DE102019122708A1 - Method for configuring a spooling unit of a print server for high-performance digital printing systems and print servers - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for configuring a spooling unit of a print server for digital high-performance printing systems and to such a print server. The spooling unit is designed to store print jobs and has one or more cache hard disks. One or more printing devices are connected to the print server. Several logical print data cache memories of the spooling unit are automatically set up for the transmission of print data of a print job to one or more printing devices as a function of predetermined parameters of the high-performance printing system that influence the utilization of the print data cache memory, so that the storage capacity of the one or more cache hard disks is increased a plurality of logical print data cache memories is automatically divided, with one of the logical print data cache memories being assigned to each printing device or to each group of printing devices. With the invention, the storage capacity of the print data cache memory can be used very efficiently.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for configuring a spooling unit of a print server for digital high-performance printing systems and to such a print server.

In the book Digital Printing, Technology and Printing Techniques of Oce Digital Printing Presses, 9th edition, February 2005, ISBN 3-00-001081-5, are in chapters 15th Print server for high-performance printers described. This shows the sequence of a method used in an Oce PRISMAproduction Document Output Management System for communication between two processes of a computer system for the transmission of print data.

• - Lesen von Zustandsparametern, welche Systemzustände, wie z. B. die Belastung einer CPU, eines Arbeitsspeichers, eines Dateisystems, eines Netzwerks und/oder einer Systemschnittstelle, beschreiben, mittels eines Sammeltriggers,
• - Triggern von Filtern zum Lesen weiterer Zustandsparameter, welche Prozesszustände von am Druckserver ausgeführten Anwendungsprozessen umfassen, wobei das Triggern mit einer Triggerlogik ausgeführt wird, in Abhängigkeit davon, ob die mit dem Sammel-Trigger erfassten Systemzustände einen außergewöhnlichen Betriebszustand darstellen.

In the DE 10 2016 125 023 A1 a method for operating a print server for digital high-performance printing systems is described, which comprises the following steps:

• - Reading of status parameters, which system statuses, such as B. Describe the load on a CPU, a main memory, a file system, a network and / or a system interface, using a collective trigger,
• - Triggering of filters for reading further status parameters, which include process statuses of application processes running on the print server, the triggering being carried out with trigger logic, depending on whether the system statuses detected with the collective trigger represent an exceptional operating status.

From the DE 10 2016 125 020 A1 discloses a storage system for a print server that has a first logical hard disk and a second logical hard disk. A third mass storage medium is provided, which is used to record the operating system, application programs, control data and trace data. The first logical hard disk is used to record print data (PD: Print Data) and the second logical hard disk is used to record the print data already prepared for printing (R2P: Ready to Print). Print jobs (PD) arriving at the print server are written to the first logical hard disk. When a print service is carried out, the print data is read from the first logical hard disk into the main memory, processed and written back to the first logical hard disk. This is repeated for each print service. This converts the print jobs (PD) into print data ready for printing (R2P: Ready to Print). Only print data already prepared for printing, which are referred to below as ready-to-print print data, are stored on the second logical hard disk. The second logical hard disk can also be referred to as a print data spooler, in which the ready-to-print print data is temporarily stored.

In the case of print servers for digital high-performance printing systems, it is important that a print data stream can be continuously fed to the printing devices. If a print data stream requested by a printing device could not be transmitted in time, the printing device would have to be stopped. However, a printing device for a high-performance printing system cannot be stopped easily. For example, the transport of the recording medium cannot be stopped easily. A surprising halt in the printing process therefore leads to a considerable waste of recording media, which is also referred to as waste. In addition, the downtime of a printing device causes considerable production costs.

For this reason, a print spooler in print servers is usually designed exclusively from a cache memory in which large amounts of data can be written quickly and from which large amounts of data can be read quickly. Since the amount of data in print jobs is known to be large and several print jobs have to be stored simultaneously in such a printer spooler, the capacity of the cache memory must be designed accordingly large. However, cache memories are technically much more complex than conventional mass memories and therefore much more expensive. In addition to the cache memory, a memory system of a print server often also has one or more memory areas for the operating system. The operating system is stored in one of these memory areas. Further memory areas can be assigned to the operating system and used by it. In the following, these storage areas are described as logical hard disks.

The storage system was previously configured manually. If the system is changed, e.g. if the cache memory is exchanged or expanded, the system must be set up again. In case of doubt, this means that all hard drives have to be formatted and the operating system and a print manager have to be reinstalled.

When installing an operating system, multiple partitions can be created on the hard disk. As a rule, at least one system partition and one application partition are provided. Should special logical hard disks be used, for example in the case of the DE 10 2016 125 020 A1 , then they will be set up manually after the operating system is installed, set up according to the current requirements. In principle, the logical hard disks could be set up together with the other partitions when the operating system was installed.

The manual configuration is not only very time-consuming, but also costly due to the use of specialist personnel.

The invention is based on the object of creating a method for configuring a memory system of a print server for digital high-performance printing systems, with which print jobs can be transmitted reliably and very efficiently to one or more printing devices in a simple and inexpensive manner.

The object is achieved by one of the subjects of the independent claims. Advantageous developments and preferred embodiments form the subject of the subclaims.

• - Erfassen der vorbestimmten Parameter,
• - Festlegung einer bestimmten Anzahl an logischen Festplatten in Abhängigkeit der vorbestimmten Parameter,
• - Zuordnung der logischen Festplatten zu zumindest einem Druckdaten-Cachespeicher in Abhängigkeit der vorbestimmten Parameter, und
• - Aufteilung der Speicherkapazität des Speichersystems auf die logischen Festplatten in Abhängigkeit der vorbestimmten Parameter.

In a method for configuring a storage system of a print server for digital high-performance printing systems, the storage system is designed to store an operating system and print jobs and other files and has one or more storage media. One or more printing devices are connected to the print server. The storage media are set up automatically as a function of predetermined parameters of the high-performance printing system. The predetermined parameters include at least benchmark parameters. The benchmark parameters are measured parameters which each reflect a specific property of the print server and / or printing device. The following steps are carried out for automatic setup:

• - acquisition of the predetermined parameters,
• - Definition of a certain number of logical hard disks depending on the predetermined parameters,
• Assignment of the logical hard disks to at least one print data cache memory as a function of the predetermined parameters, and
• - Allocation of the storage capacity of the storage system to the logical hard disks depending on the predetermined parameters.

The predetermined benchmark parameters are analyzed using a benchmark method. The parameters describing the print server, such as storage capacity, read and write speed or latency of the storage media, depend not only on the storage medium actually used, but also on the peripherals surrounding the storage medium, such as data buses, drivers or the integration of the respective hard drive Storage management system, such as a RAID system. Therefore, the actual properties of the respective storage medium cannot always be exactly foreseen on the basis of general manufacturer information, so that the actual properties can be determined with such a benchmark method and taken into account very precisely during configuration. The benchmark procedure can also be used to determine different types of use. The types can be distinguished by different segment sizes during the reading and / or writing process, by different ratios during the simultaneous reading and writing process and / or by the position where the data is physically written. For example, storage media can differ in their performance depending on whether small or large files are written and / or read.

Storage media can be all types of data storage, such as semiconductor memories (RAM, SRAM, ROM, SSD) or hard disks (HDD).

The print data cache memory is designed to transmit print data of a print job to one or more printing devices.

The data stream must always be supplied by the print server when the printing device requests it or is ready to receive it. If the printing process were to be interrupted, then this would result in significant costs in a high-performance printing system. Such an interruption leads to so-called printer clutching. This creates a waste, also known as waste, with a paper web from a few tens of meters to a few hundred meters. It can even result in a print job having to be reprinted from scratch. In addition, the downtime of the printing device causes considerable costs. The expression “continuous print data stream” thus means a print data stream which is available continuously, that is to say without interruption, in order to be able to be transmitted to the printing device (s), but which is not necessarily always transmitted continuously. If no print data is requested from the printing device, the transmission of the print data can also be interrupted. In the prior art, the risk of printer clutching is kept low by choosing a very large capacity of the cache hard disk. However, such large capacity cache disks are very expensive.

The available capacity of the storage media is used effectively through the automatic setup. This means that no unplanned capacity goes unused. This would be the case, for example, if the logical The hard disk on which the operating system is to be installed has a multiple of the capacity actually required. Since the capacity of the operating system will not change significantly during operation, the capacity of the logical hard drive assigned to it can also be more tightly measured than with commercially available computers. The remaining capacity can thus be allocated to the print data cache, for example. The capacity of the print data cache memory can also be optimized so that each through-device has a capacity corresponding to the data stream. Therefore, storage media with a smaller total capacity can be selected for the print server as a whole.

Furthermore, no fixed order of the storage media is necessary. If storage media are connected to a computer system, the names in the operating system are usually assigned according to the order in which they are inserted. However, assignments that are arbitrary or difficult to understand can also be made. For example, hard disks under Linux are referred to as sda, sdb, sdc, etc. in the order in which they are inserted. HDD hard disks are again referred to as hda, hdb, etc. Some operating systems, e.g. Ubuntu, designate all hard drives as sda, sdb, etc. An assignment based on this designation is initially not possible.

The automatic setup enables the assignment to take place via the properties of the storage media. For example, it can be irrelevant whether the fastest storage medium is called sda or sdb, as long as the property is known.

The predetermined parameters preferably include default parameters, the default parameters being parameters entered by the user or parameters entered by the user and calculated therefrom.

When the storage capacity of the storage system is divided among the logical hard disks, one or more print data caches are preferably assigned to the logical hard disks.

One of the logical print data cache memories is assigned to each printing device or to each group of printing devices. As a result, each printing device or each group of printing devices is assigned a logical print data cache memory which is adapted to the requirements of the respective printing device or group of printing devices. The storage capacity of the cache hard disks can be optimally used by individually adapting the logical print data cache. It has been shown that this individual adaptation with a comparatively small storage capacity of the cache hard disks enables several printing devices to be reliably supplied with their respective print data stream. The storage capacity of the cache hard drives is used much more efficiently than with conventional print servers.

Such a logical print data cache memory can be represented by a partition with respect to the operating system used on the print server. In the context of the invention, a partition is a logical hard disk of an operating system.

• - Anzahl der Speichermedien,
• - Typ der Speichermedien,
• - Anzahl der Druckgeräte,
• - Druckdatenströme, welche die jeweiligen Druckgeräte benötigen, um unterbrechungsfrei drucken zu können,
• - durchschnittliche Anzahl an Verarbeitungsschritte der Druckauftragsdateien,
• - durchschnittliche Anzahl an zu druckenden Seiten,
• - durchschnittliche Dateigröße,
• - durchschnittliche Größe der Druckaufträge, welche auf die jeweiligen Druckdaten-Cachespeicher geladen werden sollen, und/oder
• - durchschnittliche Belastungen der Druckdaten-Cachespeicher.

The predetermined parameters for defining the number of logical hard disks preferably include one or more of the following parameters:

• - number of storage media,
• - type of storage media,
• - number of pressure devices,
• - Print data streams that the respective printing devices require in order to be able to print without interruption,
• - average number of processing steps of the print job files,
• - average number of pages to be printed,
• - average file size,
• average size of the print jobs which are to be loaded into the respective print data cache memory, and / or
• - Average loads on the print data cache.

• - die Anzahl der logischen Festplatten ist proportional und insbesondere linear proportional zu den angeschlossenen Druckgeräten,
• - die Anzahl der logischen Festplatten ist proportional und insbesondere linear proportional zu der Anzahl der Speichermedien,

• - die Speicherkapazität der Druckdaten-Cachespeicher ist proportional und insbesondere linear proportional zu dem jeweiligen Druckdatenstrom und/oder zu der durchschnittlichen Belastungen der Druckdaten-Cachespeicher, und/oder
• - die Speicherkapazität ist antiproportional und insbesondere linear antiproportional zu der Anzahl der Speichermedien.

The number and division of the storage capacity of the logical hard disks is preferably based on one or more of the following criteria:

• - the number of logical hard disks is proportional and in particular linearly proportional to the connected printing devices,
• - the number of logical hard disks is proportional and in particular linearly proportional to the number of storage media,

• the storage capacity of the print data cache is proportional and in particular linearly proportional to the respective print data stream and / or to the average load on the print data cache, and / or
• the storage capacity is inversely proportional and in particular linear inversely proportional to the number of storage media.

Furthermore, the number and the division can depend on whether the storage medium should be fail-safe or not. This means whether a failure of the storage medium would be critical. A storage medium on which the operating system is stored would have to be more fail-safe than a single one of several cache memories.

In principle, a large data stream also requires a large storage capacity. However, with a very fast cache hard disk, such as an SSD hard disk or a RAM memory, a high data stream can be provided even with a lower storage capacity. The storage capacity for a logical print data cache memory can thus be compensated for with a fast cache hard disk.

Since it is expedient to always store the print jobs completely in the print data cache memory, the storage capacity of the corresponding print data cache memory must be dimensioned correspondingly large for a printing device that usually processes large print jobs. It should be noted that at least sufficient storage capacity for two print jobs is preferably provided in a print data cache memory so that a print job that is currently being printed and a second print job that is ready to be printed are kept when the other print job is printed is completed.

The storage capacity of the print data cache memory can be designed to be proportional and in particular linearly proportional to the print data stream of the respective printing device.

If the load on the individual print data cache memories is known, then the storage capacity is preferably divided according to the load on the individual print data cache memories.

Since the print data cache memory can include storage capacities of different cache hard disks, which are at different speeds, the writing and / or reading speed of the different cache hard disks can be taken into account when dividing the storage capacity, the faster the writing or reading speed of the respective Cache hard disk, the lower the storage capacity that has to be allocated to the corresponding print data cache memory, since a higher throughput can be achieved with a smaller storage capacity due to the higher reading and / or writing speed.

The configuration of the print data cache memory is preferably started when a change in the printing system is detected, which changes the load on the print data cache memory. Such a changed load can e.g. B. can also be detected by exceeding or falling below predetermined load limits of the print data cache memory.

• - sich ein mittlerer Druckdatenstrom um zumindest 10%, vorzugsweise um zumindest 25% und insbesondere um zumindest 50%, innerhalb eines vorbestimmten Zeitraumes, von z.B. zumindest einer Stunde, vorzugsweise von zumindest zehn Stunden und insbesondere von zumindest 24 Stunden, ändert,
• - sich der Zustand des den Druckdatenstrom empfangenden Druckgerätes ändert, indem z.B. ein Druckgerät angeschlossen, entfernt oder in den Wartungszustand versetzt wird,
• - sich die verfügbare Speicherkapazität der Cache-Festplatten ändert, indem z.B. ein Speichermedium hinzugefügt, entfernt oder ausgetauscht wird, und/oder
• - sich die Zuweisung eines Druckgerätes zu einem der Druckdaten-Cachespeicher ändert, was z.B. durch einen manuellen Eingriff erfolgen kann.

Such a change in the printing system can be detected if a change in the workload occurs in the event of a change in the printing system or if the hardware required to transmit the print jobs from the print server to the printing devices is changed, especially if

• - an average print data stream changes by at least 10%, preferably by at least 25% and in particular by at least 50%, within a predetermined period of time, e.g. at least one hour, preferably at least ten hours and in particular at least 24 hours,
• - the status of the printing device receiving the print data stream changes, e.g. by connecting or removing a printing device or putting it into the maintenance state,
• the available storage capacity of the cache hard disks changes, for example by adding, removing or exchanging a storage medium, and / or
• - the assignment of a printing device to one of the print data cache memory changes, which can be done for example by manual intervention.

Printing devices can be characterized by a print data flow requirement, the print data flow requirement being the requirement of the printing device, how fast it must read or receive data in order to be able to print without interruption. The print data flow requirement is primarily influenced by the printing speed and the type of print image. A color print image, in particular with an image with different color levels, comprises a larger amount of data per page than pure black and white print images, especially if they consist exclusively of text and can be reproduced in a correspondingly coded manner (e.g. in ASCI).

The available storage capacity of the cache hard disks can change if, for example, a storage medium is added, removed or exchanged. Since the storage capacity of the cache hard disks has to be shared with other applications on the print server, the storage capacity available for the spooling unit can change if the other applications on the print server change.

For example, the available memory capacity can change if the working mode of the corresponding printing system changes from a printing mode in which printing is only carried out for 12 hours on the five working days per week (12/5 working mode) to a working mode in which 24 Hours of printing 7 days a week (24/7 work mode). In a 24/7 working mode, conversion programs that convert incoming print jobs on the print server, for example in format, have to process the print jobs just as quickly as the data must be forwarded to the printing devices. Therefore, conversion programs in 24/7 mode require more computing power on the print server than in 12/5 mode, in which the majority of the conversions of the print jobs can be processed during the printing breaks at night or on the weekend. If the conversion programs, which represent special applications on the print server, require more computing power, then less RAM memory is available for RAM disks than cache hard disks. A change in the operating mode of the printing system can therefore cause a change in the available storage capacity for the cache hard disks which are available for the spooling unit. Activating a conversion program can also demand additional computing power on the print server and change the available storage capacity of the cache hard disks. Conversion programs are very computationally intensive applications on a print server, so that changes to the settings or the use of conversion programs can result in a change in the memory capacity available for the spooling unit.

• - Überwachen vorbestimmter Dateien, welche den Systemzustand des Drucksystems wiedergeben, wobei bei einer Änderung einer solchen Datei geprüft wird, ob dies eine relevante Drucksystemänderung ist, um das Konfigurieren der Speicherkapazität des bzw. der Druckdaten-Cachespeicher zu starten,
• - Überwachen der Druckdatenströme, um bei einer relevanten Änderung das Konfigurieren der Speicherkapazität des bzw. der Druckdaten-Cachespeicher zu starten,
• - Überwachen der Druckdaten-Cachespeicher, um einer Überbelastung oder Unterbelastung eines der Druckdaten-Cachespeicher zu erfassen, um das Konfigurieren der Speicherkapazität des bzw. der Druckdaten-Cachespeicher bei einer vorbestimmten Über- oder Unterbelastung zu starten.

Detecting a printing system change can be accomplished using one or more of the following methods:

• - Monitoring of predetermined files which reflect the system status of the printing system, with a change to such a file being checked whether this is a relevant printing system change in order to start the configuration of the storage capacity of the print data cache memory (s),
• - Monitoring the print data streams in order to start the configuration of the storage capacity of the print data cache memory (s) in the event of a relevant change,
• - Monitoring the print data cache memories to detect an overload or underutilization of one of the print data caches to start configuring the storage capacity of the print data cache memory (s) at a predetermined over or underutilization.

Predetermined parameters that reflect the system status of the printing system are, for example, the size or designation of a storage medium. If such a parameter changes or a change in the printing system is detected in some other way, a new distribution of the storage capacity of the cache hard disks to the print data cache memories is preferably calculated. If this distribution differs by a predetermined amount, then this change in the printing system is judged to be relevant and a configuration of the print data cache memory is started at the next opportunity. The predetermined amount is, for example, at least 5% and in particular at least 10% of the storage capacity of a current print data cache memory.

The next opportunity is a time when the print server is not used for a certain period of time. This can be a certain time of day, for example. The time can also be specified manually by the user.

The spooling unit can optionally have an additional spooling memory in order to temporarily store print jobs before they are forwarded to the print data cache memory. Large quantities of print jobs can be stored in the spooling memory at low cost. As a result, a relatively small print data cache memory is sufficient to ensure a fast and continuous supply of print data to the printing device.

The total capacity of the spooling memory is preferably greater than the capacity of the print data cache memory, in particular the capacity is many times greater, at least twice, preferably at least 5 times and, if possible, at least 10 times . All print jobs to be printed are preferably stored on the spooling memory. The print jobs are then forwarded from the spooling memory to the individual print data cache memories, which then forward the print jobs to the individual printing devices. Since the print jobs can be held in the print data memory, they can be easily deleted in the print data cache without being lost.

The capacity of the operating system memory is preferably no greater than 150%, preferably no greater than 125% and in particular no greater than 110% of the size of the operating system.

• - System-Loggingspeicher (auch „var“ genannt),
• - Auslagerungsspeicher (auch „swap“ genannt),
• - Servicespeicher (auch „service“ genannt), und/oder
• - Benchmarkspeicher (auch „benchmark“ genannt).

In addition to the operating system memory, the memory system can have further logical system memories, such as a logical:

• - System logging memory (also called "var"),
• - swap memory (also called "swap"),
• - Service memory (also called "service"), and / or
• - Benchmark memory (also called "benchmark").

Preferably the print data cache is automatically formatted. When formatting, a suitable formatting format is selected, which is also referred to as the file system. Typical formatting formats are e.g. XFS, ext4, BTRFS, NTFS, FAT or exFAT. FAT is a particularly widespread formatting format. exFAT was developed for flash memory, while NTFS is characterized by advantageous data carrier compression and less data loss compared to FAT. The formatting formats can differ in, for example, block size, security behavior, reliability, data loss probability, data carrier compression option or block size limitation. A different formatting may be necessary depending on the mass storage medium, operating system and / or application. Furthermore, this ensures that no data remains in one of the print data cache memories that are not print jobs and could occupy memory space on the print data cache memory.

The print data cache is preferably emptied automatically. This can be done by deleting a corresponding entry in a directory or, with certain types of print data cache memory, by overwriting each memory area of the print data cache memory one or more times with random data. This will delete any old print jobs that could occupy the print data cache. Furthermore, multiple overwriting ensures that the data can no longer be read out later. This leads to increased security.

The logical hard disks are preferably assigned in such a way that they influence one another as little as possible. If two or more logical hard disks are assigned to one storage medium, with certain types of storage media it can happen that the two logical hard disks cannot be read out or written into the logical hard disks at the same time. A storage medium is therefore assigned to as few logical hard disks as possible. The logical hard disk of the operating system, on which many small files (often smaller than 50 MB) are read and written, should preferably be assigned to another storage medium, such as a logical hard disk for spooling print files that are mostly large (larger than 100 MB) .

The load which arises from reading and writing data is preferably distributed. This can be achieved by distributing the logical hard disks over as many storage media as possible.

Another advantage of distributing the logical hard disks over as many storage media as possible would be that if there are too many files and / or directories, the speed for creating or deleting files on the corresponding logical hard disk can be reduced. A typical limit here is 1,000 directories and 10,000 files.

A print server for digital high-performance prints, with which print jobs are received, comprises a CPU, a spooling unit which comprises a print data cache memory, the print server being provided with a computer program which is designed to carry out the method explained above.

The print server preferably has one or more back-end modules which read print jobs from the print data cache memory assigned to them and forward them to one or more printing devices. The number of print data caches is preferably equal to the number of backend modules. Under certain circumstances, it can make sense for a plurality of print data cache memories to be assigned to a printing device if the printing device is often used to print different types of print images. This is the case, for example, if the successive print jobs alternately contain mainly colored image pages or mainly pure text pages.

A plurality of storage media are preferably integrated into a storage management system, in particular a software RAID system (redundant array of independent disks), and together form a logical hard disk.

A logical hard disk, or a property and / or a functionality of a logical hard disk, the functionality describing the executable property of the logical hard disk, such as guaranteeing a certain capacity or a certain I / O performance, can be defined by the operating system and / or or made available, generated, changed and / or deleted by appropriate software. The logical hard disks can also be connected externally to the system, for example by means of a storage area network (SAN for short). Using certain procedures, such as iSCSI (Internet Small Computer System Interface), real or virtual storage media, which can have logical hard disks, can be controlled.

Logical hard drives are storage areas that can be accessed with operating system commands like a conventional physical hard drive. These storage areas can be designed independently of physical storage areas and, for example, comprise only part of a physical storage medium or several parts of different physical storage media.

The present invention is particularly suitable for use on a print server.

• 1 schematisch ein Drucksystem mit einem Druckserver in einem Blockschaltbild,
• 2 eine Speicherstruktur des Druckservers mit einer Spooling-Einheit in einem Blockschaltbild,
• 3 eine Speicherstruktur eines Druckservers gemäß eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels mit einer Spooling-Einheit in einem Blockschaltbild,
• 4 wesentliche Software-Module, logische Datenverbindungen und logische Speichereinheiten zur Ausführung des Verfahrens in einem Blockschaltbild,
• 5 ein Verfahren zum Konfigurieren eines Speichersystems in einem Flussdiagramm,
• 6a(1) ein Verfahren zur automatische Bestimmung des Zwecks/Reihenfolge/Größe des Speichermediums in einem Flussdiagramm,
• 6a(2) Fortsetzung der 6a(1),
• 6b ein Verfahren zur Verwendung von Vorgabe- und/oder Benchmark-Parameter, um die Zuordnung/Reihenfolge der Speichermedien zu bestimmen, in einem Flussdiagramm,
• 6c ein Verfahren zur Verwendung von vorgegebenen Zuordnungsparameter in einem Flussdiagramm,
• 7a ein Verfahren zur Bestimmung einer Standardkapazität einer logischen Festplatte in einem Flussdiagramm,
• 7b ein Verfahren zur Bestimmung der Standardkapazität der logischen Festplatten auf dem Speichermedium I in einem Flussdiagramm,
• 7c ein Verfahren zur Bestimmung der Standardkapazität der logischen Festplatten auf dem Speichermedium II, III, etc. in einem Flussdiagramm,
• 7d ein Verfahren zur Bestimmung der Standardkapazität der logischen Festplatten auf dem Speichermedium I beim normalen und Sicherheitsbereich in einem Flussdiagramm,
• 8a(1) ein Verfahren zum Anzeigen eines Benutzervorschlages und Eingabe von Änderungen in einem Flussdiagramm,
• 8a(2) Fortsetzung der 8a(1),
• 8a(3) Fortsetzung der 8a(2),
• 8b ein Verfahren zum Umgang mit einer erneuten Zuordnung der Speichermedien in einem Flussdiagramm,
• 9 ein Verfahren zum Hinzufügen von logischen Festplatten während des laufenden Betriebes in einem Flussdiagramm,
• 10 ein Verfahren zum Wechsel zwischen einer logischen Festplatte und einer logischen Sicherheitsfestplatte in einem Flussdiagramm,
• 11 ein Verfahren zur Überprüfung der Speichermedien/logischen Festplatten während des Betriebstarts in einem Flussdiagramm, und
• 12 ein Verfahren zum Überwachen der Speichermedien/logischen Festplatten während des Betriebs in einem Flussdiagramm.

The invention is explained in more detail below using the drawing as an example. The drawings show in:

• 1 schematically a printing system with a print server in a block diagram,
• 2 a memory structure of the print server with a spooling unit in a block diagram,
• 3 a memory structure of a print server according to a further exemplary embodiment with a spooling unit in a block diagram,
• 4th essential software modules, logical data connections and logical storage units for executing the method in a block diagram,
• 5 a method for configuring a storage system in a flowchart,
• 6a (1) a method for the automatic determination of the purpose / order / size of the storage medium in a flow chart,
• 6a (2) Continuation of the 6a (1) ,
• 6b a method for using default and / or benchmark parameters to determine the assignment / sequence of the storage media in a flow chart,
• 6c a method for using predefined assignment parameters in a flow chart,
• 7a a method for determining a standard capacity of a logical hard drive in a flow chart,
• 7b a method for determining the standard capacity of the logical hard disks on storage medium I in a flow chart,
• 7c a method for determining the standard capacity of the logical hard disks on storage medium II, III, etc. in a flow chart,
• 7d a method for determining the standard capacity of the logical hard disks on storage medium I in the normal and safety area in a flow chart,
• 8a (1) a method for displaying a user suggestion and entering changes in a flowchart,
• 8a (2) Continuation of the 8a (1) ,
• 8a (3) Continuation of the 8a (2) ,
• 8b a method of dealing with a reallocation of storage media in a flowchart,
• 9 a method for adding logical hard disks during operation in a flowchart,
• 10 a method for switching between a logical hard drive and a logical security hard drive in a flowchart,
• 11 a method for checking the storage media / logical hard disks during the start of operation in a flowchart, and
• 12 a method for monitoring the storage media / logical disks during operation in a flowchart.

The invention is explained below using a printing system 1 explained in more detail. The printing system 1 assigns a print server 2 ( 1 ) on which several pressure devices 3 via one data line each 4th are connected. The data line 4th usually corresponds to a network standard such as Ethernet.

The print server 2 is with a network (LAN or WAN) and especially with the Internet 5 connected to which one or more clients 6th connected to which print jobs are generated and via the Internet 5 to the print server 2 be transmitted.

The print server 2 receives the print jobs and forwards them to the respective printing devices 3 continue. The print jobs are in the print server 2 cached, processed as needed so that they can be accessed by the print server 2 received at the printing device 3 can be rasterized and printed out. On the print server, an operator also has the option of viewing the print jobs, for example with a so-called preview program, whereby he can check individual pages and influence the forwarding and processing of the print jobs on the print server.

Such print servers, which forward print data to one or more printing devices, are usually used in high-performance printing used. In the context of the present invention, high-performance printing is understood to mean the use of a printing device that can print at least 5 A4-size pages per second. However, printing devices for high-performance printing can also be designed for higher printing speeds, such as at least 30 A4 pages per second and in particular at least 50 A4 pages per second and preferably at least 90 A4 pages per second. The printing devices are digital printing devices, which means that print data are transmitted to them in digital form, which are sent to a print head in the printing device 3 be converted into a print image that is applied to a recording medium, which is often paper, by means of a printing ink. Such a printing device is typically designed as an inkjet printing device or as an electrophotographic printing device. It can also be a printing device whose printing ink is liquid toner.

Experience has shown that the amount of data on a color page in A4 size in Portable Document Format, or PDF for short, is around 0.5 to 2 MB on average. With a data volume of 2 MB per page and a print speed of 50 pages per second, this means that the printer can receive a print data stream of 100 MB / sec. is fed. These print data have not yet been rasterized. In the case of high-resolution color printing, and in particular in the case of printing and / or in the case of documents in which several images are anchored, the amount of data per A4 page can be 10 to 25 MB and in extreme cases up to 600 MB.

The print server 2 must therefore receive a considerable stream of data, the data contained therein to the individual printing devices 3 assign and adjust if necessary. Such an adaptation can be a change in the format of the print data stream (IPDS, PCL, PDF, etc.), a scaling of the print data, a change in the resolution of the print data or a different adaptation of the print data to the requirements of the respective printing device or to special requirements of the Include operator of the printing device or a client of a print job.

The storage structure of the print server 2 ( 2 ) includes a spooling unit 8th with at least two hard drives 9 , 10 being the one hard drive 9 is a conventional mass storage device, which is why this hard drive is hereinafter referred to as M hard drive 9 is referred to, which is used to store print data (PD: Print Data), and the other hard disk is formed from a cache memory, which is why it is used as a cache memory medium 10 referred to as.

The print server 2 assigns another hard drive 11 which is used to record the operating system, application programs, control data and trace data. This hard drive is hereinafter referred to as the system hard drive 11 designated.

The one on the client 6th generated print data are available over the internet 5 to the print server 2 and then initially on the M hard drive 9 saved.

The print data is converted into ready-to-print print data, with it being stored on the M hard disk 9 continue to be held. The converted ready-to-print print data is saved on the cache memory medium 10 transfer. The cache medium 10 is, as explained above, a cache memory in which the data can be written and read quickly. This allows the ready-to-print print data to be sent to the printer quickly 3 are fed.

Both the print data and the ready-to-print print data are divided into individual print jobs. A print job can contain one or more files.

The spooling unit 8th is characterized by the fact that it is already on the cache disk 10 Saved print jobs can be deleted again in order to free memory space for print jobs with a higher priority. This is explained in more detail below. This makes it possible to use the capacity of the cache memory medium 10 to train relatively small and still the connected pressure equipment 3 to provide a continuous print data stream.

In 2 are the M hard drive 9 who have favourited Cache Disk 10 and the system hard drive 11 shown as separate hard drives. In principle, it is also possible for these hard disks to simply form separate partitions on a single hard disk. The term “partition” is used here in the sense of a logical hard drive.

The M hard drive 9 and the cache medium 10 the spooling unit 8th are, however, at least two separate hardware elements ( 3 ). The cache medium 10 is formed from a cache memory, whereas the M hard disk 9 is a conventional mass storage medium that is not a cache memory. A cache memory in the context of the present invention is a mass storage device with a faster writing and reading speed than the M hard disk 9 . Therefore, the cache memory or the cache memory medium 10 can also be a conventional, fast hard disk with a magnetic disk (HDD). However, faster mass storage media are preferred, in particular semiconductor memories such as an SSD, a flash memory and / or a RAM disk. As explained in more detail below, the cache memory can also comprise several different mass storage media in combination.

The following are the logical elements of the printing system 1 , that is, the software modules, logical data connections and logical storage units based on 4th explained in more detail. The print jobs are sent to print data generation programs 12 which on the client 6th run, generated and on the internet 5 to an input module 13 of the print server 2 transmitted. The input module 13 writes the print jobs to a logical M hard disk 17th , which is the logical counterpart to the M hard drive 9 is and part of the spooling unit 8th is. The logical M disk 17th is in the following spooling memory 17th called.

The print server 2 or the spooling unit 8th is characterized by a configuration module 23 from that automatically cache disk 10 or the cache hard disks 10 into multiple print data caches 18th can configure. It also configures the spooling memory 17th and a logical system hard drive 24 , which is the logical counterpart to the system hard drive 11 is.

Compared to conventional print servers, the entire capacity of the print data cache memory 18th be comparatively low and still a safe and reliable supply of the individual pressure devices 3 with print data enabled.

Print data services 15th read the print job from the spooling memory 17th and edit it. After processing, the print data services write 15th the print job back to the spooling memory 17th . Processing by means of one or more such print data services means that the 2 Incoming print jobs are converted into print jobs that represent ready-to-print print data and thus directly from the printing devices 3 can be printed. These print jobs converted in this way are referred to below as R2P print jobs.

These ready-to-print print jobs are handled by a spooler module 16 transmitted to one of several logical print data cache memories 18 / 18.2 according to predetermined rules. In the present exemplary embodiment, all are at the spooling unit 8th incoming print jobs first in the spooling memory 17th saved. The print jobs can be a specific one of the printing devices 3 or if this is not the case, then the print jobs are processed by the spooler module based on their properties 16 one of the pressure devices 3 assigned. Print jobs with many colored images are preferably assigned to a high-performance color printer, whereas forms in black and white are preferably assigned to a special form printer. This assignment can be made to one of the printing devices according to a large number of different parameters, such as the size of the print job, color component, resolution of the print image and the like 3 be assigned.

Is a print job to a specific printing device 3 assigned, then the spooler module tries 16 the print job in the print data cache memory 18th to write that through one of the backend modules 19th the respective pressure device 3 assigned.

A method is described below as an example, such as the storage system of the printing system 1 configured. The configuration is done by the configuration module 23 carried out.

Such a configuration is started, for example, when a print server is initially set up. Alternatively, the configuration can be carried out when the system changes, e.g. when the storage media are expanded.

The method begins with step S1.

In the next step (S2), predetermined parameters are recorded.

These predetermined parameters include benchmark parameters that are recorded using a benchmark method.

In the benchmark process to check the capacity of a storage medium and the read and write speed, random data records are written to the storage medium until it is completely filled. The speed at which the data is saved is monitored. This not only determines the maximum capacity, but also a write speed profile. A reading speed profile can be created by reading this written data. Alternatively or in combination, a small (benchmark) partition can be created last on the storage medium. With these you can quickly measure the speed of a full hard disk without having to write it full again. The first partition can be used to measure the maximum speed. If there are further partitions, the respective speed can also be determined.

In this exemplary embodiment, the predetermined parameters also include default parameters. These are, for example, the expected average size of the print jobs that are to be loaded into the respective print data cache memory and / or the average loads on the print data cache. The average load on the print data cache is composed on the one hand of the speed of the print job and the type of print job. For example, printing a photo with 50 A4 pages per second is significantly higher than printing a black and white text with 10 A4 pages per second.

• - Anzahl der Speichermedien,
• - Typ der Speichermedien,
• - Anzahl der Druckgeräte, und
• - Druckdatenströme, welche die jeweiligen Druckgeräte benötigen, um unterbrechungsfrei drucken zu können.

Other predetermined parameters are for example:

• - number of storage media,
• - type of storage media,
• - Number of pressure devices, and
• - Print data streams that the respective printing devices require in order to be able to print without interruption.

In the next step (S3), a specific number of logical hard disks is defined as a function of the predetermined parameters.

The number of logical hard drives can be linearly proportional to the connected printing devices and / or to the number of storage media.

• - eine Cache-Festplatte 10, die eine geringe Kapazität und eine schnelle Lese- und Schreibgeschwindigkeit aufweist,
• - eine M-Festplatte 9, die eine große Kapazität und eine langsame Lese- und Schreibgeschwindigkeit aufweist, und
• - eine System-Festplatte 11, die eine geringe Kapazität (etwa 125% der Größe des Betriebssystems) und eine langsame Lese- und Schreibgeschwindigkeit aufweist. Klein und groß, bzw. schnell und langsam ist hier jeweils in Bezug zu den anderen beiden Speichermedien zu verstehen.

In this embodiment, three storage media are provided:

• - a cache hard drive 10 which has small capacity and fast reading and writing speed,
• - an M hard drive 9 , which has a large capacity and a slow reading and writing speed, and
• - a system hard drive 11 that has a small capacity (about 125% the size of the operating system) and slow read and write speeds. Small and large, or fast and slow, are to be understood here in relation to the other two storage media.

There are also five pressure devices 3 connected.

• - eine logische System-Festplatte 24,
• - einen Spooling-Speicher 17, und
• - fünf Druckdaten-Cachespeicher 18-18.5.

Seven logical hard disks are required for operation:

• - a logical system hard drive 24 ,
• - a spooling memory 17th , and
• - five print data caches 18-18.5.

Next, in step S4, the logical hard disks are assigned depending on the predetermined parameters.

The storage media are preferably divided into as few logical areas as possible. An attempt is therefore first made to ensure that each storage medium comprises as few logical hard disks as possible. The logical areas are used because of space requirements, various restrictions, mutual file cache interference (flush) and / or speed.

The logical system hard drive 24 is intended for storing the operating system. The logical hard disk should thus have a capacity that is no greater than 150%, preferably no greater than 125% and in particular no greater than 110% of the size of the operating system.

The logical system hard drive 24 thus becomes the system hard drive 11 assigned.

Because the spooling memory 17th If a large capacity is required, it becomes the M disk 9 assigned.

The cache hard drive 10 is the fastest of the connected storage media. Therefore, it is allocated to the five print data caches 18-18.5.

Step S5 follows, in which the storage capacity of the storage system is divided among the logical hard disks as a function of the predetermined parameters.

In this embodiment, the total capacity of the system hard disk 11 the logical system hard drive 24 assigned. The entire capacity of the M hard drive is also used 9 the spooling memory 17th assigned.

The capacity of the cache disk 10 is divided for the five print data caches 18-18.5.

If the individual print jobs are quite large, it will take a long time to load the print jobs from the spooling memory 17th into the print data cache 18th to load. Then it is necessary that the print data cache 18th is made correspondingly large, so that there is sufficient capacity for one or more additional print jobs in the print data cache 18th is present attached to the printing device 3 be transmitted while another print job is in the same print data cache 18th is loaded.

The minimum size of the print data cache 18th is to be dimensioned so that there is at least capacity to accept two print jobs, so that one of the two print jobs is saved from the print data cache 18th to the Pressure device 3 can be transferred and the other of the two print jobs from the spooling memory 17th into the print data cache 18th can be loaded. However, it has been shown that this minimum size is not sufficient in practice, in particular when there is a high print data stream and when the size of the print jobs varies greatly. Therefore, the size of the print data cache memory 18th the larger to be selected, the larger the print data stream and the greater the variance of the mean value of the print jobs.

The available storage capacity of print data cache memory 18th is therefore from the configuration module 23 as evenly as possible between the individual print data caches 18th divided, this division being weighted primarily according to the average size of the print jobs. If the mean size of the print jobs is subject to strong variance, then it is advisable to use the capacity of the corresponding print data cache memory 18th to increase something. If the data streams are quite high, it is also advisable to increase the capacity of the print data cache 18th to increase and / or, if different cache memory media should be available, the corresponding print data cache memory 18th map to a fast cache storage medium.

This weighted, even distribution of the cache memory capacities for the individual print data caches 18th an efficient and continuous transfer of the print jobs from the individual print data caches 18th to the pressure equipment 3 achieved.

The method ends with step S6.

After the storage system of the print server 2 configured, the appropriate logical hard drives can be formatted in the appropriate formats.

Since, as described above, the logical hard disks are not necessarily restricted to one storage medium ( 3 ), the configuration module 23 Allocate capacities from a storage medium to any logical hard disk. This allows the capacity of the logical hard disks to be adapted to requirements.

A new configuration can be carried out if the system changes. For example, are new pressure equipment 3 connected, the capacity requirement may increase. A new configuration is necessary when additional storage media are connected.

Another possibility is that reconfiguration does not require all logical disks to be reformatted. The expanded or reduced capacities are assigned to the respective logical hard disks by reassigning the areas on the storage media.

An additional possibility is that several printing devices have a print data cache memory 18th assigned. The print data cache 18th then has several sub-areas. This is particularly effective when there are two print data caches 18th each has different read and write speeds. Depending on the needs of a pressure device 3 this can be assigned to either one or the other print data cache memory.

However, it can also be assigned to both at the same time, so depending on the print job, data from one or the other print data cache memory 18th to recieve.

Another exemplary embodiment of a method for configuring the memory system of the printing system described above is described below 1 ( 1 to 12 ) explained. The configuration is done by the configuration module 23 carried out.

First, the automatic determination of the purpose, order and size of the storage media is described ( 6a) . The procedure begins with step F1.

In the next step (F2) it is checked whether the printing system 1 already includes logical disks. If YES, the process proceeds to step F22. If NOT, the next step is F3, in which it is checked whether only default parameters are available for one or more storage media. If they are present, the calculated size, data rate and / or type for the one or more storage media is determined in step F4.

If there are no default parameters, it is checked in step F5 whether only benchmark parameters are available. If YES, the measured size, data rate and / or type is established for the one or more storage media (step F6).

In the next step F7 it is checked whether both default and benchmark parameters are present. If YES, both parameter types are combined in step F8 and the parameters for the one or more storage media are defined.

In the following step F9 it is checked whether the printing system 1 includes more than three storage media. If YES, it is checked in step F10 whether the predetermined parameters instructions for Mapping these storage media include. If YES, the process proceeds to step F18. If the predetermined parameters do not include instructions for assignment, a storage medium I is assigned to the storage medium which has the smallest capacity and yet has a capacity greater than a predetermined minimum capacity of, for example, 600 GB (step F11). The largest storage medium is allocated to a storage medium II and the remaining storage media are allocated to storage medium III, IV, etc.

Has the printing system 1 no more than three storage media, it is checked in step F12 whether the printing system 1 has three storage media. If this is the case, it is checked in step F13 whether the predetermined parameters include instructions for assignment. If this is the case, the process continues with step F18; if not, the storage media are allocated as follows. Storage medium I is assigned to the storage medium with the smallest capacity and a capacity greater than 600 GB (step F14). A storage medium II is assigned to the largest storage medium and the remaining storage medium is assigned to a storage medium III.

Includes the printing system 1 not three storage media, it checks whether the printing system 1 comprises two storage media (step F15). If this is the case, the storage medium with the smallest capacity and a capacity of at least 600 GB is assigned to a storage medium I in step F16. The largest storage medium is assigned to a storage medium II.

If the printing system does not include two storage media, it is checked in step F17 whether the printing system 1 comprises a single storage medium. If YES, the one storage medium is referred to as storage medium I from now on. The next step is F26.

The following describes the steps to take when the predetermined parameters include instructions for mapping ( 6b) . The use of default and / or benchmark parameters to start the allocation / sequence of the storage media begins with step F18. Next, the capacity and throughput for a storage medium I are assigned (F19). The throughput should be between 200 to 600 MB per second and the capacity between 600 and 1200 GB, for example. In the next step F20, the remaining largest storage medium is assigned to storage medium II, the throughput being greater than 200 megabytes per second, for example, and the capacity being greater than 600 gigabytes, for example. In the next step F21, the remaining storage media are assigned as storage media III, IV, etc. The next step is S26.

The following describes the use of predefined assignment parameters ( 6c ). This procedure can be used in particular if a server with identical hardware and / or configuration has to be replaced. The procedure starts with F22.

In step F23 the assignment parameters are read out from a configuration file.

In the following step F24 it is checked whether the storage media / logical hard disks which are allocated by the allocation parameters are in the printing system 1 are present and do not display an error message. Are they in the printing system 1 present and they do not output an error message, the process continues with step 51. If they are not present in the printing system and / or output an error message, the corresponding storage media and / or logical hard disks are marked and the next step is also step F51.

The following explains the procedure for determining a standard capacity of a logical disk ( 7a) . A standard capacity is a default value of the capacity of the logical hard disk of the configuration module 23 is assigned. The method begins with step F26.

• - Logische UEFI-Festplatte zu 0,2 GB
• - Logische „/" (root) Festplatte zu 75 GB
• - Logische „var“ Festplatte zu 25 GB
• - Logische „swap“ Festplatte zu 2 GB
• - Logische „service“ Festplatte zu 50 GB, wobei die Mindestgröße 30 GB beträgt
• - Logische „benchmark“ Festplatte zu 15 GB.

In the following step F27, the standard capacities of the logical system hard disk are set as follows:

• - Logical UEFI hard drive of 0.2 GB
• - Logical "/" (root) hard drive of 75 GB
• - Logical "var" hard disk of 25 GB
• - Logical "swap" hard disk of 2 GB
• - Logical "service" hard disk of 50 GB, whereby the minimum size is 30 GB
• - Logical “benchmark” hard disk of 15 GB.

In the next step F28 it is checked whether a normal and a security setting is required and whether the capacity of the storage medium 1 is ermed 1,200 GB. If YES, go to step F48.

If NOT, it is checked in step F29 whether the capacity of the storage medium 1 is> 1,800 GB. If YES, the standard capacity of the logical database memory is set to 100 GB, the standard capacity of the logical diagnostic memory is set to 100 GB, and the standard capacity of the logical virtual machine memory is set to 600 GB in step F30. It then continues with step F37.

If the capacity of the storage medium is between 1,200 GB and 1,800 GB (step F31), in Step F32 sets the standard capacity of the logical database memory to 100 GB, the standard capacity of the logical diagnostic memory to 75 GB, and the standard capacity of the logical virtual machine memory to 400 GB. It then continues with step F37.

If the capacity of the storage medium is between 600 GB and 1,200 GB (step F33), in step F34 the standard capacity of the logical database storage is set to 50 GB, the standard capacity of the logical diagnostic storage is set to 50 GB and the standard capacity of the logical virtual machine storage set to 75 GB. It continues with step F37.

If the capacity of the storage medium is 1 ≤ 600 GB, an error is output that the capacity of the storage medium 1 is too small (step F35). The method then ends with step F36.

Further steps for determining the standard capacity of the logical hard drives are described below ( 7b) . The method begins with step F37.

In the following step F38 it is checked whether both a normal and a safety setting are required. If YES, in step F39, using predetermined ratio parameters which are predetermined parameters, the remaining capacity is allocated to the logical hard disks. It continues with step F41.

If normal and security settings are not required, in step F40 the standard capacity of the logical memory for a print server control software, hereinafter referred to as prism memory, is converted to the remaining capacity of the storage medium 1 set. The next step is F41.

The following describes the standard capacity of the logical hard drives on the storage media 2 , 3 , etc. can be assigned ( 7c ). The method begins with step F41.

In the next step F42, the standard capacity of the logical benchmark memory is set to 15 GB.

In the following step F43 it is checked whether a normal and a safety setting are required. If YES, the remaining capacity is allocated to the logical hard disks using predetermined ratio parameters (step F44). From here it continues with step F51.

If no normal and a security setting is required, the remaining capacity on the storage medium is assigned to the logical hard disks in step F45.

In the following step F46 it is checked whether there is another storage medium. If YES, the next step is again F41.

If this is not the case, then in step F47 the storage medium II is assigned to the logical spooling memory, also called print data memory, and / or to the logical security pooling memory, also called print data secure memory, as is the storage medium III , IV, etc. assigned to the print data cache and / or security print data cache. The next step is F51.

The following describes a procedure, such as the standard capacities of the logical hard disks of a storage medium 1 can be determined if there is a normal and a safety area ( 7d ). The method begins with step F48.

In step F49 it is checked what the capacity ratio should be between the normal and the safety area.

In step F50, the standard capacity of the logical database memory, the logical diagnostic memory and the logical virtual machine memory is set using the capacity ratios. From here it continues with step F37.

The following describes a procedure for displaying a user suggestion and accepting input of changes ( 8a) . The method begins with step F51.

In the following step F52, the capacity of the logical hard disks is adapted after the capacity of a logical hard disk has been increased and / or reduced.

In the subsequent step F53, each storage medium is displayed with the logical hard disks and the division of the capacities.

The next question is whether the storage medium I should be exchanged for another storage medium. Step F54 includes both the query for an input by a user and a check as to whether this input has been made.

The query is a request to the user in which the user has to make a decision. The request is displayed in a graphical user interface (GUI). When prompted, the user has to choose between two Meeting states, which are marked as YES and NO in the following.

It is also possible to tick a box, which corresponds to e.g. YES. Not ticking the box would correspond to NO.

The user can also be supported in his decision by a preset value (default value). The user must then actively change this preset decision and e.g. change a value from NO to Yes.

Another possibility is that the user only has a fixed amount of time to make a decision. After this time has elapsed, a previously determined decision is made. For example, a software window can open in the GUI with the corresponding request and if the user does not enter anything after a specified period of e.g. 10 seconds, the status NO is selected and the window is closed.

The review analyzes the user's input. It is decided whether the user has chosen YES. Depending on the choice of YES or NO, another step is carried out next.

Such combined user actions, in which both a query for an input and a check (decision) as to whether this has been recorded, are each represented by an octagon in the flowcharts. In the following, the selection of YES also means a triggering of a user action and a NO accordingly means not triggering.

If, when checking the input with a YES from the user, it was determined that the storage medium I should be exchanged for another storage medium, the capacity and the throughput for both storage media that are to be exchanged are checked in step F55. The following step F56 is followed by the evaluation of whether the exchange can be accepted. If YES, both storage media are exchanged in step F57, after which the process continues with step F26. If the exchange cannot be accepted, the process continues with step F51.

If user action F54 was not triggered (NO), it is checked in step F58 whether other storage media are to be exchanged. In step F59, the capacity and the throughput for both storage media are checked. In step F60 it is evaluated whether this can be accepted. If YES, the two storage media are exchanged in step F61. It continues with step F41. If it cannot be accepted, step F51 follows.

If user action F58 was not triggered, then in step F62 an inquiry is made as to whether the capacity of a logical hard disk on storage medium I should be increased or decreased. If this is triggered, the maximum capacity of the storage medium 1 checked in step F63. In step F64 it is evaluated whether a change in the capacity can thus be accepted. If YES, the next step is F65, if NOT, the next step is F51.

If the user has not made a capacity change or if it has been accepted, a query is made in step F65 as to whether the user would like to assign a new logical hard disk to a separate storage medium. If this is the case, the maximum capacity is checked in step F66. In step F67 it is evaluated whether this can be accepted. If YES, the next step is F68, if NOT, the next step is F51.

If no new logical hard disk has been assigned or the assignment has been accepted, a check is made in step F68 as to whether a user would like to define a logical hard disk as a security hard disk. If YES, it is checked in step F69 whether this is possible. If NOT, the next step is F51. If YES, a security flag is set for this logical hard disk in step F70 and the next step is F51.

If no logical hard disk has been specified as the security hard disk, an inquiry is made in step F71 as to whether a RAM storage medium should be added to the configuration. In step F72 it is checked whether this can be accepted. If NOT, it continues with step F51, if YES, this is saved as a parameter (step F73) and it continues with step F51.

If no RAM storage medium is to be added to the configuration, a check is made as to whether only a virtual machine, such as the integrated viewing software IVS VM, is to be installed in the system (step F74). If YES, the capacity of the virtual machine logical memory is reduced (step F75). The next step is step F76.

Regardless of whether the user action was triggered after step F74 or not, a query is made in step F76 as to whether a further virtual machine, such as the TrueProof VM screen testing system from OCE, is to be installed from the system. If YES, the capacity of the virtual machine logical memory is increased in step F77. The next step is F78.

• - Abbruch, welches zum Ende des Verfahrens führt (F79),
• - Akzeptierung (F80), welches zur Überprüfung, ob diese logische Festplatte existiert (F82), und
• - Löschen und Erstellen existierender logischer Festplatten (F81), welches mit Schritt F89 fortgeführt wird.

Several actions are available to the user in step F78:

• - Cancellation, which leads to the end of the procedure (F79),
• - Acceptance (F80), which is used to check whether this logical hard disk exists (F82), and
• - Deletion and creation of existing logical hard disks (F81), which is continued with step F89.

If, when checking whether the logical hard disk exists (step F82), it is found that this is so, the next step is F78.

If this is not the case, then in step F83 the logical hard disk is created on the storage medium according to the selected type and the security marking.

If a RAM storage medium has been prescribed, a RAM logical hard disk is created (step F84).

The logical hard disks are integrated in the following step F85.

In the next step (F86) information about the storage media and logical hard disks is saved in a secured file (encrypted / md5 secured).

A user is notified of the product purpose about the logical hard disks (step F87).

The method ends with step F88.

The following describes how to reassign the storage media ( 8b) . The method begins with step F89.

First, the printing operation is stopped (step F90).

Next, data is saved on the relevant logical hard disks (step F91).

In step F92 the relevant logical hard disks are deleted.

Next, new logical hard disks are created on the storage media (step F93).

The data on the new logical hard disks are then restored (step F94).

In the following step F95 the new logical hard disks are integrated.

In step F96, information about the storage media and logical hard disks is written in the secured file (encrypted / md5 secured).

In step F97, the user is notified of product information for the available logical hard disks.

In step F98, the printing operation is resumed.

The method ends with step F99.

The following describes a procedure for adding logical hard disks during operation ( 9 ). The method begins with step F100.

First, configuration parameters are read from a configuration file via current storage media and / or logical hard disks (step F101).

It is subsequently checked whether the corresponding storage media and / or logical hard drives exist and do not have an error message (step F102). If they do not exist or if they have error messages, the storage media and / or logical hard disks are marked in step F103.

If they exist and do not have an error message, a check is made in step F104 to determine whether a safety function is desired. If so, in step F105 the capacity and allocation to the logical security hard disks are divided and the proposal is then output to a user.

Subsequently, in step F106, it is checked whether all logical standard hard disks exist. If this is the case, it is proposed in step F107 to use the additional logical hard disk as an additional print data print cache memory. Step F51 follows.

The following describes the procedure for switching between a logical disk and a logical security disk ( 10 ). It starts with step F108.

First, the printing operation is interrupted (step 109).

The logical database, diagnosis and print data memory and the print data cache memory are then unhooked (step F110).

In step F111 it is checked whether a normal logical hard disk was active. If this is the case, a logical step F112 Integrated security hard drive. In the following step (F114) there is a change to the safety mode. The next step is step F115.

If no normal logical hard disk was active, a normal logical hard disk is integrated with step F112. Then it is changed to the normal mode (step F113).

The printing operation is resumed (step F115). The method ends with step F116.

The following describes a procedure for checking storage media and / or logical hard disks during start-up ( 11 ). The method begins with step F117.

First, in step F118, information about the current storage media and / or logical hard drives are read in from a configuration file.

In step F118 it is checked whether the storage media and / or logical hard disks exist and whether there is no error message. If they do not exist and / or there is an error message, the corresponding storage medium and / or logical hard disk is marked (step F120). The next step is F121.

If the logical hard disks and / or storage media exist and there is no error message, then in step F121 the user is informed of the storage media and / or logical hard disks with error messages.

In the following step F122 it is checked whether the print data cache memory has issued an error message. If this is the case, it is checked in step F123 whether the logical hard disk can be repaired. If YES, the logical hard disk is repaired (step F124). The user is then informed of the product change and renewed filling in with data (step F125), whereby the method ends.

If the logical hard disk cannot be repaired, it is checked whether a plurality of print data caches are available (step F126). If this is the case, the user is informed of the new logical hard disk (step F127). The method then ends with step F128.

If the print data cache memory has not issued an error message, the logical hard disk is deactivated with the error message in step F129. In step F130, the start of operation is stopped. Step F89 follows.

The following describes a method for monitoring the storage media and / or logical hard disks during operation ( 12 ). The method begins with step F131.

In the first step F132, storage media and / or logical hard disks are monitored.

In step F133 it is checked whether at least one of the storage media has a capacity utilization of over 80%. If this is not the case, the method is restarted with step F131.

If there is a capacity utilization of over 80%, the user is informed in step F134.

With step F135 it is checked whether at least one of the logical hard disks has a capacity utilization of over 90%. If this is not the case, the method is restarted with step F131.

If there is a capacity utilization of over 90% of a logical hard disk, it is checked in step F136 whether capacities are available on one or more other logical hard disks or whether an empty storage medium is available.

If so, then in step F137 the setup for a new logical hard disk is started.

In step F138, a user can choose whether to accept the reallocation of the logical hard drive. If this is answered in the negative, the method is restarted with step F131. If, on the other hand, the reallocation is accepted, the method continues with step F51.

In the exemplary embodiments explained above, certain configurations are automatically set and monitored. The numerical values given above as well as the number of storage media, logical hard disks and virtual machines are examples that can vary accordingly with other configurations of printing systems. In other exemplary embodiments, the assignments of the logical hard disks to the storage media, the capacities of the logical hard disks and the names of the logical hard disks can also vary. Individual method steps from F1 to F 138 can be in a different order and / or omitted. Additional procedural steps may be added.

List of reference symbols

1

Printing system

2

Print server

3

Pressure device

4th

Data line

5

Internet

6th

Client

8th

Spooling unit

9

M hard drive

10

Cache storage medium

11

System hard drive

12

Print data generation module

13

Input module

15th

Print data service

16

Spooler module

17th

Logical M hard disk / spooling memory

18th

Logical cache media / print data cache

19th

Backend module

20th

Print module

22nd

Capacity reserve

23

Configuration module

24

logical system hard drive

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• DE 102016125023 A1 [0003]
• DE 102016125020 A1 [0004, 0008]

Claims (16)

Method for configuring a storage system of a print server for digital high-performance printing systems, wherein the storage system is designed to store an operating system and print jobs and other files and has one or more storage media, and one or more printing devices are connected to the print server, the storage media being set up automatically as a function of predetermined parameters of the high-performance printing system, wherein the predetermined parameters include at least benchmark parameters and the benchmark parameters are measured parameters that each reflect a specific property of the print server and / or printing device, The following steps are carried out for automatic setup: - recording of the predetermined parameters, - Definition of a certain number of logical hard disks depending on the predetermined parameters, Assignment of the logical hard disks to at least one print data cache memory as a function of the predetermined parameters, and - Allocation of the storage capacity of the storage system to the logical hard disks depending on the predetermined parameters. Procedure according to Claim 1 characterized in that the predetermined parameters comprise default parameters, the default parameters being parameters entered by the user or parameters entered by the user and calculated therefrom. Procedure according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that when the storage capacity of the storage system is divided among the logical hard disks, one or more print data caches are assigned to the logical hard disks. Method according to one of the Claims 1 to 3 , characterized in that the predetermined parameters for defining the number of logical hard disks include one or more of the following parameters: number of storage media, type of storage media, number of printing devices, print data streams which the respective printing devices require in order to print without interruption to be able to - average size of the print jobs which are to be loaded into the respective print data cache memory, and / or - average loads on the print data cache memory. Method according to one of the Claims 1 to 4th , characterized in that the number and division of the storage capacity of the logical hard disks is carried out according to one or more of the following criteria: - the number of logical hard disks is proportional and in particular linearly proportional to the connected printing devices, - the number of logical hard disks is proportional and in particular linearly proportional to the number of storage media, - the storage capacity of the print data cache is proportional and in particular linearly proportional to the respective print data stream and / or to the average load on the print data cache, and / or - the storage capacity is inversely proportional and in particular linear inversely proportional to the number of storage media. Method according to one of the Claims 1 to 5 , characterized in that the configuration of the print data cache is started when a change in the printing system, ie a change in the printing system, is detected, which changes the load on the print data cache. Procedure according to Claim 6 , characterized in that there is a change in the printing system if - the utilization of the print data cache memory changes, - the hardware required to transmit the print jobs from the print server to the printing devices changes, - the mean print data stream changes by at least 10%, preferably by at least 25% and in particular changes by at least 50%, in a period of at least one hour, preferably at least ten hours and in particular at least 24 hours, - one or more printing devices are connected, removed or put into maintenance mode, - the available storage capacity of the cache changes Hard disks, in that, for example, a cache hard disk is added, removed or exchanged, changed, and / or the assignment of a printing device to the print data cache memory, for example by a manual change, changes. Procedure according to Claim 6 or 7th , characterized in that the detection of a printing system change is carried out with one or more of the following methods: - Monitoring of predetermined parameters which reflect the system status of the printing system, with a change in such a parameter being checked whether this is a relevant printing system change to the Setting up or updating the To start the storage capacity of the print data cache memory (s), - monitoring the print data streams in order to start configuring the memory capacity of the print data cache memory (s) in the event of a relevant change, - monitoring the print data cache memory to avoid overloading or underloading one of the print data Cache memory to start configuring the storage capacity of the print data cache memory (s) at a predetermined over- or under-utilization. Method according to one of the Claims 1 to 8th , characterized in that the spooling unit has a spooling memory, the spooling memory being provided in addition to the print data cache memory and being designed to temporarily store print jobs in order to forward them to the print data cache memory. Method according to one of the Claims 1 to 9 , characterized in that the total capacity of the spooling memory is greater than the capacity of the print data cache memory, in particular the capacity is many times greater, at least twice, preferably at least 5 times and if possible at least by 10 times. Method according to one of the Claims 1 to 10 , characterized in that the capacity of the operating system memory is not greater than 150%, preferably not greater than 125% and in particular not greater than 110% of the size of the operating system. Method according to one of the Claims 1 to 11 , characterized in that the print data cache is automatically formatted. Method according to one of the Claims 1 to 12 characterized in that the print data cache is automatically emptied by overwriting each memory area of the print data cache one or more times with random data. Print server for digital high-performance printing systems, comprises a CPU, a spooling unit which comprises a print data cache memory, wherein the print server is provided with a computer program which is used to carry out the method according to one of the Claims 1 to 12 is trained. Print server Claim 14 , characterized in that the print server has several back-end modules which read print jobs from the print data cache assigned to it and forward them to one or more printing devices, the number of print data caches preferably being equal to the number of back-end modules. Print server Claim 14 or 15th , characterized in that several storage media are integrated into a storage management system, in particular a software RAID system, and together form a logical cache hard disk.

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