[27090] in resnet
Re: student-owned laptop printing
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Sherwin Smith)
Tue Dec 6 12:22:52 2011
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Message-ID: <0F8A5D58-EA0E-4A3A-BCBC-13D97BE1E635@stanford.edu>
Date: Tue, 6 Dec 2011 09:22:38 -0800
Reply-To: Resnet Forum <RESNET-L@listserv.nd.edu>
From: Sherwin Smith <sherwin.smith@stanford.edu>
To: RESNET-L@listserv.nd.edu
In-Reply-To: <RESNET-L%201112052300344803.D109@LISTSERV.ND.EDU>
I am not the expert on the technical details of our print solution but I'll do my best.
> 1. If you switched from Pharos to PaperCut, please let me know your experience and benefits....
We have an in-house developed print solution, but questions 2 and 3 still apply...
> 2. How many total public printers do you support around campus with PaperCut, especially in residence halls? How do you manage daily operation and make sure there is paper filled each day (how many hours per week required in average) ? How do your users report issues and how do you process refund? Any user feedback?
Stanford's managed printing supports 116 printers across the campus, 79 of which are within the residence halls. We have students in our employ as Resident Computer Consultants (RCCs), who maintain the computers, printers, and network, etc. within the building/dorm they reside. We put the onus on them to make sure there's paper, etc. If they run out, their co-residents know where to find them, so it is in their best interest to pay attention! Sometimes we have to nudge them a bit. We estimate these RCCs put in eight (8) hours a week of work. For the printers on campus-proper, we employ an additional crew of students who among other things, are responsible for running out to the "site" to address issues. We also send paper a case at a time to the sites, where the staff at that location manage paper, toner, etc. and let us know when they're running low.
For the residences, students are encouraged to contact their RCC with any printing problems. The RCCs triage the issue and if needed, elevate them to the Printing Team (f/t staff). For non-residence printers, we have a widely publicized email address that students can use to contact the Printing Team directly. Because we limit our managed printers to 2-3 models at a time only, it makes things much easier (FYI, we're an HP campus).
> 3. Does any of your institution support student personal wireless printers in the residence hall via your wireless connection? What type of setup do you have? How do you manage personal printing security, what type of support do you provide to help the students? Do you standardize type of printers?
We have a pretty open policy regarding devices on the residential wireless network. Essentially, if it does not cause disruption, it is allowed, but not necessarily supported. Wireless printers are difficult to support because each make/model has their own process- some are easier to add to the network than others, and our RCCs are not expected to always resolve this particular issue; Because the wireless network in a dorm is one subnet, successful addition of a wireless printer opens it up to everyone in the house, which is its own set of issues that RCCs must educate their residents on. We frequently recommend that the resident get their own router if they want to restrict access.
Hope that helps!
Sherwin Smith
RCC Manager, Academic Computing Services
Stanford University
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