How to Install and Configure Presto

A comprehensive guide to setting up Presto, from download to configuration.

Note: The contents of this article are specific to Presto Server version 3.0 and later.  If you are running an earlier version of Presto 2, we encourage you to upgrade as soon as possible.  Your purchase of the Presto 3 license entitles you to free upgrades to all Presto 3.x versions.

System Requirements

Minimum Hardware Requirements

• 4 Cores / 64bit
• RAM
  • 8G: up to 30 printers or 250 users
  • 16G: 31 - 150 printers or 251 - 5000 users
  • 32G: >150 printers or >5000 users

Supported Host Operating Systems

• Windows 7, 8, 10, Server 2008 R2, Server 2012 R2, Server 2016
• Mac OSX 10.11+

Supported Client App Operating Systems

• Chrome 45+
• iOS
  • Native iOS 8+
  • with App iOS 9+
• Mac OSX 10.9+
• Android 6+ (No longer actively supported)

Download Links

Installation

The first step in setting up Presto is to enable printer discovery by installing and licensing Presto as needed on your network.  You will need a single Presto Primary instance and possibly one or more Extenders, depending on the specifics of your network.   We recommend disabling any anti-virus software that may be running during the installation of Presto.

Installation guidelines for a Primary instance of Presto

• We recommend spinning up a new VM exclusively for the Presto Primary Server, using Presto extenders as required.
• If a new VM is not possible, Presto should be installed on any computer or server that has printers installed.
• Presto supports complex network deployments.  You can find more detailed information in our Deployment Configuration Guide  .
• Note: You should not install Presto Server on a DNS server/Domain Controller. If your print server is also your DNS server or Domain Controller there is an easy workaround:
  • Install Presto Server on a new VM or alternate host. e.g.: 10.10.4.156
  • Install Presto Extender on the DNS server to discover printers (see below) - ensure that the Presto Service is run as Domain Administrator.  See also Deployment Configuration Guide

Installation procedure for a Primary or Extender instance of Presto

Note: Both the Primary and the Extenders require the same install executable

1. Run the installer
2. Accept the licensing agreement and proceed with installation
3. After installation has completed, click Finish

Once the installation has completed, you will be asked how you want to set up the Presto Service.

• If this is a Primary instance, select 'Primary' and go to Configure a Primary Instance of Presto.
• If this is an Extender instance, select 'Extender' and go to Configure a Presto Extender.

Configure a Primary Instance of Presto

The initial step in configuring your Primary is activating your Presto license.

If you need a license

You will be asked to supply some initial information after which you will be sent a verification email. Once you have verified your email address, your Presto Trial will be provisioned and you will continue. If you do not receive a verification email, or believe that you have supplied the wrong email address, contact Collobos Support

Note: If the submitted email address has already been verified, installation will proceed immediately.  

After completing this step, the Presto Administrator will launch.  Go to   Prepare the Network.

If you already have a license

Enter your license key and Organization Name.  If you are unable to find your license key, contact Collobos Support.

Web Proxy Information

If your site uses web proxy server software, click 'Proxy' and enter the required information into the dialog box. 

Note: If you have entered Web Proxy information but still have problems connecting during the licensing procedure, see Network Requirements in  Presto Troubleshooting for comprehensive information about ports and URL whitelisting.

After completing this step, the Presto Administrator will launch.  Go to  Prepare the Network.

Configure a Presto Extender

A Presto Extender, also referred to as a 'Host', should be installed on all additional print servers to enable the discovery of installed printers.

• An Extender can only be installed while a Primary instance of Presto is running.
• For more information on post-installation management of Extenders, see Hosts in Presto Administration.

You will need to access the Primary Presto instance and generate a token to allow the extender to communicate with the Primary instance.

1. Login to Presto as an Admin User. For more details on accessing the Primary Presto instance on both the Host system and remotely through a browser, see Accessing Presto in  Presto Administration.
2. Click Hosts / Menu / New. For more details on Hosts, see Hosts in Presto Administration.
3. Rename the new Extender Host and Save. 
4. Copy the token for the new Host details.
5. On the new host, after Presto installation, select 'Yes', you want to connect to Presto running on another machine.
6. Paste the token into the dialog

The above steps are also explained in the following video:

After completing this step, the Presto Administrator will launch.  go to  Prepare the Network.

Prepare the Network

If your network has a single subnet, Presto is preconfigured. You can skip this section and go to  Activate Printers.

Printer Advertising

The next steps are determined by whether or not you have a DNS server that you can control and configure.

I have a DNS Server:

Add a single, conditional forwarding record to the DNS servers.  If you support iOS clients that will need to print, you will require additional records.  Add records to the DNS servers that are answering requests from your client devices.

Overview

Go to the DNS tab in Presto and select your DNS infrastructure.

Note: the following steps are for Windows DNS.  If you have a different DNS infrastructure, see Presto Administration for detailed instructions.

Add the conditional forwarding record to the DNS servers:

1. Add the IP address of the primary DNS server answering client requests. This generates the Conditional Forwarding record.
2. Copy the record and paste the record into a Windows Command Prompt on the DNS server with ADMIN rights.
3. If supporting iOS/OS x clients, swipe and add the wireless subnet where you wish to discover printers on the client.  It is best to enter the CIDR e.g.: 10.10.10.0/24
4. Swipe Advertise mDNS to "No" on the Host.  Choosing to advertise via uDNS means you will not want to advertise mDNS.  This can always be re-enabled should the need arise.

Repeat the above steps for each wireless subnet where you wish to support iOS printing.

Note regarding DHCP 

Regardless of your DNS infrastructure, the ordering of the DNS servers handed out by DHCP must order internal DNS servers before external DNS servers. 

This example uses  8.8.8.8 as the IP address of the external DNS server.

• Correct: 10.10.0.1, 10.10.0.2, 8.8.8.8
• Incorrect: 8.8.8.8, 10.10.0.1, 10.10.0.2

I don't have (or control) a DNS Server:

An additional Extender should be installed in each subnet where client devices reside and are printing from.  

Note: You may have already installed your needed extenders if you installed Extender on additional print servers that are on the same subnet as your client devices.

Note: Every instance of Presto can advertise via mDNS.   The default setting is yes.  For more details, see Hosts in  Presto Administration.

Activate Printers

Printers you wish to be accessible and usable by your users must be activated within Presto.  By default printers are not initially active.  Select the Printers tab and you'll see a list of all printers discovered across all connected instances of Presto. 

• Select all printers that you want to activate.
• Select 'edit' from the vertical ellipsis menu at the top right.
• Swipe right in the 'Activated' block.
• Select 'save' from the same menu.

When activating printers, we recommend you take this opportunity to also set 'Require Authentication' to maximize visibility and control over your infrastructure.

For more detailed information about configuring Printers, see Printers in  Presto Administration.

Access to printers can be further refined using printer access Rules.  For more information, see Rules in  Presto Administration.

Configure Clients for Printing

Presto native printing workflows for all supported devices, although certain client devices (devices you print from) require companion software, which can be remotely deployed via GPO, MDM, G Suite, etc. Alternatively, a one-time install can easily be done by the user.  

Tip: We recommend using Presto's Single Sign On implementation.  With SSO a user authentication to the network also authenticates them to Presto.  For more details, contact our  Support team.

Installation steps for all Clients

1. Download, Install and Launch the app
2. Presto will attempt to discover the Presto Server.  If it is unable to do so, it will allow you to scan a QR Code that will provide configuration information.  To view the QR Code, point a browser at the system running either the Primary instance or an Extender instance of Presto as follows: https://127-0-0-1.collobos.net:9631/qr-code?scale=6
3. Log in to the app using one of these options:

• Provide the username and password used by the user to authenticate to the network
• Tap 'PIN' and provide PIN, if supported. For more details, contact Collobos Support
• Tap 'Guest' to login as Guest

Chromebook / Chromebox

The Presto App is required for uDNS or mDNS networking. It can be distributed via G Suite or manually installed from the  Chrome Store. See Deploying Presto via G Suite in this article.

Presto installs a print service plugin for ChromeOS devices that allows users to print to Presto advertised printers from any print enabled app. ChromeOS automatically enables the print service plugin when installing the Presto app, so no further configuration should be necessary.

Macbook (OS X)

Presto integrates into OS X's AirPrint printing technology allowing users to print natively. After activating a printer and configuring networking a user can simply go to Settings / Printers / Add Printer.  Presto advertised printers will show as a Bonjour Printer.  

iPhone/iPad (iOS)

The Presto App is optional and would typically only be used for Secure Release.  It can be distributed via MDM or manually installed from the  App Store.

After activating a printer Presto integrates into OS X's AirPrint printing technology via uDNS or mDNS allowing native printing from the client.  No client configuration is needed to print. 

Android

The Presto App is required for uDNS or mDNS networking. It can be distributed via MDM or manually installed from  Google Play.

On Android, the Presto Print Service Plugin must be turned on to allow users to print from any printing enabled app. To turn on the Print Service Plugin, open the Settings app on an Android device and navigate to the Printing button. After the Print Service Plugin is enabled and the user logs in to the Presto App the user will print natively.

Deploying Presto via G Suite

Presto delivers reliable and secure printing for Chromebooks and Chromeboxes to G Suite environments in a few short steps.  

After downloading, installing and licensing Presto:

1. Activate a printer.  For details, see Activate Printers in this article.
2. In the Presto Admin UI, select DNS, select Windows server, add the IP Address of your DNS server in the first box and click the icon in the second box to copy to the clipboard
3. Create a new text file and paste the command from the clipboard.  Copy and paste the command into thecommand prompt of dns server

Force install Presto

1. Go to the G Suite Admin Console. Go to Main Menu, select Devices, Chrome Management
2. Select App Management, search in install Presto
3. Select User settings, enable force installation

Additional settings

Recommended Next Steps

1. Create additional Admin users.  See Users in Presto Administration.
2. Activate Additional Printers and add printer tags as required. See Printers in  Presto Administration.
3. Write Rules as required. See Rules in Presto Administration.
4. Implement Single Sign On for Authentication. For more details, contact our Support team