OnePrint ServerExpress Case Study

AAA West-Penn, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Smart Printing
Architecture Supports Enterprise Document Distribution

The Customer

AAA West-Penn in Pittsburgh, located in one of the largest metropolitan areas, is among one of the nation's fastest growing agencies. Recognized as a comprehensive support infrastructure that provides customers with excellent computing capabilities at a reasonable cost, AAA West-Penn is becoming one of the premier advanced technology agencies in the United States.

With a large number of satellite offices located throughout the state, AAA West-Penn is committed to offering flawless telecommunication channels with excellent data support and management programs.

The Challenge

AAA West-Penn is employing computing technology to provide advanced data access and improve efficiency. In order to continue offering superior support to the growing number of remote offices, AAA West-Penn has been migrating toward new data communication technologies. The data warehousing is provided by the Mainframe located at Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). The migration consisted of replacing the legacy SNA network to a routed IP enterprise wide structure.

One aspect of utilizing IP technology required the selection of a network infrastructure that could handle the AAA computing requirements. Because the network would inevitably grow in both size and complexity, AAA West-Penn looked not only for speed and capacity, but also for the tools to control network traffic.

The virtual terminal session to the PennDOT Mainframe was resolved by using technology available and IP based terminal emulators. Establishing a distributed printing process was a challenge for the organization for two reasons. First, the Mainframe’s pre-designed forms required legacy IBM printers supporting IPDS — (Intelligent Print Data Steam). Second, communication channels to the printers required an SNA infrastructure (in each remote location an IBM controller - 3270 type provided the interface to the IBM printers). The existing solution was centralized and based on a single location from where the printed jobs were mailed to the remote offices. Adding to the printing challenge was the high maintenance cost of Mainframe communication channels and IBM-type printers.

AAA West-Penn turned to LogNet's reseller, Integrated Print Solutions (www.ipslc.com) for the solution they were looking for: OnePrint ServerExpress, the printing solution for high performance mainframe to enterprise printer data distribution.

The Solution


AAA West-Penn's network has evolved over the years from legacy SNA (coax-based) to a shared Ethernet environment. To accommodate AAA's printing requirements, AAA selected OnePrint ServerExpress to migrate legacy print to Ethernet attached remote printers.

OnePrint ServerExpress (SE) is a printing component of an information server family. The dedicated server extends IBM Mainframe and/or AS/400 AFP/IPDS enterprise printing capabilities to distributed client server networks.

OnePrintSE facilitates IPDS printing distribution to most popular network operating systems - Windows NT/95/98/2000, Novell IBM LAN Server, OS/2 Warp, and UNIX (LPD/LPR). OnePrintSE supports most ASCII printing protocols, such as PCL, Postscript, CAPSL and Epson (Dot Matrix).

With no host or printer component, OnePrintSE converts and distributes AFP/IPDS print jobs to up to 128 LAN/WAN attached ASCII printers (per server) anywhere in the enterprise. Advanced modularity, and sophisticated Web and FTP based remote management capabilities allow large corporations to freely distribute host based AFP/IPDS print jobs across their networks, while protecting existing investments in networking environments and LAN attached printers.

OnePrint ServerExpress with 128 ports was installed at PennDOT in 1997. Upstream to the PennDOT Mainframe, OnePrint communicates SNA over Token Ring. Downstream to the remote printers, OnePrint connects over Ethernet using the standard TCP/IP printing protocol (LPD/LPR). The remote printers were attached using a HP JetDirect multi-port print server. At each remote location, two printers were installed - a laser jet (HP4000) and a dot matrix (Lexmark) - and both were attached to the same print server using a single IP address and different queue names. The laser printer prints the SA forms (Camera Card and Registration Card) on tray 1 and on tray 2 the specific letters (Restoration and Diagnostics). The dot matrix printer outputs the Driver License Update card and the Endorsement Card (the dot matrix printer is required due to the Mainframe application. Eventually the dot matrix printer will be eliminated and the Driver License documents will be printed on the third tray available on the laser printer - see the attached picture)

By using OnePrint ServerExpress, AAA West-Penn achieved multiple required IT targets:

  • Cost reduction: off loaded the Mainframe, reduced maintenance costs, increased utilization of an existing network infrastructure
  • Print distribution: without modifying the mainframe application the documents are now distributed to the remote locations using already installed enterprise printers.
  • High efficiency: Forms can be received, completed, and processed more conveniently over the network, resulting in increased operational efficiency.
  • Document management: Web based management tools enable sophisticated printer control.
  • Redundancy: off line printers are easily controlled by re-routing print jobs to available devices.
  • Low Maintenance: OnePrint ServerExpress offers powerful tools for maintenance, fault alarms, and data tracing.
  • Room for growth: modular configuration using a WEB browser enables online the addition of multiple remote locations. Each OnePrint ServerExpress appliance can support up to 128 logical connections.

As the agency continues to grow, AAA-West Penn can add users at its own pace utilizing the scalability of OnePrint ServerExpress. Plus, OnePrint will scale along with the network to provide continuous print monitoring and troubleshooting while preserving network uptime. AAA West-Penn can rest assured that OnePrint ServerExpress will continue to meet its needs well into the future.

Based on the same model outlined in this document, AAA Mid-Atlantic has also implemented OnePrint for its document management needs.

Integrated Print Solutions, LC
1701 North Collins Blvd.
Suite 140
Richardson, TX 75080

Main 972-769-1900
FAX 972-769-2800
Toll Free
1-800-873-0900

Integrated Print Solutions, L.C. (IPS,L.C.) is a host to LAN solutions provider. IPS' success has been built on the ability to effectively provide our clients with state-of-the-art technology and the highest standards of customer care. Our available product lines are designed to maximize our customer effectiveness and profitability. Integrated Print Solutions is responsible for the sales and marketing, as well as providing technical support for the customers of these technologically advanced products throughout North America.

Mission Statement:
It is Integrated Print Solution's objective to provide our customers in the enterprise network marketplace, with reliable, flexible solutions that address the needs of their environments and to deliver unprecedented support for our product offerings. Integrated Print Solutions remains consistent in its pursuit of evolving and improving its product offerings and customer service to provide state-of-the-art solutions to our customers' ever-changing needs.

Message from the President:
In todays fast-paced global technology marketplace, the two most important components are product quality and customer support. Manufacturers are in a constant race for the best quality products at the lowest price. The service and technical support people fill the gap between the customer and the technology producers. Think about it: how many times have you purchased a great product but were very disappointed by the quality of customer care?

When we started the company we focused on customer care. It is very simple: a happy client is the key for any successful business. With a large customer base throughout the United States, Integrated Print Solutions has become one of the major providers of network appliances. We will never abandon the most important principle that represents the foundation of our company: "The success of IPS depends solely on OUR CUSTOMER'S SATISFACTION".

Our customers are happy!
Here is a list of satisfied Integrated Print Solution customers.

Integrated Print Solutions, LC
1701 North Collins Blvd.
Suite 140
Richardson, TX 75080

Main 972-769-1900
FAX 972-769-2800
Toll Free
1-800-873-0900