JPH08202515A - Print server device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To eliminate an abnormal state of the print server device by monitoring the state of a print server control means, making a normal/abnormal decision, and restoring the print server control means if the means is abnormal. CONSTITUTION: The print server control means of the print server device 4 queues print data sent from client devices 3a and 3b through a local area network 1 and controls printers 5a and 5b according to the queued data. A print server monitoring means monitors the state of the print server control means and a print server restoration control means restores the print server control means when it is considered that the print server control means is abnormal. Consequently, the abnormal state of the print server device 4 can be removed and the throughput of remote printing can be improved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print server device for controlling a printer upon receiving a print request from a client device or a print scheduling device connected to a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art First, a general system configuration using a print server device is shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 1 is a local area network including an Ethernet cable, and 2 is a transceiver. Client devices 3a and 3b and a print server device 4 are connected to these transceivers 2. Printers 5a and 5b are connected to the print server device 4. In the configuration shown in FIG. 7, the print server device 4 queues print data transmitted from the client devices 3a, 3b and the like via the local area network 1, and the printers 5a, 5b according to the queued data.
Control. With such a print server device,
Multiple client devices share a printer for remote printing.

Further, as shown by a broken line in FIG. 7, a print scheduling device 6 is connected to the local area network 1, and this print scheduling device 6 receives a print request from the client devices 3a and 3b, performs scheduling, and establishes a network. There is also a system in which print data is given to the print server device 4 via the system.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional remote printing system, if the client server cannot perform remote printing due to a problem in the print server device for some reason, the print server device is reset. For example, the recovery work had to be performed directly on the print server device. Further, in a system to which a print scheduling device is connected, a problem may occur in the print scheduling device, making remote printing impossible. Further, in the system in which the print scheduling device is connected as described above, if the print server device malfunctions and the reset process is performed, the print scheduling device must also be initialized. In particular, in a system in which a plurality of print scheduling devices use a common printer, when the print server device is restored by resetting or the like, all print scheduling devices that use the printer connected to the print server device are initialized. There was a problem in that it had to be set up and turned around.

An object of the present invention is to provide a print server device that solves the above-mentioned problems by monitoring the state of the print server device and automatically recovering the problems when they occur.

Another object of the present invention is to monitor the state of a print server device, automatically restore the print server device when a failure occurs, and to initialize the print scheduling device when the print server device is restored. It is an object of the present invention to provide a print server device which is automated to solve the above-mentioned problems.

Still another object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems by providing a function of monitoring the status of the print scheduling apparatus as well as the status of the print server apparatus and automatically restoring the print scheduling apparatus when a failure occurs. The present invention is to provide a print server device.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The print server device of the present invention, in a print server device connected to a network together with a client device, recovers the print server device when a problem occurs due to the cause of the print server device. Monitor the status of the print server control means for automation in accordance with claim 1,
A print server monitoring unit that determines normality / abnormality and a print server restoration control unit that performs restoration processing of the print server control unit when an abnormality occurs are provided.

The print server device of the present invention is
In a print server device connected to a network together with a client device and a print scheduling device, when a problem occurs in the print server device, the print server device is automatically restored and the initialization setting process of the print scheduling device is automatically performed. Therefore, as described in claim 2, a print server monitoring unit that monitors the state of the print server control unit and determines whether the print server control unit is normal or abnormal, and performs recovery processing of the print server control unit when the print server control unit is abnormal. A print server restoration control unit and a print scheduling device initialization setting unit that performs a print scheduling device initialization setting process at the time of the restoration process of the print server control unit are provided.

The print server device of the present invention is
In the print server device connected to the network together with the client device and the print scheduling device, in order to automatically recover the malfunction of the print scheduling device, as described in claim 3, the state of the print scheduling device is monitored to determine whether the print scheduling device is normal or abnormal. A print scheduling device monitoring means for making a determination and a print scheduling device recovery control means for performing recovery processing of the print scheduling device when the print scheduling device is abnormal are further provided.

[0011]

FIG. 1 shows an example of a system configuration using the print server device according to claim 1 of the present invention. FIG.
, 1 is a local area network, and 2 is a transceiver. Client devices 3a, 3b ... 3c and a print server device 4 are connected to these transceivers 2. Printers 5a and 5b are connected to the print server device 4. In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the print server control means of the print server device 4 queues print data transmitted from the client devices 3a and 3b via the local area network 1 and according to the queued data. The print server monitoring unit controls the printers 5a and 5b, the print server monitoring unit monitors the state of the print server control unit, and when the print server control unit is considered to be abnormal, the print server restoration control unit restores the print server control unit. Perform processing. For example, the state of the print server control means is initialized (reset). This eliminates the abnormal state of the print server device.

Next, FIG. 2 shows an example of a system configuration using the print server device according to claim 2 of the present invention. 2, client devices 3a, 3b ... 3c, print scheduling devices 6a, 6b ... 6c, and print server device 4 are connected to transceiver 2 of local area network 1. In the configuration shown in FIG. 2, the print server control means includes the print scheduling devices 6a, 6b ... 6 via the network.
The print data received from c is queued, and the printer 5
The print data is sequentially output to a or 5b. The print server monitoring means monitors the state of the print server control means, determines whether the print server control means is normal or abnormal, and when the print server control means is considered to be abnormal, the print server recovery control means checks the state of the print server control means. Restore by initializing (resetting). Further, when the print server control unit is restored, the print scheduling device initialization setting unit remotely performs the initialization setting process of each print scheduling device 6a, 6b ... 6c. As a result, along with the recovery processing of the print server device by the print server control means, the print scheduling device side is also automatically initialized, and the initialization setting work of the print scheduling device is automated along with the recovery of the print server device. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform a complicated process of performing a recovery process for each of a plurality of print scheduling devices that share a printer connected to the print server device.

Next, FIG. 3 shows an example of a system configuration using the print server device according to claim 3 of the present invention. In FIG. 3, the transceiver 2 of the cable 1 is connected to the client devices 3a, 3b ... 3c, the print scheduling devices 6a, 6b ... 6c, and the print server device 4. In the configuration shown in FIG. 3, the print scheduling device monitoring means of the print server device includes the print scheduling devices 6a, 6b ... 6c.
The status of the print scheduling apparatus is monitored, and when the abnormality occurs, the recovery processing of the print scheduling apparatus regarded as the abnormality is performed. This allows
Even if the malfunction of the remote printing is caused by the print scheduling device, the recovery work of the print scheduling device is automated.

[0014]

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a print server device according to an embodiment of the present invention. L in FIG.
The AN controller 11 is the local area network 1
Data transmission control is performed with another device via the. The print server CPU 15 executes a program written in advance in the ROM 13 to perform queuing and print control of print data received from the client device or the print scheduling device via the local area network, as described later. The RAM 14 is used as a working area during these processes. The printer interface 16 transfers the print data generated by the processing of the print server CPU 15 to the printers 5a and 5a.
Output to b. The LAN controller 11, the print server CPU 15, the ROM 13, the RAM 14, and the printer interface 16 constitute a print server unit. The failure monitoring unit CPU 12 executes a program written in advance in the ROM 13 to monitor the print server unit and its recovery control and the print scheduling device and its recovery control, as will be described later. The RAM 14 is used as a working area during the processing. The defect monitoring unit CPU 12 communicates predetermined data with the print server unit CPU 15 through interprocess communication via a shared memory. As will be described later, for example, the failure monitoring unit CPU 12 issues a print server unit status notification request from the print server unit CPU 15 and receives data indicating the status of the print server unit. LAN controller 11, C for failure monitoring section
PU12, ROM13, and RAM14 comprise a malfunction monitoring part.

Next, a configuration of a print scheduling device and a client device connected to the network together with the above print server device is shown as a block diagram in FIG.
Shown in The configurations of both are basically the same as a block diagram, and the print scheduling apparatus is set to UNIX.
The client device is, for example, a personal computer in which MS-DOS is an OS and a network program is incorporated.
In FIG. 5, the CPU 22 executes a program previously written in the ROM 23. The RAM 24 is used as a working area during the processing. The CPU 22 reads and writes data and programs from and to the hard disk device 26 via the hard disk controller 25, and reads and writes data and programs from and to the floppy disk drive device 28 via the floppy disk controller 27. In addition, display is performed on the CRT 30 via the CRT controller 29, and the key controller 31
The operation content of the keyboard 32 is read via. Further, communication control is performed with the local area network 1 via the LAN controller 21. As a result, when this device is a print scheduling device, it receives a print request from the client device and performs scheduling. If this device is a client device, a print request is issued to the print scheduling device.

Next, FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the CPU 12 for the trouble monitoring unit in the print server device. In FIG. 6, steps n1 and n2 correspond to print server monitoring means according to claims 1 and 2 of the present invention, step n3 corresponds to print server restoration control means according to claims 1 and 2, and step n4 claims. This corresponds to the print scheduling device initialization setting means according to item 2. Further, steps n1, n2, n5 to n8 correspond to the print scheduling device monitoring means according to claim 3, and steps n9 and n10 correspond to the print scheduling device recovery control means. As shown in FIG. 6, a status notification request is first issued to the print server CPU 15 (n1). The print server unit executes a process of automatically forming a system log file that records the state and state change of the print server unit, and for example, the time when print data is received from the print scheduling device
Data indicating the output status of print data from the print server device to the printer (whether output is completed or is being output, etc.) is recorded, and these data are stored in response to the status notification request. It is transmitted to the CPU for defect monitoring unit. In addition to the system log file, the status of the print queue, the status of the network interface (whether the network program is running, etc.), the status of the network protocol (the number of packets of data received from the print scheduling device, etc.) The data is also transmitted to the fault monitoring unit CPU. Conventionally, the print server device itself has a function of receiving and responding to these various status notification requests, but these are normally transmitted via a network. In the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, the CP for the print server unit is connected via the internal bus.
By connecting the failure monitoring unit CPU 12 to U15, the above various types of information can be obtained through interprocess communication via the shared memory.

Returning to FIG. 6, thereafter, the presence or absence of an abnormal state is determined from various states received from the print server section. For example, looking at the data (time stamp) indicating the time when print data is received from the print scheduling device, if no data has arrived from the print scheduling device, or if there is no output from the print server device to the printer, Alternatively, if it is left as it is, it is considered that a problem has occurred in the print server unit (n2). If a defect in the print server unit is detected, the print server unit is reset (n3). As a result, each state of the print server unit is initialized. Subsequently, with the reset of the print server unit, the recovery process of the print scheduling apparatus that has issued the output request to the print server unit is performed (n4). Specifically, a so-called remote procedure call (RPC) function is used, and a recovery process that should normally be performed directly on the print scheduling apparatus side is performed from the defect monitoring unit in the print server apparatus via the local area network. For example, first, the process of the line printer scheduler is temporarily terminated by the lpshut command, and all requests being output to the printer are stopped. Next, by the enable command, the specified printer is made operable, and the output request (request) registered in the printer queue can be printed. Subsequently, the accept command allows the output request by the lp command (line printer command) to be accepted,
Then, the lpsched command starts the scheduling of the print output request (request) output by the lp command. As a result, printing is automatically performed for output requests that have already been issued from the client device and have not been printed. All the above commands are standard UNIX commands.

In FIG. 6, if it is determined in step n1 that various states received from the print server unit are not found to be abnormal in the print server unit, then communication with the print scheduling apparatus is performed using the ping command. Whether or not it is possible is monitored (n5). If the print scheduling device is normal, response data is sent in response to this ping command, so the failure monitoring unit in the print server device monitors the life or death status of the print scheduling device depending on whether there is a response to this ping command. . If there is a response, then a remote procedure call is issued to monitor the status of the print scheduling device (n6 → n7). Here, for example, the current status (request status) of the LP spooling system is read by the lpstat command, the network status is read by the netstat command, and the status of each process is read by the ps command. Each of these commands is a standard UNIX command. For example, if the network state is such that the network connection state between the print server device and the print scheduling device remains connected, the print scheduling device is considered to have failed. Also, one remote print daemon process is created for one printer,
If multiple remote print daemon processes are created for the same printer, it is still regarded as an error on the print scheduling device side. After that, the remote scheduling call (RPC) is used to issue a command in a procedure according to the state of the malfunction on the print scheduling apparatus side to perform recovery processing of the print scheduling apparatus (n8 → n9). For example, if multiple remote print daemon processes are created for the same printer, leave the oldest daemon process created for the same printer and kill the other excess daemon processes with the kill command, and then continue. Then, the initialization setting of the print scheduling apparatus is performed by the same procedure as that performed in step n4. In addition, even if there is no response to the ping command in step n5, recovery processing is performed accordingly (n1
0). It should be noted that the procedures of various recovery processes of the print scheduling apparatus according to such a defect pattern of the print scheduling apparatus are registered in advance in the failure monitoring unit. After that, the contents of the recovery process of the print scheduling apparatus are recorded in the system log file of the print scheduling apparatus and the print server side (n11). Note that the processes of steps n5 to n11 of FIG. 6 are performed for each of the plurality of print scheduling devices.

By repeating the above process, when a problem occurs on the print server device side or the print scheduling device side, the recovery process of the print server unit and / or the print scheduling device is automatically performed.

In the embodiment, the system in which the print server receives the print data from the print scheduling apparatus is shown as an example. However, the system in which the print server directly receives the print data from the client apparatus as shown in FIG. In the above, the trouble monitoring unit of the print server device is configured to perform the processes of steps n1, n2 and n3 shown in FIG. With this, similarly, when the print server device is abnormal, the automatic recovery is performed.

[0021]

According to the print server device according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the print server control means becomes abnormal, the print server control means is automatically restored and the abnormal state of the print server device is eliminated. Therefore, it is not necessary to operate the print server device to perform the recovery work when the remote print fails, and the remote print processing efficiency is improved.

According to the print server device of the second aspect, when the print server control means becomes abnormal and the print server control means is automatically restored, the print scheduling device is initialized accordingly. Therefore, the complicated work of performing initialization setting work for each of a plurality of print scheduling devices sharing a printer connected to the print server device is not required, and the processing efficiency of remote printing is improved.

In the print server device according to claim 3,
When the print scheduling device is abnormal, the print scheduling device is automatically restored. Therefore, even if the remote printing malfunction is caused by the print scheduling device, it is not necessary to restore the print scheduling device, and the remote print processing efficiency is improved. To do.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a system using a print server device according to claim 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a system using a print server device according to claim 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a system using a print server device according to claim 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a print server device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configurations of a print scheduling device and a client device used in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a defect monitoring unit in the print server device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a system using a conventional print server device.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A print server device, comprising print server control means connected to a network together with a client device, queuing print data received from the client device via the network, and sequentially outputting the print data to a printer, A print comprising: a print server monitoring means for monitoring the state of the print server control means to determine whether the print server control means is normal or abnormal; and a print server recovery control means for performing recovery processing of the print server control means in the event of an abnormality. Server device. 2. A print scheduling device that performs a scheduling in response to a print request from a client device, is connected to a network, and print data received from the print scheduling device via the network is queued to a connected printer. In a print server device including a print server control unit that sequentially outputs print data, a print server monitoring unit that monitors the state of the print server control unit and determines whether the print server control unit is normal or abnormal; A print server restoration control means for performing restoration processing of the print server control means and a print scheduling device initialization setting means for performing initialization setting processing of the print scheduling device at the time of restoration processing of the print server control means are provided. Print server apparatus according to claim. 3. A print scheduling device monitoring means for monitoring the status of the print scheduling device to determine whether the print scheduling device is normal or abnormal, and a print scheduling device recovery control means for performing recovery processing of the print scheduling device when the print scheduling device is abnormal. The print server device according to claim 2, further comprising: