The following figure illustrates the path of a print request from the time the user initiates the request until the print request is printed.
A user submits a print request from a print client.
The print command checks a hierarchy of print configuration resources to determine where to send the print request.
The print command sends the print request directly to the appropriate print server. A print server can be any server that accepts Berkley Software Distribution (BSD) printing protocol, including System V Release 4 (SVR4), or LP print servers and BSD LPD-based print servers, as well as servers that accept IPP.
The print server sends the print request to the appropriate printer.
The print request is printed.