Configuring a Macintosh Secondary Print Server

Configuring a Macintosh Secondary Print Server
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This section describes the process of setting up a secondary Mac print server. The primary Application Server may either be a Windows, Mac or a Linux basis system. PaperCut NG has full support for "mixed" or heterogeneous printing environments.

Step 1 - Ensure primary server is set up correctly

Before installing a secondary server you should take some time to ensure the primary server (central application server) is set up and running correctly. If it is not running fine now adding an extra server will only "add an extra variable to the equation" and complicate troubleshooting. Take some time now to verify that the primary server is functioning correctly. For example, verify that:

Printers on this server are being tracked.
Users are allowed top login to user pages from their workstations.
Administrators can access the system.

Step 2 - Ensure firewall software is set to allow access to port 9191

Secondary server needs to communicate (initiate a TCP connection) on port 9191. Administrators should 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 - Create the host user account

PaperCut NG runs under a non-privileged user account called "papercut". This invisible system account is created automatically upon first install. Advanced system administrators may however have a preference to create this account manually. If you fall into this category, create the papercut account now prior to installation.

Step 4 - Install the print provider

Install the print provider software onto the secondary server. Download the latest Mac DMG disk image and execute the contained installer called PaperCut NG Secondary Server Installation.pkg.

Step 5 - Configuration

The Print Provider on the secondary server needs to know where the primary server is installed. The installer may open the appropriate configuration file after the install completes.

Open a text editor such as TextEdit.
Open the file:
[app-dir]/PaperCut NG/provider/print/ mac/print-provider.conf
Locate the line starting with ApplicationServer= and change localhost to the name or IP address of the primary server.
Save the file and exit the text editor.

Double-click on the command script [app-dir]/PaperCut NG/Configure CUPS.command, and enable monitoring on the appropriate printers.

Step 6 - Test

The secondary server should now be configured. Log into the system as "admin" and verify that the printers are now listed under the Printers section. Perform a multi-page test print on each printer and verify that print jobs are tracked correctly.