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Note: PAS can track printing on both UNIX and NetWare print servers.

The accounting server is a service that verifies users, calculates 
printing charges, and assigns those charges to an appropriate 
user or group account. Accounting Server calculates charges 
using page count and job attribute information received from 
the print monitor, along with printer costs defined by the 
administrator. It then updates account balances and writes the 
transaction information to the accounts database.

There is one database for each accounting server service. The 
database stores all printer, user, department, billing code, trans-
action, and balance information. The database can be either 
JET, SQL Server or Oracle format, as determined during installa-
tion. Use the Accounts Manager application to modify account 
and transaction information in the PAS database. This subset of 
the larger PAS database is referred to as the ‘accounts database’.

In general, a print monitor manages communications with the 
physical printing devices on a network. The Software Metrics 
print monitors prevent unauthorized users from accessing 
printers without paying for their use. In addition, these print 
monitors count the number of pages in each print job and 
assess job attributes—color, page size, and so on—so that this 
detailed information can be sent back to the accounting server 
service. At the accounting server, accurate printing charges are 
calculated from this data, and charges are assigned to the 
proper account.

By configuring a port to use a Software Metrics print monitor, 
you create a print server that the accounting server can moni-
tor. Software Metrics supplies several types of print monitors; 
refer to Appendix A: for a complete list of current monitor 
types.

Software Metrics also provides special monitors for printer 
manufacturers such as Ricoh and Canon. Each monitor is 
designed for use with a specific printer interface. For more 
information on which of these print monitors is most appropri-
ate for your network, see the hardware compatibility list in 
Appendix A:. 

PAS provides three administrative applications for managing net-
work printing. Two of these applications, System Manager and 
Accounts Manager, can reside on any server or workstation on 
your network. Cashier is designed for use on a staff workstation 
with restricted access.

System Manager is a tool for configuring and managing the PAS 
components. System Manager has an interface similar to Win-
dows Explorer. While it is used mainly to configure system 
components, System Manager also enables you to:

• assign costs to individual printers
• create and assign printer charging schedules (EE and PE)
• select special no-charge and no-limit status for NT groups 
• customize user notification messages and pop-ups
• view event messages from the accounting server and the 

print monitor.

Accounts Manager is a tool that enables you to manage user, 
department, and billing code accounts in the accounts data-
base. Accounts Manager contains a comprehensive reporting 
facility that enables you to produce attractive reports on 
accounts, account activity and printer use. It also includes a 
scheduling function that enables you to set up recurring events 
in the accounts database, such as account transactions, data-
base archives, and automated reports.

PAS provides several workstation applications that you can install 
on the network workstations as necessary. The Client Tool, Web 
Interface, and Deposit Station applications are designed for public 
use on any of the network clients. Cashier is designed for staff 
users, and can also reside on any of the network clients.

The Client Tool is an application enabling public users to view 
their printing account balances, transfer funds between printing 
accounts, and select a default billing code for their print jobs.

The SM Web Interface is an quick access for users doing simple 
tasks with their printing accounts. Using a browser, users can 
access their accounts from remote workstations to transfer 
funds to another account, view their account balance, and 
select a default billing code for their print jobs.

Deposit Station is an application enabling users to tranfer funds 
from a payment card to a PAS printing account, using a Win-
dows-like wizard to guide the process. 

Cashier is an application designed for use by staff members 
who have a role in managing account balances. Cashier 
enables you to add and subtract funds from user accounts.

Accounting Server, the accounts database, and the Software Metrics 
print monitor must be installed on a Windows server. The other 
Printer Accounting Server components can be installed on any 
Windows server or workstation. 

The following diagram illustrates one possible configuration for 
Printer Accounting Server components on your network. The fol-
lowing illustration shows an installation licensed for Enterprise Edi-
tion and two add-on print servers: