GPS (General Printer Server) is designed with a three-tier architecture to provide print server functionality for sites using CSI TCP/IP for VSE. The architecture consists of the following components:
1. **Print Server Process:** This is the core component responsible for receiving print requests, processing them, and forwarding them to the appropriate TCP/IP printer.
It listens on a specific port for incoming print requests. 2. **Configuration File Reader:** This component reads and parses the configuration files, which define printer settings and output mappings.
The configuration files specify the TCP/IP address, port, and other parameters for each printer. 3. **TCP/IP Communication Handler:** This component handles the communication with the TCP/IP network, sending print jobs to the specified printers.
It uses standard TCP/IP protocols for communication. These components communicate through internal function calls and data structures. The Print Server Process receives print requests and uses the Configuration File Reader to determine the appropriate printer settings.
It then uses the TCP/IP Communication Handler to send the print job to the specified printer. GPS does not use a database or storage mechanism beyond the configuration files. The system requires a properly configured TCP/IP network to function.
Competing products may use different architectures, but GPS is designed for simplicity and efficiency within VSE environments using CSI TCP/IP.