Large Scale Parallel Print Service Ivan Deloose

1
Large Scale Parallel Print ServiceIvan Deloose
David Foster Ignacio Reguero
European Organization for Nuclear Research Geneva
- Switzerland

• CHEP 2000 8 February 2000 Padova (I)
  Presented byIvan Deloose - CERN IT Division

PC
UNIX
TCPIP
Mac
Novell
Appletalk
2
Agenda

• Some Figures
• The Previous Situation
• Problems
• Project Requirements and Implementations
• Server Backend
• DNS Clustering mechanism
• CERN Windows Printing Package
• Unix Clients
• Conclusions

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Some Figures

• 1200 Printers
• HP, Apple, QMS, Tektronix, Xerox
• Netports, remote, ...
• Protocols
• Appletalk, IPX, TCP
• 5000 PCs running Windows 95 and NT
• 2500 Unix boxes
• 1700 X-terminals

4
Situation before 6/98
Novell
Appletalk
Appletalk
TCP/IP
IPX
Appletalk
TCP/IP
Springer
IPX
TCP/IP
Mac
PC
5
Major problems

• Reliability poor for PC users
• connections to the print server lost (mostly IPX)
• Multiple servers accessing the same printer
  creates conflicts
• Multiple queues for the same printer (UNIX, PC)
  makes for unpredictable time estimation
• Complex job paths make problem determination
  difficult
• Single Points of Failure
• Performance issues

6
Requirements - Implementations

• Support both Windows and Unix clients with single
  protocol
• Unique RFC1179 (LPR) protocol chosen
• Unify server back-end for Windows and Unix
• Single server type Standard commodity PCs
  running Linux
• No single points of failure
• Array of identical back-end servers
• Scalable
• DNS for dynamic naming resolution
• Automated driver printer installation on
  Windows clients
• CERN Windows Printing Package

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Initial proposal withintermediate NT servers
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Final implementationSingle server architecture
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Server back-end

• Array of PC servers
• Each server running the Linux OS
• LPRng spooler
• CAP V198 DDP Linux module for Appletalk CERN
  patches
• Powerful set of filters for UNIX clients papif,
  CTI-ifhp, qfilter modified for integration and
  device support
• Accounting, banner programs
• Automated kickstart SUE server installation
• Configuration management

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Server Clustering and DNS
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Clustering Recovery
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CERN Windows Printing Package
Windows Client Components
Printer Management Tools
Applications
Printer Wizard
LPR Client Service
Job Information
Printer Database Driver Repository
UNIX queue server cluster
Network Printers
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Package Components

• Central Database
• Defines all centrally maintained network printers
• List of available printer drivers, linked to
  printer driver repository
• Single driver repository
• Single entry point for all W9x, WNT4
  2000printer drivers (no OS installation CDs
  needed).
• Printer Manager
• Printer object creation andconfiguration
• Add third party drivers

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Package Components

• Printer Wizard The main application for client
  printer installation and configuration.
• Simple drag drop to installany centrally
  supportednetwork printer
• Unique version (9x,NT4-5)
• Uses local DB copy automated version update
• Dynamic driver port updatefrom database at
  startup
• Loads printer drivers fromrepository on the
  server

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Package Components

• Job Info Printer job information tool.
• Returns status about all network and local queues
  jobs
• Scans ports redirected to Novell, NT UNIX (LPQ)
  printer servers
• Printer job handling job(s) deletion
• Includes printer setup capabilities document
  default settings
• Multi-threaded job scanning UI never blocked

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Package Components

• LPRSERV (LPR client Service)
• Gateway between applications and UNIX print
  servers
• Apps jobs to local file
• filename queuename
• Job detected renamed
• queuename -gt hostnameusing DNS
• Job sent to UNIX serverusing LPR protocol
• Job History
• Appears as single iconduring job transmission

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Installation and Updates

• Installation from
• Distribution folder (network share)
• FTP Server via Web page
• Updates and maintenance
• Program package
• Automated version check and updatedif needed at
  every logon
• Manual update possible via About dialog
• Local database
• Automated version check and updatedif needed at
  every startup of the Printer Wizard.
• Non-availability of database server
• Package runs using current program and database
  version
• Taskbar icon indication

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Unix print Clients

• From LPRng
• Modified to support DNS resolution for print
  server addressing
• -P printername gt -P printername_at_printername.pri
  nt.cern.ch
• Lightweight
• no spooling configuration
• Backwards compatibility implemented
• CERNs XPRINT adapted

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Conclusions

• Server back-end based on cheap commodity hardware
  and Open Source software (LPRng)
• User benefits
• No specific CERN configuration required, any
  visitor can run it
• Runs on any Windows PC having TCP/IP installed
• No Netware or NT client required
• Stability runs from the local hard disc
• Reliability database server not required to run
  the package
• Supports other preinstalled printer objects
  (Novell, NT)
• Maintenance benefits
• Same binary on W9x, NT4 and Windows 2000 (MSI
  package)
• Centralized management for all Windows platforms
• Complete package can easily deployed at other
  laboratories
• http//cern.ch/printpackage
• General user satisfaction at CERN.

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Contacts

• ivan.deloose_at_cern.ch
• Windows Printing Package
• Download and informationhttp//cern.ch/printpack
  age
• ignacio.reguero_at_cern.ch
• Print Server backend and UNIX clients