Lexmark UK has announced that it has become a Premier member of the Citrix Business Alliance™ (CBA). As part of its commitment to Citrix, Lexmark will continue to develop smart printing solutions specifically for Citrix server-based computing environments designed to reduce network traffic and improve compatibility.
Compatibility
Compatibility with Citrix® MetaFrame® software is designed into every Lexmark laser printer and multifunction printer, whether connected on a network or locally to a terminal server, print server or a local client. This ensures simple and complete printer driver installation for Citrix clients – allowing the full use of functions such as stapling, duplex, hole punching and multiple input and output drawers.
Complete compatibility with Citrix is a key differentiator for Lexmark, and ensures less maintenance for centralised IT support teams.
Reduce impact on network bandwidth by moving processing to the printer
The high bandwidth and network traffic associated with printing can cause major delays on the server and network. Lexmark’s solutions are designed to overcome this common bottleneck.
Lexmark’s Optra Forms solution can be used to reduce network traffic by sending raw, unformatted data to intelligent printers where electronic forms are stored and automatically merged with the data to create finished documents.
This technology extends the Citrix concept one stage further. Whereas Citrix removes the processing burden from the desktop client and centralises it on the server, Optra Forms moves the processing to the printer. This eliminates the need for transmitting large formatted print jobs across the network, as well as pre-printed forms and stationery. Commonly used forms from a range of enterprise management systems, including SAP, can be easily incorporated.
Enterprise support
The Citrix server-based computing architecture is frequently used to deploy and manage enterprise applications such as ERP, CRM and SCM.
Both Lexmark and Citrix are SAP Global Technology Partners, and Lexmark printers have passed rigorous testing for SAP compatibility. Optra Forms can be easily configured to use SAP forms.
Phil Hunter, Lexmark UK’s Product and Solutions Manager says that "in a recent large account win the Lexmark team was able to reduce the time to print from 23 seconds with SAPscript to 9 seconds with Optra Forms. This took the total print time from 2-3 minutes to a little over a minute. The impact on bandwidth was reduced by 60%."
Lexmark UK is also a Silver Sponsor of the upcoming Citrix iForum™ 2002 event, taking place on 10-12 June in Edinburgh, Scotland.
