Printing in virtual desktop environments

Printing in virtual desktop environments with VMware and ThinPrint ThinPrint White Paper

Contents Brief outline... 3 Printing a challenge in virtual environments... 4 Printer allocation...4 Print data volume...4 Printer driver management...5 Printing with VMware Horizon and ThinPrint... 5 Virtual printing/driver-free printing...6 Session in session printing:...7 Location-based printing...8 Disadvantages when printing in VDI-environments with VMware Horizon...8 Advantages when printingin VDI environments with ThinPrint Engine...9 Automatic printer allocation...9 Perfect support for print servers all print drivers in the same place... 10 Transparent, simple management, including reporting... 11 Flexible client support... 11 Digression: Easy support for mobile and home office users...12 Digression: Connection Service...13 Better session/network performance...14 Guarantees quick, reliable, and secure printing...14 Summary...15 Follow ThinPrint: facebook twitter youtube linkedin

Brief outline Situation: Printing is an essential part of everyday work In many companies, printing is and remains a business-critical function. Even minor performance problems may lead to financial losses. Smooth and stable work processes in a company s printing environment reduce the pressure on the IT department and improve employee productivity considerably. Problem: Printing is a challenge in virtual desktop environments. Entire projects can fail at the print stage if there is a lack of planning for printing right from the start. Complex printer allocation in virtualized environments is a major challenge: Irrespective of location, every user would always like to find the right printers. In addition, managing the printer drivers causes significant time and effort. This can lead to misprints, for example in mixed 32/64-bit environments. Print data is are often up to ten times bigger than the original file following transmission. As a result, the network is often seriously congested this may then lead to slow printouts and poor session performance. Solution: Perfect printing with the ThinPrint Engine As a provider of virtualization solutions, VMware has integrated the basic functions of ThinPrint print management software into its desktop virtualization solution. If companies also require optimal printing support, a considerable increase in performance, significant cost savings, and extensive print features in all environments without exception, then they require the ThinPrint Engine. Result: complete control when printing in VDI environments The ThinPrint basic technology contained in VMware includes keeping virtual desktops free of drivers, and compression during print data transmission between virtual desktop and physical device. The separately available ThinPrint Engine print management solution also frees the complete client hardware and all the virtual desktops of printer drivers. The entire print volume is managed centrally in one place within the company. All the required local and network printers are automatically allocated to the users with ThinPrint AutoConnect. The individual components of the ThinPrint Engine ensure compressed, quick printing on all connections up to the printer. For example, ThinPrint s Advanced Adaptive Compression permits the maximum compression of print data, even en route from the print server to the printer. Companies benefit in their VDI environment from comprehensive print support and thanks to detailed reporting they always remain in full control. 3

Printing a challenge in virtual environments Printing is a natural component of everyday work within companies. Often the mere screen view is insufficient for editing a document: hand-outs for presentations, signatures for contracts, or invoices for customers require printed pages. Printing increases employee productivity and ensures an optimal work environment with a positive user experience. Even individual, special print functions can be decisive here. Unfortunately, printing in virtual environments can often lead to technical problems. Thus printing should never be neglected when such environments are planned and set up. If the print process is not optimally integrated from day one, this has longterm effects on the performance of the entire network. Here printer allocation, limited data volume and printer driver management are the biggest challenges that companies have to face. Printer allocation Printer allocation in virtualized environments is complex: every user would always like to use the right printer, whether it is a network printer or local printer, for example in small, distant offices or when working from home. The IT department must ensure that all users can access the right printers and that the relevant printer drivers are available. The right printers must also be available if the connection is cut and restarted from a new location or a different device, or if the user changes location without logging off. Print data volume When using a physical desktop, a print job emerges on the PC. From there, the print path goes directly to the local printer or via the print server to the network printer. In VDI environments, however, the print job emerges centrally on the virtual desktop in the data center and from there it has a longer road back to the right printer. If user and server are very far apart, the print job must be transported via WAN routes. Since print jobs can quickly become ten times the size of the original file, the bandwidth is put under considerable strain and the printouts from the printer are subject to delay. This reduces user-friendliness and productivity. 4

Printer driver management To print, you need drivers, which normally are programmed by the device manufacturers. In order to avoid driver conflicts within the company between the various printer models from very different manufacturers, and to reduce cost and effort, some printers are equipped with a serial driver or universal driver. However, standardized drivers by no means guarantee a smooth workflow. Therefore with every new printer model, IT administrators have to test which driver produces the best result. Thereafter, the new printer driver is distributed within the company to workstations, print servers, and virtual desktops. As the size of the IT environment increases, so do cost and effort for driver management. 1 To ease the work process and save memory space, provision of the printer drivers in virtual environments is often performed centrally via a golden image. But this can cause problems. When a printer has to be exchanged, a new one is added, or an update is carried out, a completely separate installation must take place. This means that the image becomes very large, particularly in extensive, heterogeneous printer landscapes. An additional dilemma are the printer systems with 64-bit technology in which old 32-bit printers are still to be used. Often no new drivers are being manufactured for the older devices, which leads to great expense for the purchase of new hardware. Printing with VMware Horizon and ThinPrint VMware has integrated ThinPrint basic functions into the VMware Horizon desktop virtualization solution. Thus the virtual desktops remain free of printer drivers, and print data compression and quick print data transmission via PCoIP and RDP from the virtual desktop to the physical device are guaranteed. However, not all possibilities for optimizing printing are supported as standard, such as mapping network printers or compressing print data from the print server. 1 ThinPrint Documentation: http://download.cortado.com/docu/thinprint/webhelp/en/thinprint_ doku/vmware_horizon_and_thinprint/why_virtual_printing.htm (August2015) 5

Virtual printing/driver-free printing The ThinPrint components integrated server-side in VMware are grouped together under the name virtual printing. They are both part of the Horizon View Agent and of the VMware tools. Windows applications normally provide their print data to the operating system in EMF format. The ThinPrint Output Gateway takes advantage of this. It is integrated into the operating system as a printer driver, but does not render any print jobs and instead sends the EMF data of the application as a virtual print order (via PCoIP or RDP) to a Windows workstation where the print order render is completed with the help of the native printer driver and forwarded to the printer. For ThinPrint products, this process is described as Driver Free Printing which refers to the replacing of the native printer drivers of the Horizon desktop by the ThinPrint Output Gateway. For non-windows workstations and thin clients, a universal PostScript driver and a PCL driver are provided instead. VMware Horizon Desktops: Virtual Printing (Horizon Agent) PCoIP Kyocera Windows Workstation: Horizon Client Figure 1 Virtual printing (with print data compression) directly to a workstation printer The printers installed on Windows workstations are connected to the Horizon desktops by ThinPrint AutoConnect. For this purpose, ThinPrint AutoConnect uses the ThinPrint Output Gateway as a (virtual) driver. It also loads the properties of the native drivers from the workstation to the Horizon desktop. These then are displayed in the user interface of the ThinPrint Output Gateway. One positive side-effect of driver-free printing is a standardized, user-friendly interface for all printers. Integrated ThinPrint technology offers high print data compression with ThinPrint s Advanced Adaptive Compression between the virtual desktop and client computer. For this purpose, every document is analyzed individually. Thereafter the various components of the file are compressed using the best algorithm available. You will thus receive the best possible compression, depending on the document and the contents. The bandwidth available for the print order is defined individually, depending on the location. Thus the optimal balance between compression and print speed is achieved during printing. 6

Session in session printing: If a second Horizon desktop session is opened from a first session, printing to the workstation will also be possible from the second session. In this case, the Horizon client must also be installed on the desktop or remote desktop session host where the first session is running. The Horizon client then recognizes automatically that it is in the middle session and activates its session-in-session component. 2 VMware Horizon Desktops: Virtual Printing (Horizon Agent) PCoIP VMware Horizon Desktops: Virtual Printing (Horizon Agent) + Horizon Client PCoIP Kyocera Windows Workstation: Horizon Client Figure 2 Session-in-session printing with components from the Horizon client 2 ThinPrint Documentation: http://download.cortado.com/docu/thinprint/webhelp/en/thinprint_ doku/vmware_horizon_and_thinprint/printing_solutions_integrated_into_horizon_view.htm (August 2015) 7

Location-based printing By means of ThinPrint AutoConnect, printer objects from network printers can also be set and the print jobs can be sent directly to the physical network printers with the standard TCP/IP protocol. Management of these printers is carried out as a group guideline in the Active Directory. The printer drivers affected must be installed manually on templates of the Horizon desktop. The process is called location-based printing. However, in this process neither print data compression nor driver-free printing are used. 3 VMware Horizon Desktops: Virtual Printing (Horizon Agent) Standard TCP/IP Thin Client or Workstation Horizon Client HP Figure 3 Conventional (location-based) print with native driver directly to a network printer. Disadvantages when printing in VDI-environments with VMware Horizon. 1. Limitation during driver-free-printing: Driver-free printing technology does not support non-windows devices or location-based printing. 2. Restricted location-based printing: Only works without print data compression, and if the affected printer drivers are installed manually on templates of the Horizon desktop. 3. No automatic assignment of network printers: Driver-free printing for network printers can only be used if the printer drivers have previously been installed manually on every Windows workstation. 4. Poor thin/zero client support: Thin client support only with Windows Embedded or Ubuntu (only IGEL). 5. No print server support: Print servers are not supported either centrally or locally 3 ThinPrint Documentation: http://download.cortado.com/docu/thinprint/webhelp/en/thinprint_ doku/vmware_horizon_and_thinprint/printing_solutions_integrated_into_horizon_view.htm (August 2015) 8

Advantages when printing in VDI environments with ThinPrint Engine The ThinPrint Engine ensures optimal print support and comprehensive print features in every possible environment. The print management solution from Thin- Print is easy to integrate into the existing IT architecture and enables smooth work through comprehensive compression, irrespective of whether the print orders have been triggered via the print server or by native drivers. Another advantage is the expanded hardware support which also includes thin clients and Macs. Companies benefit additionally from connection-oriented bandwidth control, mobile printing from virtual desktops, the highest security standards, and detailed opportunities to control all printing activities, in order to identify what is causing costs. Automatic printer allocation The ThinPrint Engine allows the advantages of ThinPrint AutoConnect to also be used for all other scenarios. Administrators can easily provide the right network printers and local printers with the right settings, depending on the client, user, location, or connection. IT can manage the complete printer landscape centrally. Thus time-consuming scripting becomes a thing of the past. Advantages: The availability of the correct printer queues for every user is ensured simply and automatically by central administration Assigning and adding printers based on various criteria, such as IP area, Active Directory user or group name, client, printer or driver name Local printers can be excluded from mapping, if required If the connection from a device is separated and restored at a different location on another device, or if the user with his device changes his location without logging off, the right printers will always be assigned to him. Printer presettings can be set flexibly and changed again at any time Administrators and users can select from print settings and options such as duplex, grayscale, stapling, etc. if necessary, these can be retained long-term. Session printers are updated immediately if there are changes to the local print environment. 9

Perfect support for print servers all print drivers in the same place The ThinPrint components integrated into VMware Horizon enable driver-free printing only in conjunction with Windows workstations, because the print orders have to be rendered on a Windows computer. With the ThinPrint Engine, rendering of the print orders may instead be transferred to a central print server in the data center. In this way, all the print drivers can be kept in one central location. Driverfree printing is thus also enabled, irrespective of the device used, for example with any thin client desired. All workstations and all virtual desktops remain completely free of printer drivers. VMware Horizon Desktops: Virtual Printing (Horizon Agent) Central print server: ThinPrint Engine + Management Center ThinPrint TCP/IP Local print server or Gateway Appliance: ThinPrint Client (TCP/IP) Thin Client or Workstation Horizon Client With ThinPrint Client Without ThinPrint Client Figure 4 Virtual printing via print servers to network printers bandwidth-limited, compressed, and encrypted if required. VMware Horizon Desktops: Virtual Printing (Horizon Agent) Central print server: ThinPrint Engine + Management Center ThinPrint TCP/IP Kyocera Thin Client or Workstation Horizon Client + ThinPrint Client (TCP/IP) Figure 5 Virtual printing via print servers and TCP/IP directly to a workstation printer bandwidth-optimized, compressed, and encrypted if required) 10

Transparent, simple management, including reporting Complex distribution of the printer drivers by the IT department is not required. Instead, all printers and printer drivers can be managed conveniently and database-supported, from the central print server. Print servers in branch offices can be removed or integrated into central administration if desired. The centralization of print management and simple, clear tools considerably reduce the cost and effort of administration. The assignment of printers for hundreds of users is performed with only a few clicks. With ThinPrint tracking and the reporting service, the IT administrator always retains a complete overview of printing costs and behavior per user group, printer, and much more. Predefined or individual reports make printing costs visible and in many cases enable them to be eliminated in the next step. Flexible client support The integrated ThinPrint client in VMware Horizon supports the PCoIP and RDP protocols. The ThinPrint client is also available as an ICA/HDX and TCP/IP version. Support from ICA/HDX enables all ThinPrint advantages in Citrix/VMware mixed environments as well. The TCP/IP version can be installed on the workstation computer, is available for all leading thin clients and also for many network printers, and as a print server appliance. Thus it is possible as an option to send the optimized print data directly to a target system via TCP/IP, thus avoiding the Horizon desktop session. Print data Central print server: ThinPrint Engine Print data TCP/IP Print data Workstation: ThinPrint Client Notebook: ThinPrint Client Network printer ThinPrint Client Gateway Appliance: ThinPrint Client Network printer ThinPrint Client Figure 6 Flexible client support 11

Digression: Easy support for mobile and home office users When employees work mobile or in their home office, print jobs must be sent to their location from the central print server. Due to firewall settings or network address translation, often just the session protocol and not the TCP/IP protocol is available. With ThinPrint Virtual Channel Gateway (VCG), it is possible to deliver print data via PCoIP or RDP, even when a print server is used. Printing with a central print server via the virtual protocol For this to work, the ThinPrint Engine on the print server sends print data back to the Horizon desktop via TCP/IP. There, the ThinPrint VCG, integrated into the Horizon View agent, receives the data and forwards it via PCoIP or RDP to the Windows workstation or an Igel thin client. This allows you to take full advantage of the Thin- Print Engine, even in this scenario. VMware-Horizon-Desktops: Virtual Printing (Horizon Agent) central Print Server: ThinPrint Engine + Management Center PCoIP Kyocera Workstation (or IGEL-Thin-Client) Horizon Client Figure 7 Digression: Virtual printing via a print server and PCoIP directly to a workstation printer (bandwidth-limited, compressed and encrypted if required; arrows show the path of the compressed data). 12

Digression: Connection Service The ThinPrint Connection service offers a special option in contrast to the normal communication direction, it enables connections from the distant location to the central server. Thus it allows the addressing of network printers via TCP/IP, even in masked networks or behind firewalls. The Connection Service is predestined for use in the DMZ, since the direction of the TCP connections is always incoming and no data is temporarily stored on the host computer that is, in the DMZ. The Connection Service also stabilizes the transmission of print orders even in the event of line interruptions of up to 90 seconds. Thus printing is no longer a problem for the change from expensive leased lines to cost-effective VPN connections. Data center Central print server: ThinPrint Engine Application server or VDI Firewall Connection Service Firewall Router (NAT) Thin Client or Workstation Network printer Local print server ThinPrint Client Figure 8 Digression: Connection Service 13

Better session/network performance Only the ThinPrint Engine supports connection-oriented bandwidth management that even functions when any number of users are printing large documents at the same time. The maximum bandwidth for printing can be specified depending on the connection, for example for each location, and it is never exceeded. Thus sessions are kept entirely free of negative influences through print orders. Print data can be transmitted with the ThinPrint Engine to all ThinPrint clients in compressed form. Compressing the print data via all protocols and on all routes with and without print servers minimizes the load on the network through printing quite considerably. Guarantees quick, reliable, and secure printing The ThinPrint Engine stands for reliability and maximum print speed with all devices, every protocol, and via every connection. For example, the ThinPrint Engine can also use functions such as SpeedCache, Streaming and Font Management with a print server for compressing the print data. Employees are also supported on the move with flexible print options. Even printing from Horizon sessions from the ipad/iphone on every AirPrint printer is very easy to do with the ThinPrint Engine. Secure SSL encryption always protects all print jobs reliably. When printers with integrated ThinPrint technology are used, the print data is even encrypted up to the printer. In addition, Personal Printing (a separately-licensed add-on option) can enable printing to be kept confidential through authentication at the printer, without any additional hardware. The 11 most important additional benefits of ThinPrint Engine at a glance 1 Convenient printer allocation in all scenarios always offers users access to the right local and network printers. 2 Integration and full support of central print servers. 3 Convenient, central, and database-supported management of all printers and printer drivers. 4 All physical workstations and virtual desktops are kept completely free of printer drivers. 5 Print smoothly in all scenarios, also with Macs and thin clients from almost every manufacturer. 6 Connection-oriented bandwidth control ensures optimal session performance. 7 Unique compression and speed optimization for all printers (including network printers) and all connections. 8 Support for TCP/IP and ICA/HDX protocols perfect printing in mixed VMware environments with Microsoft Remote Desktop Services and/or Citrix XenAppDesktop. 9 High degree of security for print orders through full SSL encryption of print data up to the printer. 10 Clear print job statistics including costs per user group or printer. 11 Simple printing from ipads/iphones with Horizon on every AirPrint printer. 14

Summary The ThinPrint Engine a print management solution that can be obtained separately helps companies reduce their printing ancillary costs for administration, bandwidth, consumables, and hardware. The ThinPrint Engine frees not only the virtual desktops but also all physical workstations of printer drivers immediately, and printer driver distribution is no longer required. In general, print data traffic in every IT architecture is reduced and accelerated with network printing as well. Centrally managed and database-supported administration of all printers, printer drivers, and settings makes the work of IT departments considerably easier. Users benefit from quick and reliable print process with high-quality results. Users always find the right printer anywhere, including all the desired network printers. The smooth printing workflow within a company ensures high productivity and a positive working environment. This also reduces the number of help desk calls to an absolute minimum. In addition, the ThinPrint Engine provides companies with a complete overview of printer usage and costs. SSL encryption and user authentication at the printer ensure security when printing. Additional white papers or questions: You can download this and many other white papers on relevant IT subjects here: www.thinprint.com/whitepaper What customers think of ThinPrint? Independent, third-party research on how customers view ThinPrint products can be found at: www.techvalidate.com/product-research/thinprint Any questions? The ThinPrint experts are happy to help. Contact us via one of our local offices listed on the next page or send an e-mail to info@thinprint.com. 15

Headquarters ThinPrint GmbH Alt-Moabit 91 a 10559 Berlin, Germany Tel.: +49 (0)30-39 49 31-0 Fax: +49 (0)30-39 49 31-99 Cortado Pty Ltd. Level 12, Plaza Building, Australia Square, 95 Pitt Street NSW 2000 Sydney, Australia Tel.: +61-(0)2-8079 2989 Australia E-Mail: info@thinprint.com www.thinprint.com USA (Colorado) Cortado, Inc. 7600 Grandview Avenue, Suite 200 Denver, CO 80002, USA Tel.: +1-303-487-1302 E-mail: info@cortado.com www.cortado.com Cortado Japan 20th Floor, Marunouchi Trust Tower Main, 1-8-3 Marunouchi Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0005 Tel.: +61-(0)2-8079 2989 Fax: +81-(0)3-52 88 53 81 Japan All names and trademarks are the names and trademarks of the respective manufacturers. Follow ThinPrint: facebook twitter youtube linkedin