HP JetAdvantage Connect - Requirements to set up the server system

• Network: Domain-based network

  note:

  It is recommended NOT to use a workgroup network as it has no central administration.

• Network connectivity: Mobile devices can connect to the network either directly through a local Wi-Fi access point (WAP), or through the Internet using a Virtual Private Network (VPN), or through some other connectivity method.
  A mobile device when connected to the structured network will enable routes to exist between the mobile device and the printers connected on the network.

  note:

  It is assumed that HP JetAdvantage Connect will be set up by adding new server components (either new server hardware, or Virtual Machine (VM) ) on the network domain.

• Set up: IT administrators familiar with the network structure and printing resources will setup the HP JetAdvantage Connect.

  note:

  It is assumed that users performing the setup will have the appropriate permissions to add servers to the Domain and be authorized to make changes in the DNS environment.

• HP Access Control is installed and configured for Pull-Printing.
• It is required that firewalls do not block traffic on Port 631, as this port is used for IPPS communications between the clients and the HP JetAdvantage Connect Print Server.

• Server Operating System (OS): Windows 2012 R2
• Domain Name System (DNS) Service: Microsoft DNS
• VPN (if used): Cisco - Configured to vend Search Domains to mobile devices.

• iOS version 8 and newer
• Android version 4.4 and newer

  note:

  Android devices must have the HP JetAdvantage Connect Android application, as well as the HP Print Service Plugin.

• Mac OS X 10.10 and newer

  note:

  While not a “mobile” operating system, OS X is included as it supports DNS-SD and AirPrint, and can be used as a troubleshooting and diagnostic platform.

The HP JetAdvantage Connect Discovery Server (or the Discovery Server) provides the capability for iOS and Android mobile device users to discover and print to managed or unmanaged printers on the corporate network.

The Discovery Server runs a DNS service which implements DNS Service Discovery (DNS-SD) as a way of using standard DNS constructs to browse the network for printing services. iOS and Android mobile devices (see Supported mobile operating systems) support DNS-SD for discovering printers. DNS-SD enables the discovery of printers beyond the local subnet where the client device is connected. With the Discovery Server in place, mobile devices can discover and print to printers connected practically anywhere within the enterprise network.

note:

The use of DNS-SD requires a special set up in the main DNS system for the enterprise environment. A small number of DNS records is required to be added to the main DNS system that reference the Discovery Server. The DNS service on the Discovery Server must be configured with certain DNS records that correspond to each printer that is available for mobile printing.

HP provides a setup utility called the HP JetAdvantage Connect Discovery Setup Utility (or Discovery Setup Utility) which allows the setting up of printers using a wide range of options. The Discovery Setup Utility is highly flexible, and allows for simple configuration of the Discovery Server.

The recommended OS for the Discovery Server is Windows Server 2012 R2. The Discovery Server Setup Utility can run on Mac OS X Server and Linux, in addition to Windows.

note:

As the Discovery Server is based on industry standards, it is possible to implement the Discovery Server on server platforms other than Windows.

For more information to setup the DNS-SD or for the Setup Utility, go to the HP JetAdvantage Connect Discovery Server Technical Reference Guide (c04994953).

The HP JetAdvantage Connect Print Server (or Print Server) opens the “Pull Printing” functionality to iOS and Android mobile devices. The Print Server acts as a “front-end” for HP AC, and displays as a printer selection in the iOS and Android user interfaces.

The Print Server adheres to Apple’s AirPrint Specification version 1.6, and is implemented using Windows Internet Information Services (IIS) and Windows Services. The required OS for the Print Server is Windows Server 2012 R2.

The Print Server is implemented in two parts:

• An mDNS Responder is implemented as a Windows Service, and responds to Bonjour discovery requests.
• An IPPS Request handler is running as a web site using Windows Internet Information Services (IIS), and responds to IPPS requests sent on port 631.

From an end-user point of view, iOS and Android mobile device users can choose to print from their applications, select the Print Server as their desired print location, and then retrieve their printed document at any HP AC enabled printer.

The Print Server can be configured to allow setting of global print policies (i.e. for all users who print to the server) for restricting certain print settings.

Example of the architecture of the JetAdvantage Connect Server Components

note:

Depending on the system requirements and the preference of the system administrator, the Discovery and Print server components can be implemented either on separate servers or VMs, or on a common server or VM.

Considerations for deployment

• The Print Server is required if Pull Printing is used. If Pull Printing is not required, there is no need to set up the Print Server.
• The Discovery Server is required if print resources (printers and the Print Server(s)) will be connected on one or more subnetworks (subnets), separate from the subnet where the mobile devices are connected into the network. If all the printing resources are connected to the local subnet where the mobile devices are also connected to that network, the Discovery Server is not required.
• It is recommended to install the Print Server first and then set up the Discovery Server when deploying one or more Print servers along with the Discovery Server. The Discovery Server can only be set up to include references to the Print Servers after the Server is running.
• One instance of the Print Server is required for each instance of HP AC that is to be made available for mobile printing. If multiple HP AC instances are supported, then multiple servers or VMs must be used for multiple instances of the Print Server.

  note:

  The Print Server must not be installed on a server or VM where HP AC is installed.

  If a single instance HP AC is available for mobile printing, then install the Discovery Server and Print Server within the same server or VM.

• It is recommended to manage the configurations of the Print Server and the Discovery Server as separate VMs, because the functionality of the two are separate, and might require separate maintenance and software upgrades.

A server certificate must be installed as part of the Print Server setup process as the Print Server utilizes Secure Socket Layer (SSL 3/TLS 1.2 protocols) when communicating with mobile devices via HTTPS. This certificate can be a self-signed certificate, or one issued by a certification authority.

note:

If a self-signed certificate is not used, you must obtain a properly issued certificate before setting up the HP JetAdvantage Connect Print Server.

note:

Client Certificates are not supported.

To create the certificate for the Print Server, configure the following settings:

• Common Name (CN): Must be set to <print server computer name>.<domain name>
• Certificate Issued to :<print server computer name>.<domain name>
• Cryptographic Service Provider: Microsoft RSA SChannel
• Key Size: 2048 bits (or higher) using a SHA-256 hash.
• The certificate is available to be imported in a .pfx format.

  note:

  To use the .pfx file, a password must be available.

During the HP JetAdvantage Connect Print Server setup process, select one of the following options:

• Import your certificate (and enter the password) for this server.
• Generate a self-signed certificate.

Follow these steps to set up Pull Printing:

1. Determine the number of HP AC servers available for mobile printing. This will provide an estimate of the number of Print Server instances required for setup.
2. Perform the necessary setup for each required instance of the Print Server.
   For more information, go to the HP JetAdvantage Connect Print Server Install Guide (c05112056).
3. If the Discovery Server is required, setup and configure the Discovery Server. To configure the Discovery Server, add each instance of the Print Server using the Discovery Server Setup Utility. This can be done by specifying the IP address of each Print Server instance.
   For more information, go to the HP JetAdvantage Connect Discovery Server Technical Reference Guide (c04994953).

note:

If only Push Printing is required, it is not required to set up the Print Server.

To set up Push Printing, set up the Discovery Server, and then configure it to display the available printers to mobile device users.

For more information, go to the HP JetAdvantage Connect Discovery Server Technical Reference Guide (c04994953).

Follow these steps to set up Pull Printing and Push Printing:

1. Determine the number of HP AC servers available for mobile printing. This will provide an estimate of the number of Print Server instances required for setup.
2. Perform the necessary setup for each required instance of the Print Server.
   For more information, go to the HP JetAdvantage Connect Print Server Install Guide (c05112056).
3. Set up the Discovery Server, and then configure it to display the available printers to mobile device users.
   For more information, refer the HP JetAdvantage Connect Discovery Server Technical Reference Guide (c04994953).
4. Configure the Discovery Server by “adding” each instance of the Print Server using the Discovery Server Setup Utility. This can be done by specifying the IP address of each Print Server instance.
   For more information, go to the HP JetAdvantage Connect Discovery Server Technical Reference Guide (c04994953).

The current system restrictions and limitations are the following:

• HP AC is the only Pull-Print solution supported by HP JetAdvantage Connect.
• One instance of the HP JetAdvantage Connect Print Server is required for each instance of HP AC required for mobile printing.
• Only one instance of the HP JetAdvantage Connect Print Server can be installed on a particular server (Hardware or VM).
• Each instance of the HP JetAdvantage Connect Print Server displays a single HP AC print queue to mobile users.
• The HP JetAdvantage Connect Print Server cannot be installed on the same server /VM where HP AC is installed.
• iOS clients to do not have any filtering or sorting mechanisms when displaying print destinations. If there are more than hundred printers configured on the Discovery Server, all of them will be displayed in the user interface printer selection.