User Roaming

User Roaming Overview

Description

User Roaming is a complementary feature to the Print roaming. It enables roaming users within the customer infrastructure and provide autoconfiguration capabilities to their working environment. A user with a portable computer is able to print via the nearest ORS or CML server so that travelling user doesn't need to do any manual re-configuration of print queues.

Travelling users can benefit from this feature by automatically having their print jobs sent to local SafeQ server, wherever they are. Users do not require any additional configuration in order to print in any branch office of their company.

SafeQ Client automatically identifies the local SafeQ ORS server (or the local near-roaming-group of ORS servers, or the local node of a CML cluster, as the case may be) based on current network environment. It uses the selected detection algorithm. In case of failure, follows static configuration.

SafeQ Client shall support the following detection algorithms:

  • DHCP option

    • Obtains the YSoft SafeQ CML or ORS server IP address(es) from a particular DHCP option. The DHCP option code is statically configured (LPR being defined by code 9) in customer environment by local network administrator.

    • If multiple IP addresses are configured by DHCP option 9, the random one is used for job delivery.

    • If the YSoft SafeQ Client gets no valid IP address from the local DHCP server, "Static configuration" method is used instead .

    • Supported by YSoft SafeQ Client 2.12 and higher

  • Static configuration

    • Default configuration

    • The way of configuring a list of specific IP addresses or hostnames, useful for simple single-location situations or as a fallback for the case of failed autodiscovery of every other method (e.g. "DHCP option" method does not return any valid response - no IP address, "Static configuration" method is used instead).

    • Supported by YSoft SafeQ Client 1.0 and higher

  • Autodiscovery - Based on IP subnet lookup (terminal session / workstation IP)

    • This feature allows SafeQ Client to deliver print jobs to different SafeQ servers, choosing the destination server automatically.

    • Whole behavior is based on rules described in server_subnet.csv file.

    • SafeQ Client then delivers print jobs to a SafeQ server based on the IP subnet of the user or the Client.

    • Supported by YSoft SafeQ Client 2.11 and higher


Dependencies

  • Print roaming must be configured.

  • SafeQ multi-server environment with single central CML system must be established, with server in every location required for Print roaming.

  • YSoft SafeQ Client and print driver must be installed locally at any workstation / notebook required for Print roaming

  • Global Identity management (common for all SafeQ servers in the network) must be established.

Limitations / Caveats

  • The "DHCP option" autodiscovery method requires that DHCP option 9 is manually configured in the respective DHCP servers for each subnet where clients are expected to connect.