Print Queues

Print Queues are objects that are installed on user workstations to which users can submit their print jobs. A print device (i.e. printer) in Pharos Cloud can have one or more associated queues.

  • Print Queues can be configured as "Auto-install" or "Manual-install".
  • There are two types of print queues for Direct Print
    • With Windows or printer manufacturer driver - The print queue acts just like a normal queue in Windows. The print queue has a direct connection with the device, and the job is sent straight to it via the standard TCP/IP port monitor.
    • With Pharos Class IPP driver - With this type of queue, the Pharos driver sends a print job to the Pharos Print Scout Service, where it will be immediately released to the target device.

Note: Print queues set up in the Pharos Cloud web console are called “Printers” in the Pharos Secure Release desktop app.

Creating Print Queues

1. Navigate to the Direct > Direct Printers tab.

2. Select the location where you want to create a print queue.

3. Select the printer in which you want to create an associated print queue.

4. Click the Create Queue button. Update the print queue properties that appears on the right-hand part of the screen.

Note: Alternatively you can click the + button on the right-hand side (next to the Queues property) as shown in the image below.

Notes:

  • If a printer has IPP capability (e.g., Ipp Support is set to true), then its print queue Type will be automatically set to IPP Class Driver by default. If the printer lacks IPP capability, the default type will be set to Windows Manufacturer’s Driver.

  • When the Print Queue Type is set to IPP Class Driver, you will be presented with IPP configuration settings. If it is set to Manufacturer's Drivers for Windows, you will see manufacturer-specific settings like the Driver.

  • The print queue Status is set to Disabled by default. For queues to work, you’ll need to set it to either Manual-install or Auto-install.

The following properties can be viewed and/or configured for Queues. Properties are organized into categories:

General

Property Description
Name

The name used to identify the print queue (i.e., the direct printer). This is the name that users see when they print their document from their user workstations and in the Pharos Secure Release desktop app. By default, the queue name is created based on the following:

  • Printer Label if it is available
  • If Printer Label is not available, it uses the Manufacturer and Model of the printer.

Tip: Use a naming convention that will help users identify the finishing options that a printer supports (For example, HP LaserJet M5035 MFP-TwoSidedColor, HP LaserJet M5035 MFP-OneSidedMono).

Type

Select the type of print driver for the queue. The options are:

  • Manufacturer’s Driver for Windows – Choose this option if using print manufacturer’s drivers for Windows.
  • Pharos IPP Class Driver – Choose if using the Pharos IPP Class Driver.

Note: The print queue Type is set to Pharos Cloud IPP Class Driver by default if the printer is IPP capable (IPP Support field is set to true).

Note: The Pharos Cloud Class IPP Driver shipped with the January 2023 release does not yet support macOS and Chrome extension. It supports Microsoft Windows 10 or later.

Status

Set the Status of the print queue:

  • Disabled – When creating a print queue, it is initially set to Disabled. When a print queue is set to Disabled, it will not appear in the list of available printers in the Pharos Secure Release desktop app. If a print queue is set to Disabled after it has been installed on a user workstation:
    • Auto-install print queues are uninstalled on service restart or overnight reset.
    • Manual-install print queues are not updated.
  • Manual-install – Select this option if you want users to manually install print queues.
  • Auto-install – Select this option if you want the print queue to be automatically installed on users’ workstations.

Note: This requires workstation network information to be configured.

Configuration

Property Description
Driver

Select the printer driver to use. When creating a Windows-based direct printer in the Pharos Cloud web console, you will need to configure the appropriate print driver from the list of drivers. This must match the PDL of the printer device associated with the queue (e.g., For HP printers, use HP Universal print drivers).

Note: The Driver field is available for Windows print queues only.
Delivery Service

This setting allows IT admins to specify the method for delivering Direct Printpint jobs to the printer.

  • Pharos Cloud Secure Print Service – When set to this option, print jobs will be delivered to a printer using the Pharos Systems Sentry Print Service. This is the default value.
  • Windows Print Spooler – IT admins will have the option to use the Windows Print Spooler if desired. With the Windows Print Spooler option, print jobs are delivered to a printer via a standard Windows TCP/IP port using RAW over 9100.

Note: The Delivery Service is available for Windows print queues only.

Note: Pharos recommends using the Pharos Systems Sentry Print Service to enhance security by encrypting communications.
Finishing Options

Windows Queue: Select finishing options from the list of finishing options for Windows.

IPP Queue: Set the finishing options for an IPP queue by clicking the Edit button.

Note: If no finishing options are selected for an IPP queue, the defaults finishing options are Letter, Color, and Simplex.

Applied

Note: This setting applies to Auto-Install queues only.

This setting determines the frequency of updates for user modifications made through the Printing Preferences UI. Take not that this is different from the regular Print Scout update, which occurs either overnight or upon restarting the Print Scout service.

  • New install only – The finishing options are applied to print queues at install time only. If a user changes printing preferences at the workstation, it will not reset back to what was originally set at the install time. For example, if the finishing option set for a queue is "Duplex" and the user changes the printing preferences to "Simplex "(after Print Scout install), the finishing options will not reset back to "Duplex" the next day or on restart of the Pharos Print Scout Service.

Note: If the queue is set to Auto-install and the Applied option is set to New install only, when the customer changes any settings on the queue (for example, different finishing options choice, or queue name change, etc) then the queue will still be updated on the Print Scout, but it will be a one-off, it won't get the settings re-applied every night.

  • Every Day – The finishing options for a queue are reset to their original settings every day. For example, if a user changes the finishing option from "mono" to "color" , Pharos Cloud will set it back to "mono" overnight.

  • Note: If an IT administrator modifies the driver, finishing option, or queue type for an auto-install queue, those changes will be applied to the workstation overnight (regardless of whether the Applied setting is set to “Daily” or “New Install Only”.

  • Every 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 1 hour, etc - Choose the frequency of intervals for updating print queues: every 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 1 hour, and so forth.

To gain a better understanding of how interval frequency operates, here's an illustrative workflow:

  1. An administrator configures the auto install queue's "Applied" setting to update every 15 minutes.

  2. Initial Configuration: A print queue is installed on a user's workstation with a default setting of “Mono” (black and white).

  3. The user submits a job in “Color” by changing the color option in the Printing Preferences dialog box.

  4. After 15 minutes, the user attempts to print another document.

  5. The print queue automatically reverts to the initial setting of Mono overriding the user’s Color selection.

Advanced

Property Description
Ipp Url

A read-only value of the associated printer’s IPP URL.

This value uses the Ipp Url if available. If Ipp Url is not available, it uses the Discovered Ipp Url.

Related Topic:

Auto Install Queues