Watchdoc - Managing remote sites

Principle

Watchdoc can be used to manage remote sites in different ways, depending on existing technical constraints and the ease of use you wish to offer users.

 

Let's take the example of a company based in mainland France with branches spread across the French overseas territories. Its technical printing architecture includes:

  • a master server installed in mainland France

  • other servers (dependent on the master) installed in branches located in French overseas departments and territories.

 

There are several possible configurations for managing printing with Watchdoc.

  1. Normal mode is based on the configuration of predefined and preconfigured print queues on the Watchdoc master server, which are made available to all users via the other Watchdoc servers (slaves) installed in the DROMs.

  1. Mixed mode is based on the normal mode associated with WPC for Windows. This module allows you to configure a universal file (tagged ‘remote’) which can then be installed on all user workstations with one click. With one click, the user has a fully configured print queue that is instantly ready for use.

  1. Remote mode is based on the normal mode associated with WPC for Windows, which enables a predefined, preconfigured print queue to be installed, while allowing direct printing. In the event of significant communication latency between the locally installed server and the master server, users can opt for direct printing. In this case, users print without requesting the Watchdoc server.

 

In order for the statistical data from the device used for direct printing to be collected for statistical purposes, it is necessary to configure the queue used for direct printing in Watchdoc. As this is a degraded mode and Watchdoc is not called upon, the statistical data is not as detailed as that normally collected by Watchdoc. Nevertheless, it is possible to collect at least the information provided by the MS Windows spooler (printinfo2: document title, number of pages, colour (colour or monochrome) and user).

Configuration procedures

Configuration in normal mode without WPC for Windows

  1. On the master server, create your pre-configured queues (see Configuring a print queue).

  2. Deploy Watchdoc on the other servers to install the configuration of the print queues configured on the master server.

Configuration in dual mode with WPC for Windows

This mode allows users to install a print queue on their workstation by clicking on the ‘Install’ button in WPC for Windows. They can then easily retrieve the print queue configuration supplied by the Watchdoc server on their workstation.

 

  1. On the master server, create your locations and configure them for WPC (see WPC for Windows - Configuring the location) by specifying the additional parameters.

  2. Associate the servers (master and others) with their location (see Associating a server with a location).

  3. Configure at least one universal queue intended for WPC for Windows.

  4. From WPC for Windows, the user will be able to install the queue by clicking on the ‘Install a queue’ button.

You can add the ‘remote’ tag to specify its use. Configure WPC for Windows without authorising direct printing (Service > Direct printing section). Install WPC for Windows on all workstations (see Installing WPC for Windows on the user workstation).

 

Indirect mode configuration

This mode allows users to install a print queue on their workstation by clicking on the ‘Install’ button in WPC for Windows. They can then easily retrieve the print queue configuration supplied by the Watchdoc server on their workstation. However, if the servers are out of service or the communication times between the servers are too long, the user can print directly to the universal queue.

 

  1. On the master server, create your locations and configure them for WPC (see WPC for Windows - Configuring the location) by specifying the additional parameters.

  2. Associate the servers (master and others) with their slots (see Associating a server with a slot).

  3. Configure at least one universal queue for WPC for Windows. From WPC for Windows, users can install the queue by clicking on the ‘Install a queue’ button.

    You can add the tag ‘remote tcpip’ to specify its use.

  4. Configure WPC for Windows to allow direct printing (Service > Direct printing section).

  5. Install WPC for Windows on all workstations (see Installing WPC for Windows on the user workstation).