Print servers are an essential component of any enterprise-level printing infrastructure. They act as a central hub for managing printing tasks and ensuring that print jobs are executed reliably and efficiently. However, as with any critical system, print servers can fail, resulting in downtime and lost productivity. To prevent this, many organizations implement redundant print servers or print server redundancy.

Meaning of Print Server Redundancy #

Redundant print servers refer to the deployment of two or more print servers in a failover configuration.

This means that if one print server fails, the other print server(s) will automatically take over printing duties to ensure that printing operations continue uninterrupted.

This technique is especially important for organizations that rely heavily on printing, such as those in the healthcare, finance, and legal sectors.

How to achieve Print Server redundancy #

Print server redundancy is achieved by implementing a print server load balancer that distributes print jobs across multiple servers in a way that ensures the workload is evenly distributed, such as RELIANOID ADC. This open-source load balancer is designed to provide high availability and redundancy for mission-critical applications and services, including print servers.

When implementing redundant print servers, it is important to ensure that all servers are kept in sync with the latest printer drivers, settings, and configurations. This can be achieved using automated configuration management tools or manual processes.

Redundant Print server Solutions #

There are several types of print servers that can be set up with redundancy and high availability using a load balancer such as RELIANOID. These include:

Windows Print Server #

A Windows Print Server is a server role in the Windows Server operating system that allows multiple users on a network to share printers. It centralizes print management tasks such as installing, configuring, and monitoring printers, as well as managing print jobs and printer queues. Here’s how you can secure it and implement high availability through load balancing:

Authentication and Authorization: Implement strong authentication mechanisms to ensure that only authorized users can access the print server. This typically involves integrating with Active Directory for user authentication. Assign appropriate permissions to users and groups to control who can print to which printers and manage print jobs.

Encryption: Enable encryption protocols such as SSL/TLS to secure print data while it’s being transmitted over the network. This prevents eavesdropping and data interception by unauthorized users.

Firewall Configuration: Configure firewalls to restrict access to the print server from only trusted IP addresses or subnets. This helps to mitigate the risk of unauthorized access from external sources.

Device Security: Regularly update printer firmware and drivers to patch known vulnerabilities. Implement security features such as device authentication to prevent unauthorized access to the printers themselves.

Monitoring and Logging: Enable logging and monitoring mechanisms to track print activities and identify any suspicious behavior. Monitor print queues for excessive print jobs or unusual print activity that may indicate a security breach.

High Availability through Load Balancing:
1. Load Balancer Configuration: Set up a load balancer to distribute print requests evenly across multiple print servers. This ensures efficient utilization of resources and prevents any single print server from becoming overloaded.
2. Cluster Configuration: Configure a print server cluster using technologies such as Windows Failover Clustering. This allows multiple print servers to operate as a single, highly available print service. If one print server fails, the remaining servers in the cluster can automatically take over the workload.
3. Shared Storage: Ensure that print server cluster nodes have access to shared storage where printer drivers, configuration settings, and print queues are stored. This enables seamless failover and ensures consistent print services across all cluster nodes.
4. Health Monitoring: Implement health monitoring for the print server cluster to detect and automatically respond to failures or performance degradation. This may involve setting up alerts and notifications to notify administrators of any issues that require attention.
5. Regular Testing and Maintenance: Regularly test the failover and load balancing capabilities of the print server cluster to ensure that it can effectively handle unexpected failures and fluctuations in print demand. Perform routine maintenance tasks such as software updates and hardware upgrades to keep the cluster running smoothly.

By following these best practices, you can secure a Windows Print Server and ensure high availability through load balancing, thus providing reliable and efficient printing services to users on the network.

Linux CUPS (Common Unix Printing System) #

CUPS, which stands for Common Unix Printing System, is an open-source printing system developed primarily for Unix-like operating systems such as Linux and macOS, although it can also be used on other platforms. It provides a modular printing system that offers a range of features for managing and printing documents across a network. Here’s an explanation of CUPS and how it can be secured and made highly available through load balancing:

Print Server Functionality: CUPS acts as a print server, allowing multiple clients on a network to send print jobs to printers connected to the server. It supports various printer types, including local printers connected via USB or network printers accessed over TCP/IP.

Configuration and Management: CUPS provides tools for configuring and managing printers, print queues, and print jobs. It includes a web-based administration interface (typically accessed via a web browser) that allows administrators to add printers, configure printer options, view print queues, and manage print jobs.

Security Features:
1. Authentication: CUPS supports authentication mechanisms such as Kerberos, LDAP, and basic HTTP authentication, allowing administrators to control access to printer resources.
2. Encryption: It offers support for encryption protocols such as SSL/TLS to secure print data while it’s being transmitted over the network.
3. Access Control Lists (ACLs): Administrators can configure access control lists to restrict which users or groups can access specific printers or perform certain operations (e.g., printing, managing print jobs).
4. Firewall Configuration: Secure CUPS by configuring firewalls to restrict access to the CUPS server from only trusted IP addresses or subnets.

High Availability through Load Balancing:
1. Load Balancer Configuration: Implement a load balancer in front of multiple CUPS servers to distribute print requests evenly across them. This ensures efficient utilization of resources and prevents any single CUPS server from becoming overloaded.
2. Cluster Configuration: Configure a CUPS cluster using technologies such as Pacemaker or Linux-HA to create a highly available print service. Multiple CUPS servers in the cluster operate together, with failover mechanisms in place to ensure continuous printing service in case of server failures.
3. Shared Storage: Ensure that all CUPS cluster nodes have access to shared storage where printer configuration settings and print queues are stored. This facilitates seamless failover and ensures consistent print services across all cluster nodes.
4. Health Monitoring: Implement health monitoring for the CUPS cluster to detect and automatically respond to failures or performance degradation. This may involve setting up alerts and notifications to notify administrators of any issues that require attention.

By implementing these security measures and high availability strategies, CUPS can provide a reliable and secure printing solution for organizations with diverse printing needs across their network infrastructure.

HP JetAdvantage Management Solutions #

HP JetAdvantage Management Solutions is a suite of software and tools developed by HP to help businesses efficiently manage their printing infrastructure. It offers a range of features for monitoring, controlling, securing, and optimizing print environments. Here’s an explanation of HP JetAdvantage Management Solutions and how they can be secured and made highly available through load balancing:

Print Management: HP JetAdvantage Management Solutions provide centralized management of printing devices, including printers, multifunction devices (MFDs), and print queues. Administrators can monitor device status, configure settings, and manage print jobs from a single interface, streamlining print management tasks.

Cost Control: The solutions offer features for tracking printing costs and usage, enabling organizations to implement cost-saving measures such as quota management, user authentication, and rules-based printing. This helps businesses optimize their printing budgets and reduce unnecessary printing expenses.

Security Features:
1. Authentication and Access Control: HP JetAdvantage Management Solutions support user authentication mechanisms such as LDAP integration, PIN authentication, and proximity card authentication. Administrators can enforce access controls to ensure that only authorized users can access printing devices and sensitive documents.
2. Encryption: Secure print data with encryption protocols such as SSL/TLS to prevent unauthorized access or interception of print jobs while they’re being transmitted over the network.
3. Secure Print Release: Implement secure print release mechanisms that require users to authenticate themselves at the printer before their print jobs are released, reducing the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive documents.
4. Device Hardening: Regularly update printer firmware and configure security settings to protect against known vulnerabilities. HP JetAdvantage Management Solutions offer features for remotely deploying firmware updates and enforcing security policies across printing devices.

High Availability through Load Balancing:
1. Load Balancer Integration: Implement a load balancer in front of multiple HP JetAdvantage Management Solutions servers to distribute client requests evenly across them. This helps ensure efficient utilization of resources and prevents any single server from becoming overloaded.
2. Redundancy and Failover: Configure redundant HP JetAdvantage Management Solutions servers in a high-availability configuration to provide fault tolerance and continuous service availability. Use technologies such as clustering or active-passive failover to automatically redirect client requests to healthy servers in case of server failures.
3. Shared Storage: Ensure that all HP JetAdvantage Management Solutions servers have access to shared storage where configuration settings, user data, and print job queues are stored. This facilitates seamless failover and ensures data consistency across all servers in the cluster.
4. Health Monitoring: Implement health monitoring and alerting mechanisms to detect and respond to server failures or performance degradation proactively. Monitor server metrics such as CPU utilization, memory usage, and network throughput to identify potential issues before they impact service availability.

By leveraging these security features and high availability strategies, organizations can effectively manage and secure their printing infrastructure with HP JetAdvantage Management Solutions while ensuring continuous service availability and optimal performance through load balancing.

PaperCut MF #

PaperCut MF is a print management solution designed to help organizations monitor, control, and manage their printing environment. It offers a range of features aimed at reducing printing costs, improving document security, and promoting sustainable printing practices. Here’s an explanation of PaperCut MF and how it can be secured and made highly available through load balancing:

Print Management Features: PaperCut MF provides centralized management of printing devices, print queues, and print jobs. Administrators can monitor printer usage, track printing costs, and implement print policies to control access and enforce rules-based printing.

Cost Control: PaperCut MF helps organizations reduce printing costs by implementing features such as user quotas, job charging, and cost allocation. Administrators can set printing quotas for users or departments, allocate printing costs to specific projects or clients, and implement rules to encourage more efficient printing practices.

Security Features:
1. Authentication and Access Control: PaperCut MF supports various authentication methods such as username/password, card authentication, and single sign-on (SSO). Administrators can enforce access controls to ensure that only authorized users can access printing devices and release print jobs.
2. Secure Print Release: Implement secure print release mechanisms that require users to authenticate themselves at the printer before their print jobs are released. This helps prevent sensitive documents from being accessed by unauthorized users.
3. Encryption: Secure print data with encryption protocols such as SSL/TLS to protect print jobs while they’re being transmitted over the network. This prevents eavesdropping and data interception by unauthorized users.

High Availability through Load Balancing:
1. Load Balancer Integration: Implement a load balancer in front of multiple PaperCut MF servers to distribute client requests evenly across them. This ensures efficient utilization of resources and prevents any single server from becoming overloaded.
2. Redundancy and Failover: Configure redundant PaperCut MF servers in a high-availability configuration to provide fault tolerance and continuous service availability. Use technologies such as clustering or active-passive failover to automatically redirect client requests to healthy servers in case of server failures.
3. Shared Storage: Ensure that all PaperCut MF servers have access to shared storage where configuration settings, user data, and print job queues are stored. This facilitates seamless failover and ensures data consistency across all servers in the cluster.
4. Health Monitoring: Implement health monitoring and alerting mechanisms to detect and respond to server failures or performance degradation proactively. Monitor server metrics such as CPU utilization, memory usage, and network throughput to identify potential issues before they impact service availability.

By leveraging these security features and high availability strategies, organizations can effectively manage and secure their printing environment with PaperCut MF while ensuring continuous service availability and optimal performance through load balancing.

Other redundant Print Server Solutions #

Other solutions for print server redundancy are PrinterLogic, ThinPrint, EFI Fiery Servers, Ricoh Streamline NX, Lexmark Print Management, Brother BRAdmin Professional among others. Just ensure to deploy a professional print server load balancer, such as RELIANOID Load Balancer, in your infrastructure.

Conclusion #

Redundant print servers are a critical component of any enterprise-level printing infrastructure. They ensure that printing operations continue uninterrupted in the event of a failure, minimizing downtime and maximizing productivity. By implementing a print server load balancer such as RELIANOID Load Balancer, organizations can achieve high availability and redundancy for their print servers, ensuring that printing operations are always running smoothly.