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


WAN Observer Suite System

Complete WAN Analysis and Monitoring in a Ruggedized Portable System

The WAN Observer Suite System delivers:
- Real-time statistics for capacity planning and provider performance measurement
- Real-time error displays for congestion determinations
- Pinpoint WAN flow problems before they become WAN flow disasters
- Long-term Trending for reporting and baselining
- Complete capture and decode of all WAN traffic
- Inexpensive Probes provide visibility locally or remotely
- WAN speeds up to DS3 supported
- Demarcation-point (digital) or between CSU/DSU and router (serial) monitoring
- Passive solution based on non intrusive TAPs that can be left inline for easy
insertion and removal of the analyzer without interruption of the data flow

Wide-Area-Network (WAN) connectivity and throughput validation is a critical part of a healthy, cost effective remote connectivity strategy. With WAN costs accounting for the majority of the network’s ongoing operating budget, tracking performance is critical. Monitoring WAN links for flow, errors and Service Level Agreement (SLA) verification no longer needs to be only for carriers and expensive WAN consultants.

The WAN Observer Suite System (WOSS) provides an affordable solution to monitor traffic flow, error metrics and long-term histories. Additionally, the WOSS offers a complete and independent view of your carrier’s performance and gives you the ability to pinpoint WAN problems in real-time. The WOSS system provides comprehensive metrics for SLA verification, complete end-to-end application monitoring, long-term trending of statistics, user alarms and an expert system to help diagnose common WAN link problems.

The Observer family of products provides WAN, LAN and WLAN monitoring and analysis all from a single console, making monitoring your WAN not only as easy as monitoring other network resources, but also fits seamlessly into any existing Observer environment. Because the WOSS can integrate into the larger “Distributed by Design” Observer architecture, you can monitor your local WAN link, a remote link (the other side), and the network side of the WAN connection – all simultaneously.

The WAN Observer Suite System is a turnkey system built to monitor WAN links in real-time, and offers multiple configurations to support a wide range of speeds and WAN topologies.

Trusted, Independent Metrics for Troubleshooting, Capacity Planning, and Vendor SLA Verification

Statistics – Real-time information is displayed by Data Link Connection Identifiers (DLCI), Private Virtual Circuit (PVC) or whole link. DLCI’s and CIRs are auto-discovered or CIRs may be user defined. Data flow rates are displayed by link, DLCI and % of CIR for each DLCI or PVC.

Errors – Errors are displayed by link, DLCI or PVC, and congestion errors (FECN, BECN and DE) are displayed in aggregate or when encountered as data rates are below CIR.

Alarms – User configurable triggers and alarms warn of congestion, errors, utilization and the occurrence/non-occurrence of a DLCI. Alarm actions include sending an SNMP trap, notify by pager, email or sound an audible alarm.

Capture/Decode – Complete capture and decode of WAN encapsulation and payload data provides detailed packet-by-packet information. Filter traffic by DLCI or IP address, using one of the hundreds of pre-defined protocol filters, or create your own. Over 500 protocols decoded. Supports packet capture buffers up to 2GB.

Trending – Observer’s award winning long-term trending and baselining facility help determine usage trends and puts today’s statistics into perspective. Historical information can be kept for days, weeks, months or years.

Distributed by Design – Because the WOSS fits into the larger Observer product family, monitoring multiple links or multiple topologies simultaneously is as easy as clicking on a different Probe. Probes could be in the next rack, or across the world – Observer’s distributed by design architecture gives you complete network visibility, from a single console.

Real-time Expert – Observer’s real-time expert system displays hundreds of expert items in a format that makes troubleshooting a breeze. A summary window shows critical WAN and network anomalies. All conversations are broken down by application and problem devices are flagged for further investigation.

Passive Solution – All WAN data analyzed by the WOSS is via a passive TAP device that continues to function whether the analyzer is installed or removed, and whether power is provided or not. Because the TAP device is completely passive, your WAN traffic is protected – the analyzer can not, and will not affect the WAN data flow in any way.

WAN Observer Suite System Speed/Link Options

For Link Speeds up to T1/E1: 1-Port Serial (V.35, RS232/EIA530/V.24, RS449, X.21/V.11/R.422), 2-Port Digital (RJ45), 4-Port Digital (RJ45)

For DS3/T3/E3 Links: 1-Port Serial (HSSI), 1-Port Digital (Coax)

Encapsulation Supported – HDLC-Cisco, Frame Relay (IETF & Cisco), PPP, LAPB modulo128, LAPB Modulo 8, X.25 (over LAPB modulo128), X.25 (over LAPB Modulo 8) and ATM-DXI (ATM Data Exchange)

The WAN Observer Suite System Includes

The WOSS portable analyzer includes a ruggedized portable system with a 14” Color Display, 512Mb RAM, 80GB HD, pre-installed copy of Observer Suite software, WAN adapter, Passive TAP, 10/100 NIC, Windows O/S, all required cabling and a soft-sided travel case.

System Requirements

The WAN Observer Suite System is a complete, turnkey system for analyzing a WAN link(s); no additional hardware or software is required.

Additional Probes (software-only for Ethernet and 802.11 (b/a); hardware kits and rack-mount for additional WAN and Gigabit) are sold separately.

System configurations are subject to change. View hardware and software warranty information

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