As a member of the Citrix Ready program, LRS developers gain early access to new versions of the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops, formerly XenApp and XenDesktop applications so we can address changes and adapt our solutions accordingly.

Virtual Session Printer Agent (VSPA) product provides Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops customers with significant value in minimizing the number of print objects required to be defined on a Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops server. Customers gain additional value in being able to have printer definitions be persistent across user sessions, allow users to find and define printers based on their location and other ways of simplifying printing from a Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops application environment.

Streamline Printing Support for Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops and Windows RDS Environments

Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops and other application virtualization solutions allow organizations to deploy business applications to any computing device, securely and in a cost-efficient manner. Provisioning the printers to go along with them can lead to frustration for IT administrators and users, however.

For IT groups, application virtualization offers the promise of a more standardized environment for managing applications, but it does little to simplify printing. Administrators must define multiple printer objects on the application servers to meet the needs of their users, but printer drivers are a common cause of server instability and downtime.

• Users want flexibility and more control over the printing process. This includes:
• Which devices they can print to
• The ability to search and select printers
• Specify copy count, color/monochrome, duplex/simplex and other print attributes.

Simplify Printing in a Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops Environment

It’s possible to simplify printing while improving the stability of application servers and enhancing the experience of both administrators and users. Virtual Session Printer Agent (VSPA) makes it happen, and it does this by letting users print through one or more generic printer objects to any network printer in the enterprise.

VSPA software lets administrators greatly minimize the number of printer objects defined on their Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops application servers. By using Universal Print Drivers, admin staff can minimize the overhead and complexity of their Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops print environment.

From the user perspective, employees are no longer limited to the available printers defined on the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops application servers. The VSPA Printer Selector lets users dynamically select any printer for their application output. Users can also easily add and delete printers as well as conveniently search for printers in their area, improving mobility.

Empowering users while enhancing stability and easing the burden on IT staff is a true win-win for everyone.

Features

• Eliminates proprietary methods of defining printers based on specific terminal hardware manufacturers.
• Simplifies tasks performed by IT administrators to associate printers with terminals. All administrative tasks can be performed using a web-based interface.
• Preserves the user’s printer definitions and configuration changes across virtual desktop sessions. The VSPA solution does this by dynamically saving and establishing the print environment across sessions.
• Integrates with VPSX and leverages Printer Driver Manager (PDM) for driver management and installation. IT administrators can search for and select printers defined to VPSX for use by any terminals and users.
• Enables authorized users to override the default printer defined for a terminal.
• Provides a level of administrative flexibility by allowing authorized users to create persistent printer definitions for a specific terminal by adding printers inside a virtual desktop session. These printer definitions are persistent and associated with a specific terminal.
• Allows a user to define additional printers during a virtual desktop session that remain associated with a given user when he or she accesses other terminals.

VSPA as Part of the Integrated LRS Output Management Solution

VSPA software extends the benefits of VPSX Enterprise™, VPSX/Workplace™, and VPSX/DirectPrint™ solutions to the VDI environment by routing application and user documents to their destinations while providing feedback on delivery failure or success. In the event of network or hardware problems, LRS® software can re-route output to alternate destinations and minimize the impact on your business. Powerful document compression capabilities enable a high number of concurrent printing sessions while minimizing network traffic. 

Extending Enterprise Output Management in your Organization

• Auditing
• Intelligent Document Bundling
• Mobile Printing
• Pull Printing

Supported Platforms

The VSPA solution runs on Microsoft® Windows, while other LRS Output Management software runs on the following platforms:

• Microsoft® Windows
• IBM® AIX®
• HP-UX®
• Sun® Solaris®
• Linux®
• Linux on IBM System z®

The LRS Enterprise Output Management Solution

VSPA software enables virtual desktop and virtual application users to leverage the full LRS Enterprise Output Management solution; a robust, scalable platform that helps organizations reduce costs, increase efficiency, and improve service to internal and external stakeholders.

With more than 30 years of experience and more than 5,500 installations worldwide, LRS maintains a singular focus on providing the world’s most reliable and feature-rich output solution. For more information about LRS solutions, contact your LRS account executive or visit LRSOutputManagement.com.