Technology
PrintNonStop Technology, Installation Requirements and Security Guarantees
Powered by cloud based unique software solution
PrintNonStop is based on our own software solution that remotely monitors ANY printing/ copying device of a Customer LIVE.
This makes it possible for PrintNonStop Customer Support personnel to provide consumables, office paper, device maintenance automatically.
Complete software solution
MANAGE DEVICES BY MONITORING CONSUMABLES, PRINTING VOLUMES AND MALFUNCTIONS
Any device monitoring
PrintNonStop monitors all brands, types and models of printing and MFP devices. This ensures that our software solution is capable of managing network and locally connected printing devices, using SNMP, manufacturer defined protocols (via HTTP or otherwise) or USB.
Alert reporting
The software automatically reports to a responsible person (administrator) whenever a problem is detected in a monitored device.
Consumables supply
PrintNonStop software detects if printing device is running out of consumables (toners, drums and maintenance parts) and automates the delivery process.
Billing
With PrintNonStop MPS providers can automate your invoice processing workflows, streamline error-free processes, and save HR costs.
Process management
PrintNonStop is the only software solution in the industry designed to truly maximize efficiency of the resellers and MPS providers.
Printing overview
A wide range of reports help to monitor profitability, income and performance against SLAs. Resellers and MPS providers can sure the contract is efficient and profitable.
Simple to start
PrintNonStop uses cloud computing hence all the complex work is done outside the User's sites/servers. A monitoring application can be installed simply by clicking on the link sent via email. A user clicks on the link, PrintNonStop discovers all devices in the network automatically and his printing devices start to be monitored. All setup can be done in cloud.
Software component roles
Connector
Connector is installed and running in the background on a Customer infrastructure computer (workstation or print server). It relays print jobs, counters and device status information to PrintNonStop Cloud.
- At least one Connector installation is required per device. However a single Connector can relay information from multiple networked printing devices.
- Each of the attached non-networked printing devices must be connected directly to a computer that has a Connector installed.
- The application is delivered in the form of packages of Windows installer file *.MSI and *.EXE. This enables the remote installation and simple to deploy solutions across the corporate network. Most popular Linux distributions and macOS computers are provided with corresponding installation files as well.
CLOUD
The core part of the PrintNonStop system is implemented on the cloud. It collects information from the CONNECTOR, aggregates information and provides UI for User to access information on his/ her printing devices and printjobs.
Security guarantees
live monitoring - in time assistance
The application requires for there to be a possibility to do HTTP (and optionally HTTPS) queries to host api.printlog.com on ports 80 (HTTP) and 443 (HTTPS).
Encoding and encryption
Connector sends data over HTTP using message-mode transmission mechanism in series of JSON message blocks encoded using 3DES or (optionally) via HTTPS.
Retrieved data
Data on print jobs on the printing device are captured on the fly and are sent to the PrintNonStop server.
The data MAY contain:
- Device total counter information and number of pages printed;
- Supplies status;
- Device status;
- Paper size, number of colors used;
- Name of the document printed (if user allows such information to be sent);
- User name who has printed the document (if user allows such information to be sent);
- Name of the computer used to print the document (if user allows such information to be sent);
- Other print job parameters;
- Printing device status at the time;
Supported systems
WIDEST RANGE OF SUPPORTED PLATFORMS
Connector application supports the following systems:
- Windows XP 32 bit;
- Windows 7 SP1 32/64 bit;
- Windows 8/10 32/64 bit;
- Windows Server 2003/2008/2012 32/64 bit SP2;
- MAC OSX;
- Linux (RPM and DEB-based distributions).
Connector for Microsoft Windows
Connector for Windows family systems operates as a service. Thanks to this it is not visible to the user and automatically run at start-up system. Connector is installed on path "C:\Program Files\PrintNonStop (on x86 systems)" and "C:\Program Files (x86)\PrintNonStop" (on x64 systems).
Connector is written using the .NET Framework and requires .NET Framework version 4. Installation binary will attempt to .NET Framework version 4 on systems where it is not present.
Connector uses approximately 50 MB of disk space on the disk (not including the .NET 4 Framework dependency) and a working set of about 50 MB in memory when the service is in idle mode.
Silent installation and uninstallation
The service can be delivered in the form of the installer file (*.MSI format) on Windows systems. When using .MSI installation files there is also no need for user involvement during installation on the workstation.
Connector for Linux-based systems
Linux/Unix based systems can be provided with two forms of CONNECTOR installations:
- Proprietary, Connector as a mono (.NET)-based background service;
- Open source Connector for rudimentary functionality that is provided with source code. This can be used on systems in high security environments and/or that require strict software auditing.
Connector for MAC OS (OS X platform)
There is a version of Connector that can be installed on computers running Apple OS X software. A .pkg file is provided that can be installed using the normal package installation procedure on Mac OS.
Other important features
live monitoring - in time assistance
DELAYED DATA DISPATCH
There are strict security requirements on some environments where there is a need for continuous outgoing data review so that the Customer is sure no sensitive data is sent over to the Cloud.
In such cases the CONNECTOR can be configured to save outgoing data to local disk first (or sent over to internal e-mail address) where system administrators can review the data before relaying those over to the CLOUD.
REMOTE CONTROL POSSIBILITY
In order to change Connector parameters and e.g. initiate printing device discovery or change parameters there is a possibility for the Connector to respond to commands from the PrintNonStop Cloud.
This feature is optional, can be disabled per Connector and is limited to several types of commands:
- Update Connector version (e.g. in case new version supports more device models or has problems fixed);
- Initiate network scan to discover new devices;
- Change device query parameters (IP address of the device, device query method, etc.);