The following guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to enable Spooler Controller discovery by configuring Option 9 on your DHCP servers. It allows an automatic location switching of the FlexiSpooler during their location change.

In order to enable Spooler Controller discovery via DHCP Option 9, an administrator has to set Option 9 on each DHCP server within your locations.

1

Define Spooler Controller Groups in Dispatcher Paragon management interface

  • Switch to Tenant Management
  • Open Devices
    • Tab Spooler Controller groups
  • Define your Spooler Controller groups. Be aware that defined Spooler Controller group Name will be displayed in the  Desktop Interface and a user can manually switch to that location via context menu.



2

Configure DHCP servers in your locations

  • Referencing previous image - in our example we have 3 locations (Bratislava, London and Prague). In each location we're able to configure Option 9 on DHCP servers.
  • DHCP Option 9 should contain addresses of Discovery Services in current location / Spooler Controller group
  • Discovery Service runs on the Spooler Controller (SPOC)
  • In our example
    • DHCP Server in Bratislava - Option 9 -> 10.0.13.41
    • DHCP Server in London- Option 9 -> 10.0.13.35, 10.0.13.39
    • DHCP Server in Prague - Option 9 -> 10.0.13.192

3

Configure FlexiSpooler to use DHCP Option 9

No specific configuration change is needed. By default the FlexiSpooler is set to use Option 9 for a Spooler Controller location discovery. This is achieved by default value "true" for parameter ServerDiscoveryEnabled of FlexiSpooler (so even when the parameter is missing in spooler.config, it is still considered as enabled).

4

Configuring default FlexiSpooler server

  • You can configure default FlexiSpooler server which allows client FlexiSpoolers to print from a public location.
    • This address is provided by Discovery Service - in case the DHCP Option 9 was found.
    • In case that the Discovery Service provides this address, it's stored as non-spooling location with name Default.
  • FlexiSpooler client uses this default FlexiSpooler server when a user changes the location to the one where is no Discovery Service - DHCP Option 9 is not set.
    • airport, customer, conference, ...
  • The network address of the default FlexiSpooler server can be defined in the Management Interface:
    • Switch to Tenant Management.
    • Open System.
    • Search for defaultFlexiSpoolerNetworkAddress.




i

FlexiSpooler automatic location switching

During Flexispooler installation, the initial state of Discovery mode is set to Manual ("discoveryMode": "Manual" in locations.config). This value is stored together with the address entered by the user during the installation process. When the Flexispooler starts for the first time (it’s the same as each time), the application looks for active network adapters. For each of these adapters, it is determinated wheather it obtains information via DHCP, specifically list of print servers via DHCP Option 9 (aka LPR Server). This information is provided by Windows DHCP Client Service. DHCP Option 9 change watching is also started on each of the active network adapters to ensure that the print servers are updated. 

    • In case the DHCP Option 9 was found
      • Discovery Mode is set to DHCP Option 9 ("discoveryMode": "DhcpOption9" in locations.config).
      • FlexiSpooler connects to DHCP Option 9 address, this connection is supposed to reach SPOC and its Discovery Service → Discovery Service is requested for data about the current location - addresses and names of the current Spooler Controller group.
      • locations.config is populated with addresses for a new location (the address provided during installation is dismissed).
      • FlexiSpooler will connect to the first available address in the current location.
    • In case the DHCP Option 9 was not found
      • Discovery Mode remains set to Manual ("discoveryMode": "Manual" in locations.config)
      • FlexiSpooler will try to connect to the address provided during installation.

On a location change (when PC with FlexiSpooler connects to a network where DHCP Option 9 provides a different value than the previous one, for example, moving from Prague to another location, e.g. London):

  • FlexiSpooler connects to DHCP Option 9 address (SPOC and its Discovery Service) - Discovery Service is requested for data about the current location - addresses and names of the current Spooler Controller group.
  • location.config is extended by the received location (if it's not stored already).
  • FlexiSpooler will connect to the first available address in the current location.