Control prints on Network PCs.

ishantd

Reputable
Jun 14, 2015
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4,510
Greetings Everyone,
I own a cyber cafe with 18 desktop PCs running Windown 7 64bit. I have two 3 servers for administrators and 15 client PCs. I have installed a CANON Image Runner UFR II 3025 printer on all the PCs on network. All the 18 computers are on the same network. Many customers unknowingly give a lot of prints and then do not take their responsibiltity. I want to control the printouts from the client PCs in any way possible. It would be so nice if I can set a password to print.
Thank You in advance.
 
Solution
Kanewolf's question is important.

That printer allows you to set up "Departmental IDs" and passwords (up to 1,000 users). You could assign each customer system an ID and password. Then set an initial limit on the number of pages allowed to be printed. You can also set up a watermark on the pages to discourage some printing.

You can also monitor customer (Department ID) usage via the printer itself.

Not the simplest solution per se but at least you can see who is printing and even if people start using a Department ID other than the system they are assigned you will probably be able to see that happening. Rule one: if a print job is under their assigned ID - they pay.

However, all of that configuration and monitoring involves...
Kanewolf's question is important.

That printer allows you to set up "Departmental IDs" and passwords (up to 1,000 users). You could assign each customer system an ID and password. Then set an initial limit on the number of pages allowed to be printed. You can also set up a watermark on the pages to discourage some printing.

You can also monitor customer (Department ID) usage via the printer itself.

Not the simplest solution per se but at least you can see who is printing and even if people start using a Department ID other than the system they are assigned you will probably be able to see that happening. Rule one: if a print job is under their assigned ID - they pay.

However, all of that configuration and monitoring involves some work and effort on your part. All the more so as people will always try to game or otherwise circumvent the rules/policies.

Your fee, if any, should include the administrative time to manage printing services. As Kanewolf suggested build that time into the cost of the pages printed or the usage time by hour.
 
Solution