Cloud considerations

When you configure a virtual operating system in the cloud, make sure that you follow the same considerations as when you configure the system on the ground.

Recommendations:

  • Enable SSL/TLS encryption at the InfoPrint Manager level to increase the communication security between InfoPrint Manager components.
  • Make sure that you use a static IP address for the public part of the InfoPrint Manager infrastructure.
  • Configure your cloud solution for persistent MAC address of the network card used for the InfoPrint Manager instance.
  • Store the data in a persistent storage, to ensure that it is not lost across operating system reboots.
  • Make sure that the InfoPrint Manager system runs in a secured virtual network in the cloud, so that the communication and data cannot be accessed from the Internet.
  • Back up your data regularly to maintain data integrity.
  • High availability can be ensured by multiple virtual systems that are configured identically and use the same storage area.

  • The InfoPrint Manager architecture lets the customer split the work between cloud and ground. The InfoPrint Manager supervisor can run on the ground, while the command processor and spooler can run in the cloud. For more information on InfoPrint Manager architecture, see the Parts of the server section in the RICOH InfoPrint Manager for AIX and Linux: Configuring and Tuning Guide.

      Important:
    • This is recommended only for transaction customers because of the print speed requirements. Distributed print customers can print directly from cloud.
    • To allow for satisfactory print speeds, the printer server(s) running the InfoPrint Manager supervisor pdserver should be on the ground in the same location(s) as the printers and connected to them via the local LAN.
    • The cloud + ground model is not viable for continuous form printing, unless there is a dedicated high-speed, low-latency channel from cloud to ground.
    • Other recommendations for driving continuous form printers:
      • Use a direct Gigabit connection whenever possible.
      • Run the job locally with InfoPrint Manager, bypassing the network.
      • The network latency (ACK time interval) can greatly influence printing performance. Buffer the data at the printer when sending data over a longer period of time.
      • Even if there is a network pipeline dedicated for continuous form printers, the network should be viewed as a potential single point of failure. Make redundant high-speed pathways available.
      • Use the Save page mode, invoked by activating the optimize-for-multiple-copies attribute for the Ricoh printers that support it. Thus the job can be spooled onto the printer before printing begins.

To see which ports you must open so that InfoPrint Manager can run and communicate with the ground devices, go to Ports used by InfoPrint Manager for AIX, Linux, and Windows.

For security purposes, you must start using a VPN between the cloud and the ground network. The InfoPrint Manager communication with the clients and printers is not encrypted.

Parent topic: Planning for configuration