MyQ Main Functions
Printing Methods
MyQ offers multiple secure printing methods that can be combined according to your needs.
Direct queue
One of the most common printing methods is direct printing. A very straightforward method; on a user’s workstation, the user selects a device to print a job and the document is printed on the selected device directly, without the need to authenticate.
The document goes through the MyQ server first to check the policies and rights applied to that user and printer (possibility for that user to use that printer, to print in color or force in B&W, duplex, toner saving mode etc.) and for accounting purposes.
This method is appropriate for businesses that are not working with confidential documents and/or for small premises where they have a very limited number of devices.
Pull Print Queue
The most important feature that MyQ offers is the pull-print functionality, which offers several advantages: flexibility, security, and simplicity.
Usually in enterprise environments, printers installed on a user’s workstation are those closest to them. Those devices are accessible by everybody and so are the printed documents, which can pose a security risk. In today’s business, mobility matters and users need to be able to print a document as they are moving within their company premises.
The pull print queue addresses all these issues. Within the same site, a user will send a document for printing from their workstation to a pull print queue. If the queue contains multiple printers, this employee can then retrieve the document at the printer of their choice anywhere at the office, by logging on any device using the queue. The document is securely stored in the MyQ Server until the job owner's action. Compared to direct printing where the document stays unattended at the printer and where anybody can access it, the pull print solution is more suitable for sensitive document printing.
Tandem Queue
The Tandem queue is a special queue which works similarly to the Direct queue; jobs sent to this queue are automatically printed without any authentication. One of the differences is that multiple printers can be assigned to this queue.
When a print job is sent to this queue, MyQ checks the counters and availability of the assigned devices and sends the job on the device with the lowest counters, if it's currently available. If the device is currently busy or unavailable, the print jobs are sent to the next device with the lowest counters etc.
Thanks to the Tandem queue, all jobs are evenly distributed between all devices assigned to this queue.
For example, three print jobs are sent on the Tandem queue. MyQ checks the counters and availability of the assigned devices. The first device has a counter of 4650 printed pages, the second one 2800 pages and third one 3550 pages.
the 1st job is sent to the device with the lowest counters (2nd device)
the 2nd job to the device with the next lowest counters (3rd device)
the 3rd job is sent to the device with the highest counters (1st device)
As a result, all jobs are evenly distributed between all devices assigned to this queue.
Delegated Printing Queue
The delegated printing feature allows users (and groups of users) to choose one or multiple delegates who can print the print jobs for them.
After a user (or group of users) sends a job to the Delegated printing queue, all delegates can see these jobs and print them for that user.
The Delegated printing queue type works in the same way as the pull print queue type, except it allows set users to print the print jobs of others.
The print job is accounted under the person who printed this job and not under the user who sent it.
