V-Layer
The V-Layer (Virtualization Layer) enables Driver Free Printing, even if native drivers (original drivers) are required on the client side, such as for Thin Clients or printboxes. The V-Layer is used on a central print server. Native drivers are only required on this print server rather than on the (terminal) server or clients. This allows you to centralize your printer driver management and keep your application server free of drivers, even if there are no Windows 32-bit clients at your external branches.
This is how it works: The Output Gateway (Driver Free) is used to print from (terminal) server to print server; on the print server the Output Gateway Queue then pushes the print job into a native queue, where the print job is prepared (rendered) with the original printer driver. The native print job can then be forwarded to clients if they are not able to carry out rendering..
A software component to configure the V-Layer is also available; it turns your printers into V-Layer printers at the push of a button, and automatically creates the two printer queues. This allows you to save even more time when configuring your print servers. However, it is still possible to manually set up the V-Layer via command prompt.
Fig.: The V-Layer configuration window