Leaf Industries Services, the sole value-added distributor in Africa for Axis Communications, today announced that Axis Communications had introduced the AXIS 5470e, a single-port, multi-protocol 10/100 Ethernet print server enabling IBM host- to-LAN printing over Ethernet and Fast Ethernet networks.
The 5470e connects virtually all host systems to any printer type in the enterprise LAN, so there is only a need for one set of printers along with a single cabling infrastructure. It builds on Axis` 15 years of experience of supporting IBM host environments independently.
The print server uses Axis ETRAX 100, a 32-bit RISC chip, and does the data conversion, thus freeing the host central processing unit resources for more critical tasks. The 5470e generates cost savings of up to 65% on price per page printing for the end user, compared to an average mainframe-orientated "IBM 3900-class" printing Systems. It also provides a seamless transition from SNA to TCP/IP in a network.
Costs are also saved by using the single cabling system and bypassing the host transfer protocol, IBM software, that allows PCL/Postscript printers to print from IBM host systems, and which also takes up processing capacity since the protocol conversion is being done on the host. The result of bypassing this is a saving in document processing time. Laser printers also provide better quality output, thus enhancing the image of the company, and additionally, saving office space as laser printers are smaller products than, for example, the significantly larger "IBM 3900-class" printing systems.
"Organisations are wrestling with managing a hybrid of operating systems, network protocols and legacy applications," commented Ross Orwin, Business Manager for Axis Communication products at Leaf Industries. "The AXIS 5470e allows any printer used for general office printing to support an AS/400 or S/390 environment."
The flexibility to choose between multiple print methods including TN3270E and TN5250E, as well as SCS and IPDS data streams, makes Axis the ideal solution for the enterprise network. The print server does not need application changes, conversion software or intermediate servers and supports AS/400 and S/390 environments.
All Axis products leverage the company`s own ThinServer technology. This allows peripheral devices to be attached directly to the network without a file or PC server and can be accessed and used by multiple clients, using virtually any desktop and network operating system.
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