print server
(1) A computer in a network that controls one or more printers. It is either part of the network operating system or an add-on utility that stores the print-image output from users' machines and feeds it to the printer one job at a time. The computer and its printers are known as a "print server" or a file server with "print services."
(2) A hardware device that enables a printer to be located anywhere in the network. Available as a plug-in card for printers that have an expansion slot or as an external unit that plugs into the printer's parallel port, print servers have an Ethernet port for network connection. The print server uses the printer's memory to queue the print jobs.
A print server can be used with or without a file server dedicated to print services (see definition above). If there is not enough memory in the printer to hold the entire print job, the print server causes the print services machine or the individual client machines to spool the print output in the background. See print spooler.
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| These are all print server configurations. In the top example, the print server is the combination of the file server, which includes print services, and its attached printer. The middle and bottom examples use print servers to allow the printers to reside anywhere on the network. |
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| This picture shows both internal and external print servers plugged into the back of an HP LaserJet. The unit on the left with the unused network port is HP's own JetDirect print server, which plugs into an internal slot. The external unit is i-data's EasyCom print server, which plugs into the parallel port of any printer. |
print server [
′print ‚sər·vər]
(computer science)
A computer controlling a series of printers.
| (printer) | print server - A server device that is set up on a network to
route print requests and status information between computers
and printers connected by a network. A typical print server
routes print requests for multiple computers and printers on a
network.
For example, a networked workstation user submits a print
command that includes a print file and information about the
printer to be used, usually a nearby printer for convenience.
The print server sends the print file to the requested
printer. The printer spools the print file and provides job
status. The print server relays the status of the printer
back to the workstation and makes this status information
available to other devices on the network. | |