Discusses printing and print management in the Citrix XenServer, XenApp and XenDesktop environments

 

Managing print jobs in a Citrix IT computing environment

Citrix printing is a popular topic lately.  But to understand Citrix printing solutions it helps to first understand a little background...

Citrix XenApp, previously known as Citrix MetaFrame Server and Presentation Server is an application that makes it easy for people to connect to programs and information available from central servers. Users can log on to their business network from anywhere and see exactly what they would see at work, their email, Microsoft Office or any other application.

Consolidating application software on centrally hosted servers has many advantages for managing software and conserving network resources. In some cases, however, it separates the users' printers and plotters from the server that is creating the print job (Citrix). This may introduce performance issues because of delays in getting data to the printers either due to low-bandwidth connections or network congestion. The print data stream must make its way from the Citrix server across the wide area network (WAN) to the user's printer or plotter. Since these data streams can be quite large (10-300 MB or more) and WAN bandwidths can be small (1.54 Mbps or even less), users can easily run into difficulties just producing a simple printout. Carefully design of a printing strategy is an important element in successfully implementing Citrix in a geographic information system (GIS).

Network printing problems are the primary concern that administrators face when implementing user application environments and third party print management tools are often used as an effective way of providing a successful remote printing solution.

There are many possible pitfalls to network printing and remote access printing environments. The operating system, the application, the user, and the printing device must all work together to produce the desired physical output. If even one variable goes awry, the printing process can stop completely and begin backing up.

Citrix provides a basic solution to print issues via 'autocreation' or print mapping. The Citrix universal print driver (UPD) uses a database to match the client printer driver to a print driver on the server. However using an incompatible driver, for instance, can cause the entire application server to freeze or hang.

An effective printing strategy must provide both the facility for printing to local printers as well as remote printing with dedicated print server support. A third-party solution designed to bridge the gaps inherent in the Citrix environment is the most effective and efficient way to manage the printing process for users and administrators alike.