions since I am listed as one of the inventors.

    Make sure you are using a Standard TCP/IP port on the print server and that you are not blocking print jobs if they do not originate from the print server.  

    Enable the feature using your favorite tool for managing Print Servers Print Management Console and you can set the rendering mode using PowerShell as well.

    Thanks

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  • This is not a solution if you have over 20 printers and over 500 users.

    randallader wrote:

    If you have multi-function copiers/printers/scanners type machines, why not enable account tracking within the machines themselves? Then all you'd have to do monthly (or whatever timeframe you determine) is to access the machine logs (or automate sending) for the account usage and bill accordingly.

    This would alleviate the delay in large print jobs.

    Let me check  Branch Office Direct Printing. and get back to you :)

    alanmorris wrote:

    lukebianco​ yes there is.

    From Windows 8 forward, Microsoft has a feature called Branch Office Direct Printing.   Here are the technical details.  

    https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-server-2012-R2-and-2012/jj...

    This is ONLY a Windows solution so if you have Macs printing, they will send the job the whole route.

    The logging of the job will be copied to the Windows PrintService / Operational logs on the print server even though the printing never goes through the server.  

    The status of the patent on the feature is listed as abandon.  https://patents.google.com/patent/US20120127512A1/en  but let me know if you have questions since I am listed as one of the inventors.

    Make sure you are using a Standard TCP/IP port on the print server and that you are not blocking print jobs if they do not originate from the print server.  

    Enable the feature using your favorite tool for managing Print Servers Print Management Console and you can set the rendering mode using PowerShell as well.

    Thanks

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  • IT seems  Branch Office Direct Printing. is not the way forward since it loses all Audit trial such as type of print (colour / b&w) and much more.
    Any one has an alternative?
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  • lukebianco wrote:

    This is not a solution if you have over 20 printers and over 500 users.

    I agree that the initial setup would be tedious, but once it's setup, maintaining it should be simple.
    Unless you have a high turnover in users. YMMV of course. Good luck.
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  • I thought we included PrintService / Operational event 805 with that data.

    You are keeping track of the printing using the Operational PrintService events, correct?

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  • lukebianco​  Logging was added on Server 2012R2.  

    https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-server-2012-R2-and-2012/dn...

    Event logging for Branch Office Direct Printing

    Updated

    Printing events are now written to the print server when BODP is enabled for the queue

    Are you not getting these logs from the client systems? 


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