Powerful print management for printers and MFDs

All good FAQs should start with a question that's best answered with a 500 page novel! The short answer is that PaperCut MF enables user and device-level management and control for all your printers and multifunctional devices (that is, MFDs - copy, print, fax, and scan).

PaperCut MF is typically used to:

• Track and control all print, copy, fax, and scan activity on MFDs.
• Manage user access rights to devices based on function, for example, 'marketing', 'administration', and 'finance'.
• Implement copy quotas, charges, and per-page costs.
• Enhance document security with Find-Me print release at both MFDs and printers.
• Enhance device security with managed access to your MF devices via user ID or building access cards.
• Allow for cash payment of print, copy, scan, or fax — for pay-for-print environments.

PaperCut MF was originally an extension of the popular print software application PaperCut NG and built on this with embedded software and hardware support. PaperCut MF software may be integrated with 3rd party, off-the-shelf copy controllers and card readers.

PaperCut MF and NG are very similar in core features and, at a technical level, share the same code base. But PaperCut MF has the additional ability to integrate directly with Multifunction Devices (MFDs) and other hardware to deliver extra features. The embedded software available with PaperCut MF runs on the MFD and allows you to track and control printing, copying, faxing, and scanning.

Extra capabilities include:

• Track and control access with user ID authentication right at the device.
• Create a consistent user experience on the screen across all your devices. (Co-branded for your organization if you'd like.)
• Use network card readers to facilitate secure print release and Find-Me printing at any copier or MFD via card swipe.
• Enable users to reload their PaperCut MF user account in pay-per-print environments by integrating with cash payment hardware.
• A few other complex integration areas that are too obscure to list here in an FAQ!

All other features, including general print tracking, print quotas, rules-based printing, and driverless web print, etc. are identical on both PaperCut MF and PaperCut NG.

Part of the power of PaperCut NG is the simplicity and ease of use for anyone who wants to control their printing costs and reduce waste. It's distributed online and can be installed and supported by any network administrator, with the main level of integration at the Operating System level.

As we integrate at the firmware level with dozens of MFD manufacturer platforms, the complexity of the solution has increased. Often the setup requires specialist expertise and an up-to-date knowledge of current MFD hardware. And, to support the MFD and printer manufacturers, PaperCut must also ensure a correct notification and acceptance procedure is followed before any device can be loaded with the PaperCut embedded software.

So, rather than have one solution that introduces that complexity to people who may not ever need it, we created PaperCut MF and a clear separation between the two products. To help make PaperCut MF as straightforward for customers as PaperCut NG, we have extended our network of reseller and support experts to ensure the best configuration and installation experience.

The two products are complementary, however, and many PaperCut MF customers have evolved their installation from PaperCut NG. Migration between editions is very easy and your data and settings are maintained in the upgrade.

Many of our users first implement PaperCut NG, our print-only edition, as the first phase of their deployment. PaperCut MF's setup on the other hand is a bit more involved (see other FAQs for why). The process of converting an existing PaperCut NG install across to PaperCut MF can be summarized as follows:

Obtaining a License:

Please contact us as a first step with the following information:

• That you're an existing PaperCut NG user.
• Where you obtained your license, direct from PaperCut or via a reseller?
• Where are you located? (country and region)
• What type of MFDs or copiers do you want to manage? How many?
• How will users access the MFDs, log in, account code or card?
• Do you have a preference to deal with any particular Authorized Solution Center (ASC) or reseller?
• What industry are you in? Education, Business, Professional Services etc.

We'll put you in touch with the closest and most qualified ASC and work with them to give you a recommended path forward. On the licensing side, there is no need to purchase a whole new license. You'll get a credit for your existing PaperCut NG license. (See the pricing FAQs for PaperCut MF for the details.)

The Technical Upgrade Path

It's very straightforward to convert an existing PaperCut NG installation to PaperCut MF without any loss of data or settings. Because the two editions share an identical code base, all data is compatible. In many cases the conversion is a simple install-over-the-top process as outlined here. Because you already have the printing and server-side install up and going, your chosen PaperCut MF reseller or Authorized Solution Center will focus on the copier integration installation side of the installation. The new MFD devices will appear in the PaperCut Admin web interface just like your normal printers and you can then take over their management.

PaperCut is vendor agnostic/neutral, which means that we endeavor to support as many operating systems, platforms, and devices as possible. This position is part of our core development philosophy and ensures that you as the PaperCut user have choice. We surveyed our user base a few years back and the overwhelming voice was that our vendor neutral position is important. It means that you have the ability to change operating systems, printer brands, MFD makes, etc. with minimal impact on PaperCut and its core features. That is, your implementation can remain intact. This, however, is at times a difficult position for us. Aside from the engineering investment required to develop across multiple environments in parallel, we're also under pressure at times from organizations that would prefer to 'lock-in' to a particular environment or hardware/device. We've committed to remain neutral and will continue to support an open approach to infrastructure, hardware, and other services. Please note that a vendor neutral approach does not mean that all embedded offerings are created equal. We are reliant on the quality and feature-set of the underlying device (MFD) firmware and supporting SDK used to create our embedded software. In this regard some manufacturers can claim better integration and a fuller feature set, thereby setting their devices apart. In every case we strive to supply the very best user experience at the device.

Yes. Where possible we support the same set of languages the PaperCut Admin web interface supports. (Over 30 languages so far…)There are however some caveats to this:

• Some embedded/onboard solutions can't support Asian or full Unicode character sets. Contact your PaperCut ASC for more information.
• Many copier control hardware terminals have fixed interfaces and only support English.
• Right-to-left languages such as Hebrew may have screen layouts more suitable to left-to-right text.