Pharos Uniprint Suite Components

The Pharos Database is central to all Pharos products- all configuration and transaction data information is stored here.

The core group of services required for all Uniprint Suite installations. These services include:

• Pharos Database Server
• Pharos License Server
• Pharos Online Services
• Pharos Logging Service
• Pharos Systems Updater Service

These components must be installed on a server machine.

Print Services includes the following services.

• Print Server – The component that handles costing and billing of print jobs. It also controls copy-related processes.
• Secure Release Service –The component that controls print-related services (e.g. secure job storage, retrieval, release).
• Popup Server – Service used to request additional information from users when they print a job and determines which Questions to display to users.
• LPD Server – The component that processes print jobs via the LPR protocol.
• Pharos Sentry Site Service (also known as Pharos Sentry Print Service) - This Service is installed during a Uniprint 9.2 install or upgrade. It is responsible for the following tasks on Sentry Print capable devices:
  • Installs the Sentry Print app
  • Handles user authentication
  • Handles listing, releasing and deleting print jobs
  • Handle copy transactions

Print Services must be installed on a server machine. It may be installed on the same machine as the Principal Services.

If Print Services is not installed on the same machine as Principal Server then Pharos Logging Service, Pharos Database Proxy Service, and Pharos Systems Updater Service will also be installed along with Print Services components.

Provides access to the Pharos database for all Pharos components.

The component that implements the tracking and reservation process for a specified group of computers.

The SignUp Service controls the SignUp Clients installed on these computers.

The External Device Interface (EDI) Service provides a suitable protocol for approved, external devices and integrations to connect to the Uniprint Suite installation.

Pharos Network Terminals and Pharos iMFPs require the Pharos EDI.

Web Services consist of the SignUp Web Components (Queue Station and Nerve Center) and Uniprint Website. These are installed on a central web server running Microsoft Internet Information Server.

• The SignUp Web Components allows staff members to monitor the computer reservation system.
• The Uniprint Website allows users to find available printers and download the necessary software to access these print devices.

The component that downloads updates for Pharos software to maintain stability and aid in the deployment of new features.

Updater Service will be installed with every Uniprint Server component and as well as with Pharos Administrator.

Print Center Services consists of the following components:

• Pharos Rest API - This component enables communication between the Print Center website and Print Services. It also allows PayPal to be connected with the Pharos system. 
• Process Systems Payment Notification - This service is responsible for processing approved PayPal transactions. It will credit the Pharos user accounts based on the details provided by PayPal.

Starting with Uniprint 9.2, the Pharos API also installs the following services as web apps on IIS.

• Secure Printer Provisioning Service - It orchestrates printer provisioning (i.e. securing printer for use with Sentry Print) between the Uniprint servers and the printer.
• Pharos Identity Service - An Oauth2 based identity management services that provides a common user identification process (e.g. card swipe, username password credentials). It is used to talk to the Uniprint Print Server to register and authenticate users, access cards, and manage related access tokens.
• Pharos MpsProxy Service - It allows the Provisioning Service to connect to the Site Service when provisioning a Sentry SE50 printer.

The Popup Client is an application that is activated every time a user prints a document from their workstation to a Uniprint controlled output device. The Popup Client can then request additional information from the user, e.g. authentication credentials. This is useful for sites where users are not required to authenticate on the workstation itself.

The Popup Client also incorporates the Pharos Notify component. Notify allows a Uniprint server to send messages back to the user at the workstation. These messages may simply be information based or prompt the user for additional information.

The SignUp Client is installed on each computer that will be managed by SignUp. It enforces access permissions, reservations, and reservation durations as part of SignUp.

The Pharos Administrator is the main user interface used to configure, manage and maintain the Pharos system. It is installed with all Pharos Services, but it can also be installed standalone for remote management of the Pharos system.

Pharos Remote is an Administrative Component that allows the Administrator, Cashiers, and Proctors to remotely manage certain aspects related to print jobs and user accounts.

Pharos Nerve Center is a web application used to manage Pharos SignUp. It allows onsite staff to check on the status of users, computers, reservation queues and active sessions, as well as performing various administration functions.

The Uniprint Website is a template website that allows users to find and connect to Uniprint-managed output devices without any staff involvement. It provides access to Install Packages that users can download to install printers and Popup Client components on their computers.

A hardware device that provides the necessary user interface to the output device. Users can use this device to supply authentication credentials (e.g. username/password, proximity card), view their print jobs available for release, and use the copy function of an MFD.

Examples of Network Terminals are Omega PS60 and Omega PS200.

The Pharos Sentry Print (SE50) interfaces with Pharos Uniprint to provide print release and photocopy services. It operates as a layered interface above the printer manufacturer’s interface. It provides a simplified and consistent look and a better user experience across all the supported manufacturers.

Pharos Sentry Print supports the following printer manufacturers:

• Canon
• HP
• KM
• Ricoh

Offering similar functions as a network terminal, the iMFP is a software component that can be installed directly on select output devices, normally without any additional external hardware.

Pharos Chrome Print is the Chrome browser extension that allows users to print to Pharos Print Servers from Chromebooks and Chrome browsers.

The Pharos Chrome Print extension is responsible for:

• Talking to the Pharos API to get a list of Pharos IPP Server(s) to talk to
• Talking to the Pharos IPP Service to get printer(s) to add for users
• Checking with the Pharos API if a user email address is already registered
• Prompting registration of a user’s email address (if not already registered)

• Pharos Database
• Principal Services
• Print Services
• EDI Service
• Web Services (optional)

• Pharos Database
• Principal Services
• Print Services
• EDI Service

• Pharos Database
• Principal Services
• SignUp Services
• Web Services (optional)

• Pharos Database
• Principal Services
• Print Services
• Print Center Services (Pharos API)