{"id":1646,"date":"2013-06-06T10:38:11","date_gmt":"2013-06-06T10:38:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/neu.koetzingit.de\/citrix-universal-print-server-ups-verstehen\/"},"modified":"2026-06-02T13:33:34","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T13:33:34","slug":"citrix-universal-print-server-ups-verstehen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.koetzingit.de\/en\/citrix-universal-print-server-ups-verstehen\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Citrix Universal Print Server (UPS)"},"content":{"rendered":"

I<\/span>Lately, I\u2019ve mentioned the Citrix Universal Print Server\u2014codenamed \u201ePhaser\u201c\u2014in various places, and some Citrix employees have been teasing me about the fact that I\u2019ve been bringing it up again and again since 2009. Why 2009? Well, at the Citrix iForum Las Vegas 2009, Citrix developer Gary showed me the first \u201ebits\u201c (really just a few EXE files) of Project Phaser. Ever since then, I\u2019ve been telling Citrix at every opportunity that they should finally finish it. Now the time has come\u2014after three years!<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Citrix Universal Print Driver (UPD)\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Everyone should be familiar with the Citrix Universal Printer Driver (UPD). The Citrix UPD is based on Microsoft Windows Enhanced MetaFile (EMF) technology, which Citrix has significantly expanded. The keyword \u201eWindows\u201c is meant to clarify that EMF is only supported on Windows platforms.<\/p>\n

Citrix uses EMF for automatic client printer configuration and should be the first choice for Windows clients. The reason for this is that with Citrix\u2019s universal printer driver, no native printer driver or manufacturer-specific driver needs to be installed on the XenApp server. In fact, the printer driver installed on the client side is used by the client-side EMF component of the ICA client. The advantage of this is that all features of the local printer driver can be utilized, rather than just a fraction of the capabilities available with the Citrix Universal Printer Driver (Citrix UPD 2) based on a color laser printer. Citrix has significantly improved the architecture since its introduction and released a \u201ePrinting Optimization Pack\u201c (Project Laser) for XenApp 6.0 and later. With the new Citrix policies in the Optimization Pack, even printing over WAN links can be greatly accelerated, which is why it is also part of my Ten Printing Rules with Citrix and RDS<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Network printers and print servers<\/span><\/h3>\n

In addition to client printers, most companies also use network printers managed by a print server. Why use a print server? With Windows Server 2000, Microsoft introduced Point-to-Print (P2P) technology, making it easy for users to connect to network printers. P2P automatically sends the printer driver to the client, installs the driver, and creates the printer object without user intervention. However, the same process also takes place on a XenApp server when a network printer is connected for a user. So far, Citrix has only provided policies specifying which network printer each user should receive, but the actual connection is handled via Point-to-Print. This can also be achieved using a logon script or Microsoft Group Policy.<\/p>\n

The problem is that the print server is often not managed by the XenApp team. If the printer drivers on the print server are not at least compatible with Citrix StressPrinters<\/a> If they are not tested, \u201ebad\u201c printer drivers may automatically end up on the XenApp server. These drivers can then have a negative impact on the XenApp server or the entire farm. A \u201ebad\u201c printer driver can cause the following: Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) \u2013 server crashes\/freezes, printer service crashes\/freezes, no login or very slow login, even with Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1.<\/p>\n

What is the Citrix Universal Print Server (UPS)?<\/span><\/h3>\n

The Universal Print Server solves the P2P dilemma by bringing EMF technology to the print server as a client! This means, once again, that no native printer drivers from manufacturers need to be installed on the XenApp server for network printers. In many environments, this should drastically reduce the number of printer drivers on XenApp servers! If only Citrix EMF is used, this stabilizes the XenApp farm and also helps with user logins. This is something customers have been waiting for a long time, and the reason why I\u2019ve been constantly pushing Citrix (Gary) on this.<\/p>\n

The Architecture of the Universal Print Server (UPS)<\/span><\/h3>\n

Let's keep it simple and focus on the core of the UPS architecture. Take a moment to look closely at the following image.<\/p>\n

\"UPS\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0
On the right is the Microsoft print server, and on the left is the Windows client, which could be XenApp, a XenDesktop VM, etc. Currently, only Windows Server 2008 x86 is supported as a print server with UPS, but a 64-bit version is in the works. Only Citrix XenApp 6.5 and XenDesktop 5.5 are supported with the Community Technology Preview of the UPS.<\/p>\n

As shown in the diagram, the client communicates via a web service installed on the print server. The Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) is used to list printers, etc., and the Citrix Common Gateway Protocol (CGP) transmits only the actual print data. CGP is \u201eold\u201c and has long been used for session reliability (XTE service), and the Secure Gateway also uses CGP.<\/p>\n

Both protocols (SOAP, CGP) can be encrypted (SSL), accelerated, and\/or optimized using the Citrix Branch Repeater, even though EMF itself is already highly optimized in CGP. (The Branch Repeater cache is significantly larger and available to all users.)<\/p>\n

Deployment of the UPS infrastructure<\/span><\/h3>\n

Installation is simple and requires little configuration. Installing the print server component adds two Windows services (UPS and CGP). With XenApp 6.5 or XenDesktop 5.5, the Citrix policy (UPS configuration) and the Citrix printer service (cpsvc.exe) are updated so that the service can detect the presence of a UPS network printer and connect to it accordingly.
After installation, enable UPS in the Citrix policy with the option to use a fallback if UPS is not installed. Use Microsoft Group Policy to restrict P2P and allow only servers with UPS enabled.<\/p>\n

\"UPS<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Project Taser or UPS Version 2.0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Citrix is already working on expanding the Universal Print Server for the next version. Here are two of the most important features:<\/p>\n

1. Enabling SSL for CGP and SOAP via a console
2. Further investigate printer driver functions and make them available to the UPS client.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The second point is a difference from what you may be familiar with from UPD (EMF). When printers are connected via EMF, the user can access all the available options of the local printer driver. This is \u201einitiated\u201c via an ICA channel on the client side. Of course, this is not possible with the print server. Therefore, UPS 1.0 only offers the basic functions of the printer driver, and this is exactly what is being expanded in version 2.0!<\/p>\n

Summary<\/span><\/h3>\n

Finally! What else can I say? Citrix provides the UPS, thereby minimizing the number of printer drivers on XenApp servers and, as a result, the headaches of some administrators. The same applies to provisioned XenApp servers or pooled XenDesktop VMs that require installed printer drivers before going live.<\/p>\n

I hope Citrix will support XenApp 6.0 with the final version of UPS, since I don\u2019t want to use UPS in a way that isn\u2019t officially supported (yes, it works!). Citrix says it has barely been tested with XenApp 6.0, but I\u2019m sure we\u2019d all be happy to help Citrix with that. Universal Print Server 2.0 sounds even better, but we\u2019ll have to wait a little longer for that.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In letzter Zeit habe ich an verschiedenen Stellen den Citrix Universal Print Server Code Name „Phaser“ erw\u00e4hnt und einige Citrix 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