2.1.2.5.1 Print Client Communication with Print Server

Applications that are written by using the Windows Print API that are running on print clients access the local print spooler, which then redirects the application requests to the print services that are provided by the print server. This redirection establishes a level of indirection that isolates applications from protocol and capabilities negotiation and other complexities of the protocol, and keeps application code portable across multiple versions of the Print Services system.

The print spooler that resides on the print server implements print queues. These print queues are associated with printer drivers, printer ports, and the printers to which they route print data. The following diagram shows print clients that request print servers to perform a variety of functions.

Print clients communicating with print server

Figure 10: Print clients communicating with print server