MFP Server User Manual - LevelOne

3. Using the MFP ServerIntroduction to the New Technology of MFP ServerFor printers and scanners, there is no industrial standard. In order to support many differentmodels of printers and scanners from various brands, we have adapted the new technology,called “Software Bus”. Software Bus is created to solve the compatibility issue. With the SoftwareBus technology, it is not necessary to implement printer/scanner drivers. Instead, it relies onprinter/scanner drivers that are installed on PCs. In the field of traditional network print server,the common protocols used are, for example, SMB/CIFS, LPR, raw TCP, and IPP. However, inorder to reduce cost, many printer vendors produce so-called GDI or host-based printers. Fortechnical reasons, these kinds of printers can not work with the traditional network printerprotocols. The Software Bus technology can also deal with this problem. The basic concept andthe usage of Software Bus will be introduced in this chapter.Connect & DisconnectThe new technology of MFP server allows user to use USB printers or USB MFPs as if it wereconnected directly to the PC, although it is actually connected to the MFP server. The“Connect” button is a software operation that simulates an actual plug-in USB device. The“Disconnect” operation is a software operation that simulates the disconnection of the USBdevice.23