You are here: Installation > Advanced implementation > Configuring Direct Printing > Installing the Direct Print Monitor on Windows computers

Installing the Direct Print Monitor on a Windows computer

This section describes the process of setting up Direct PrintingDirect Printing allows you to print directly from a desktop to a printer, without the need for a print server. on Windows computers. The primary Application ServerAn Application Server is the primary server program responsible for providing the PaperCut user interface, storing data, and providing services to users. PaperCut uses the Application Server to manage user and account information, manage printers, calculate print costs, provide a web browser interface to administrators and end users, and much more. can be either a Windows, Mac, or a Linux based system. PaperCut NG has full support for "mixed" or heterogeneous printing environments.

Step 1 - Ensure primary server is set up correctly

Before installing the Direct Print MonitorThe Direct Print Monitor is the Direct Printing component that tracks jobs between desktops and an MFD., you should ensure that the primary server (Application Server) is set up and running correctly.

Verify that:

  • PaperCut NG/MF release 16.0 or above is installed.
  • Users are allowed to log in to user pages from their computers.
  • Administrators can access the system.
  • The Application Server is accessible from each computer requiring Direct Printing, that is, you can Ping the Application Server.
Step 2 - Ensure firewall software is set to allow access to the port used by the Application Server

A computer with the Direct Print Monitor installed needs to communicate (initiate a TCP connection) on the port used by the Application Server (by default this is port 9191). Ensure that any firewall software on the primary Application Server is not set to block any incoming local network traffic on this port.

Step 3 - Change the default configuration (optional)

The Direct Print Monitor installation configuration file is installed in the following location on the Application Server:

[app-path]/providers/direct-print-monitor/win/direct-print-monitor.conf

Note:

If you need to change the configuration after deploying Direct Printing, you must change the configuration on every computer using Direct Printing.

The Direct Print Monitor configuration file is automatically generated with the hostname of the Application Server when the Application Server is installed. If required, you can change the default configuration, however, the default configuration suits most implementations. For example, you can change the IP address of the Application Server to a Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN).

Step 4 - Install the Direct Print Monitor on each computer

Install the Direct Print Monitor on each Windows computer. You can either:

Important:

You cannot install the Direct Print Monitor on a computer that has a Print Provider installed. This includes computers that are acting as Application Servers, Site Servers, and secondary servers.

Step 5 - Test

The Direct Print Monitor should now be configured.

  1. Log in to the Application Server as "admin" and verify that the printer queues are linked to the printer:
    1. Click the Printers tab.

      The Printer List page is displayed.

    2. Select a printer.

      The Printer Details - Summary page is displayed.

    3. Click the Queues tab.

    4. Verify that the printer queues are linked to the printer.
  2. Perform a multi-page test print on each printer and verify that print jobs are tracked correctly.