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How to Configure an IGEL OS Endpoint as a TCP/IP Print Server

In IGEL OS, you can make a printer connected to an endpoint via a parallel or USB port available to other endpoints as a TCP/IP socket printer. The IGEL OS endpoint listens on a configurable TCP port and forwards incoming print data to the connected printer.

Note that TCP/IP printing feature differs from TCP network printer that can be configured under Apps > CUPS Printing > Printer. A TCP network printer sends print jobs from the IGEL OS endpoint to a remote printer, while the TCP/IP printing feature makes a printer physically connected to IGEL OS available to other devices.

This article explains how you can use the IGEL OS device as a TCP/IP print server for locally connected printers.

This article is based on CUPS printing app version 1.3.1 BUILD 1.0.

Requirements

  • CUPS printing app is imported into your IGEL UMS. For details on app import, see How to Import IGEL OS Apps from the IGEL App Portal.

  • The IGEL OS endpoint has a fixed IP address or a DHCP reservation.

  • The printer is connected to the IGEL OS endpoint via:

    • The first parallel printer port, represented by LPT 1.

    • The first USB printer interface, represented by USBLP 1.

  • The sending system has an appropriate driver for the physical printer.

  • The driver produces data in a language understood by the printer, e.g. PCL, PostScript.

  • The firewall does not block the configured TCP port.

The TCP/IP print server uses a simple socket connection without authentication or transport encryption. Permit access only from trusted networks or hosts and restrict the listening port with network firewall rules.


Configure the TCP/IP Print Server

  1. In the IGEL UMS, create a profile configuring CUPS printing app. For details on profile creation, see How to Create and Assign Profiles in the IGEL UMS Web App.

  2. Go to Apps > CUPS Printing > TCP/IP.

  3. Select the interface to which the printer is connected.

    LPT 1: A printer is connected via the first parallel port
    USBLP 1: A printer is connected via the first USB port.

    Using IGEL OS device as a TCP IP print server


  4. Enable Activate TCP/IP printer on this port.

  5. Under TCP/IP port number, specify the port on which the IGEL OS endpoint listens for print jobs. (Default for LPT 1: 3003; default for USBLP 1: 3004).

  1. Adjust the following settings only if required by the environment:

Poll Criterion

Specifies how the interfaces are mapped.

Possible values:

  • Always (Default): Makes the interface available constantly, i.e. without querying.

  • Online: Makes the interface available only when the printer is switched on and detected as online.

Poll Frequency

Amount of time between status queries. This setting is available if Poll Criterion is set to Online. (Default: 1 sec)


  1. Save the profile and assign it to the required IGEL OS endpoint.


Configure the Client System

Configure the printer as a TCP/IP raw socket printer on the system that sends print jobs, e.g. Windows client:

  1. Add a printer manually.

  2. Create a Standard TCP/IP Port.

  3. Enter the IP address of the IGEL OS endpoint.

  4. Select Raw as the protocol.

  5. Enter the same port number that you configured for the IGEL OS endpoint.

  6. Select the correct driver for the physical printer.

  7. Save the configuration.