🚀 go-pugleaf

Hi!

> If you are using terminal services, presumably this is running on a
server?

The original poster mentions XP, and XP does come with a scaled down (single
user) version of Terminal Services.

> What is the printer connected to?

The OP says "directly connected by IP address". Sounds like a JetDirect or
similar network controller is attached to the printer.

> All the print processing takes place on the server.

Depends on a variety of factors. For a "dumb" printer, that is true whether
the operating system is server or workstation grade. For a "smart" printer
(and I would think anything capable of understanding multiple printer
languages like the OP talks about would qualify) the processing happens on
the printer. The computer only controls and manages the spooling process and
hands out more data as the printer is ready to accept it.

> I cannot see that the choice of printer language will affect terminal
> services performance.

It won't*. But if the network is slow, it makes sense to send a smaller data
set to the printer. I think that's what the OP is getting at. Although
PostScript may be processed more slowly at the printer, it looks to be the
smallest and most efficient method of printer control to use.

* Microsoft's own "Remote Desktop Connection" software for connecting to XP
systems and Terminal Servers does allow for the mapping of locally installed
printers to the user's Terminal Services session. With a setup like this,
print data would surely be transferred using the RDP/Terminal Services
protocol back to the locally attached printer on the computer that is being
used to access Terminal Services.

William