Technical data

server
A software component that manages printing facilities on behalf of a client
or clients on the same computer or over a network. For the print system, the
term is generally used to refer to the print server that is either the spooler
or the supervisor, but not both. Specifically, the spooler is a print server to
the various API, CLI, and GUI clients that access it directly. However, the
spooler is also a client of the supervisor for which the supervisor is a print
server to the spooler.
spooler
An ISO DPA and POSIX object of class server. A specialization of a server
object. A named server that accepts print system operations from print
clients and schedules print jobs on appropriate printer supervisors. The
typical spooler is multithreaded and is capable of processing multiple print
operations concurrently.
supervisor
An ISO DPA and POSIX object of class server. A specialization of a server
object. A static process or software to drive a specific printer for the printing
of print jobs. A supervisor is entirely responsible for interpreting the job
request. This includes interpreting the content of each file and reconciling
the instructions provided in the print request parameters with the contents
of each file. The supervisor has complete control over the printing of the job,
including the loading of fonts, forms, and other electronic resources into the
printer, as well as over transferring each file to the printer.
user
A class of user, defined by POSIX and X/OPEN, that is enforced by security.
A user (unprivileged) who submits print jobs and gets status. See also
administrator, operator.
Glossary–3