iPrint Auto Client Update (ACU) not executing

  • 7017775
  • 24-Jun-2016
  • 27-Jun-2016

Environment

iPrint Appliance

Situation

A version of the iPrint Client for Windows installed to the workstation is older than the version available on the iPrint server.  However, the auto client update (ACU) is not being triggered.

Resolution

There are several possible explanations for the iPrint Client for Windows not auto updating on the Windows workstation.  The following steps will help you understand why it is failing in your situation.
  1. Understand how the update is triggered.
    • Shortly after bootup, the iPrint client checks to see if an iPrint printer is installed on the workstation.
    • If there is an iPrint printer installed, the client looks at the ipp URL of the installed printer to determine the address of the iPrint server.
      • Note: if there are iPrint printers installed from multiple print managers, the client picks only one of the iPrint printers to decide which iPrint server to look to. 
      • The client decides which server to read by determining:
        • is the default printer an iPrint printer?  If not, then... 
        • which iPrint printer is first listed in the registry?  It is difficult to predict which iPrint printer is listed first in the registry.
    • The iPrint Client downloads the /var/opt/novell/iprint/htdocs/iprint.ini and looks at the AllowAutoUpdate value to see if it should check for an updated client.
      • If the value shows 1 or 2, then the iPrint client looks to the server's /var/opt/novell/iprint/htdocs/clients/win-7/x86_64/version.ini.
      • If the VersionNumber shown in the version.ini file is greater than the VersionDisplayString saved in the workstation's registry (HKLM\SOFTWARE\Novell-iPrint\Current Version), then the auto update is triggered.
  2. Bug in the iPrint Client
    • Versions 5.82 through 5.92 have an ACU bug.  If workstations have this problem client installed, then you will need to either
      • ask your end users to manually update the client by going to the iPrint /ipp page (http://<ip or dns>/ipp) and click the "Install iPrint Client" link. Or,
      • push the updated nipp.exe using a desktop software management solution, like ZCM.
    • Whichever method of install is used, Micro Focus recommends you delete the key or keys within HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Novell-iPrint\Settings\Server Versions.
  3. Corrupt registry entry.
    • ACU will not trigger if the following registry entry is corrupt:
      • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Novell-iPrint\Settings\Server Versions
    • A visual inspection of the key will not reveal whether or not that key is corrupt. The best way to determine if it is corrupt is to delete the key, restart the Windows Print Spooler, and see if the ACU process is triggered.  Restarting the Windows Print Spooler will recreate the key.
      • Steps to restart Microsoft Print Spooler service
        • Open a CMD prompt in "Run as administrator" mode
        • Right-click the CMD icon, choose "Run as administrator"
        • Type the two following commands within the CMD prompt
          • net stop spooler
          • net start spooler