Introducing Infoprint Server

Infoprint Server supports LAN and host printing on your z/OS® system. It works together with data stream transforms that other transform products provide. Figure 1 shows how most of the components of Infoprint Server fit into your system. The components of Infoprint Server and the transform products are shaded. Components of Infoprint Server are displayed in yellow, while transform products are displayed in blue. Following the figure is a description of each component.

This figure shows the components of Infoprint Server. — Figure 1. Infoprint Server system diagram

Printer Inventory and Printer Inventory Manager: The Printer Inventory Manager controls the Printer Inventory. The Printer Inventory consists of files in a z/OS UNIX file system (HFS or zFS) that contain information about printers and print jobs. The Printer Inventory also contains information about system configuration.
Infoprint Server Windows Client: The Infoprint Server Windows client consists of the Infoprint Port Monitor, which sends print requests and job attributes to Print Interface.
Print Interface: Print Interface processes print requests from remote clients and from the local z/OS system and allocates output data sets on the JES spool. Print Interface accepts various data formats and can transform input data streams to EBCDIC line data, ASCII text data, AFP, PCL, PostScript, PDF, or other data formats that the printer accepts. A separate transform product is required for some transforms.
NetSpool: NetSpool processes print requests from VTAM® applications, such as CICS® and IMS™, and allocates output data sets on the JES spool. NetSpool accepts SCS, 3270, and binary data streams and can transform input data streams to EBCDIC line data, PCL, PDF, AFP, or other data formats that the printer accepts. A separate transform product is required for some transforms. However, a separate transform product is not required to convert input data streams to the line or PCL formats.
IP PrintWay: IP PrintWay™ transmits data sets from the JES spool to printers or print servers in a TCP/IP network and to email destinations. IP PrintWay accepts various data formats and can transform input data streams to ASCII text data, PCL, PostScript, PDF, or other data formats that the printer accepts. A separate transform product is required for some transforms.
Transform Interface: Transform Interface communicates with other transform products to transform data to another data format. It manages the transforms that run on z/OS, and it sends data to transforms that run on other systems, including Linux, AIX®, and Windows systems.
Infoprint Central (not shown in figure): Infoprint Central is a web-based application that help desk operators use to work with print jobs (output data sets) on the JES spool, printers that are controlled by IP PrintWay extended mode or PSF, and NetSpool logical units. Operators also use Infoprint Central to check system status, view printer definitions, and view, start, and stop job selection rules.
Transforms (separate products): Transform products can transform data streams from one data format to another. These products are separate from Infoprint Server.
PSF for z/OS (separate product): PSF for z/OS can use system configuration information that is stored in the Printer Inventory. In addition, PSF can write messages for print jobs and printers to the Infoprint Server common message log.