What is Print Server - Network Printing

Network Printing
Network Printing is the Printing Mechanism in which Printing of documents is done by a shared Printer connected in the Network. It is slightly different than normal printing service. As in this, only one or very small number of printers are connected in a network, Any client, node or computer in the network can request network printer to print out the documents. Then the printer gives the output same as a personal printer does.
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A Printing Network Environment is shown in the picture below:

Printing Network Environment

A Printer is an expensive device, so in an organisation or lab where more than one computers are required to have printing services, buying one printer for each computer separately is not efficient. So, to reduce the space requirement and for saving some money, Network Printing Services are being used. In Network Printing, a network printer is connected to all the nodes connected in a network and serves as a shared resources for all computers. For Network Printing, Print Server is an essential component. So, lets understand what it is and for what purposes it is required.
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Print Server:
A Print Server is a device with a software program which provides printing related services in a network.It is used as a mediator in between Printers and Computers (Nodes). A Print Server can be a Computer or Host with some programs connected with shared printer. Or it can be a separate device, which is used to connect Printers to Computers. A Printer can also have a built in Server. A Dedicated Device is simple to use and also easy to configure. If more than one print requests are issued then requests are queued in. A Wireless Print Server is shown in image below: