Print Servers
Print server is a server or advice that is used to connect many printers of a network to it. Using the print server any computer on the network can give a print command to the server and the print server will get the job done accordingly. Usually a print server is configured on a computer that is running windows operating system.
The main use of print server is in large offices where many people are giving print commands from their computers simultaneously. A printer by itself that is connected to the network without the print server cannot process too many requests at the same time. If the network has to sue two or more printers then it needs print server to manage the printers. A print server can queue all the requests and execute them one after the other without halting the process or breaking down.
Print Servers Functionality
A print server performs its functions like any other printer on the network. The only difference is that it has the capability of performing multiple tasks at one time. The print server uses the TCP/IP protocol to function and need a simple parallel port to function.
After connecting the printer the printer needs to be added to the print server using the standard TCP/IP port. Then the printer can be configured to share sop that all the computers on the network can use it.
To configure the print server on the network you need to know the IP address and look for it by running a DOS command at the prompt. The IP address has to be configured in the TCP/IP for the print server to work on the network.
Print Server Advantages
• For large offices with more than 100 computers one each floor for example one printer for the entire network may not be sufficient. At the same time having one printer per aisle is not sensible either. To solve this if the office installs a print server which can handle multiple print commands and even fax requests at one single place it is much simpler.
• Troubleshooting the printers is also easier since there is only one print server.
• The print jobs are organized and are less chaotic in an office environment.
• Saves resources like power, and extra cables, printers and network investment.
• Resources can be made accountable especially, paper, ink cartridges and so on in an office environment.
Print Servers Disadvantages
• The main computer or the host computer may slow down on the network if there are too many commands and too much data flow on the printer line.
• Every person in the office has to come to a single point to collect their print outs.
Print Servers Conclusion
Offices are increasingly working towards a paper less office so that they have less to manage and they are depending on hard drives and servers which are web based as storage devices. This makes a lot of sense for modern businesses. Because most of the people are on the move and working, so there fore carrying all their work along with them in the form of papers is a nuisance. It is very important to have a printer in an office network as everything cannot be stored on movable devices. Emails and chats are becoming more common to communicate for information exchange. It has streamlined to the extent that only legal documents and documents that need a signature as proof are being printed in the current ay office environments. A print server’s functionality is decreasing in every day use.
