Source Technologies is the nation’s largest provider of secure MICR printers (Magnetic Ink Character
Recognition) for a variety of businesses and financial institutions, including 9 of the top 10 U.S. banks. Source Technologies is the exclusive MICR printing provider for both Lexmark and IBM.
This review covers the Source Technologies ST9325 series printer working with various components of the
Enterprise Output Management solutions from Levi, Ray & Shoup, Inc. (LRS). The testing focused on verifying
the proper operation of a ST9325 printer in combination with LRS Secure printing products. Systems Engineers
in the LRS Enterprise Document Engineering (EDE) group performed the testing and evaluation of this printer.
Printer Highlights
Source Technologies positions the ST9325 as a workgroup MICR applications printer. This printer features
Source Technologies’ industry leading MICR security functions such as multi-level password protection, secure
numeric font, and MICR toner sensing. The ST9325 supports print data stream decryption from mainframe or
LAN platform sources. This printer is based on the Lexmark T series printer and natively prints PCL and line
print data. Using various LRS components, we were able to test the secure printing of line data and AFP data.
The ST9325 utilized firmware version 55.10.34, NA. We established an Ethernet connection to the printer.
With an active connection, the printer automatically accessed the proper IP configuration on the LRS network.
LRS Product Testing
The purpose of this evaluation was to verify the secure printing functions of the ST9235. We tested the ST9325 printer with VPS® V1R8.0 at fix level 481. The LRS mainframe and LAN products VPS, VPS/PCL,
VPS/TCPIP, VPS/Secure®, AnyQueue®, and AnyQueue/Secure® provided the encryption and data stream conversions. We tested the printer’s decryption performance as well as printing line data, AFP data, and PJL communication. We did not test the MICR print capabilities of the ST9325. Both dynamic and persistent session keys were tested. The ST9235 successfully decrypted all print data streams sent to it.
Bi-directional Internet Printing (BIP) support offers advanced control of TCP/IP printers and jobs using
VPS/TCPIP and VPS Monitor and Control Facility (VMCF). BIP support is included in VPS V1 R8.0 fix level
098 and above. BIP uses communications capabilities and the Printer Job Language (PJL) to report printer
status and assure delivery to IP printers. VMCF Web Access displays printer status and controls print functions from a web-browser.
With its PJL capability, the ST9325 is able to communicate printer information through VPS/TCPIP using a
direct sockets connection. Utilizing LRS BIP communication, the ST9325 successfully provided printer status
to VMCF/TSO and VMCF Web Access clients. Error producing conditions such as open paper drawer and out
of paper transmitted from the printer through VPS and was viewed using a VMCF interface.
We used sample printer definitions (DFLTLPD & DFLTSOK) to test line and direct sockets mode printing over
VPS/TCPIP to the ST9325. These definitions can be found in our sample library (SAMPLIB), which is
included with VPS V1R80 (since the end of May 2003). The printer definitions were modified by changing the
DEST= keyword to an appropriate user defined destination. The keyword TCPHOST= was added to the printer
definition with the TCP/IP address of the ST9325. We sent both small and large line data print jobs to this
printer and all output correctly printed.
Our AFP printing tests used the SAMPLIB printer definition P85X60L. We tested the ST9325‘s ability to
handle converted AFP-to-PCL output from VPS/PCL. We converted the AFP data stream using VPS/PCL and
routed it directly to the printer. We modified the printer definition for the DEST= keyword and the TCPHOST=
keyword to the appropriate values for the ST9325. We sent both small and large AFP print jobs to this printer
and all output correctly printed.
The ST9325 performed all the test scenarios flawlessly without encountering any problems.
Testing Overview:
| Data stream |
Products |
Session Key |
Connection |
Print Result |
| Line Data |
VPS, VPS/TCPIP, VPS/Secure |
P |
SOK |
Successful |
| Line Data |
VPS, VPS/TCPIP, VPS/Secure |
D |
SOK |
Successful |
| AFP Data |
VPS, VPS/PCL, VPS/TCPIP, VPS/Secure |
P |
SOK |
Successful |
| AFP Data |
VPS, VPS/PCL, VPS/TCPIP, VPS/Secure |
D |
SOK |
Successful |
| Line Data |
VPS, VPS/TCPIP, VPS/Secure, AnyQueue, AnyQueue/Secure |
P |
SOK |
Successful |
| AFP Data |
VPS, VPS/TCPIP, VPS/PCL, VPS/Secure, AnyQueue, AnyQueue/Secure |
P |
SOK |
Successful |
| PJL & BIP |
VPS, VPS/TCPIP |
|
SOK |
Successful |
Session key values: P=Persistent, D=Dynamic
ST9325 Features at a glance:
| Network Options Available |
Yes |
| Speed (pages per minute) |
25 ppm |
| Processor |
300 MHz |
| Time to First Page |
<8.5 seconds |
Memory (standard/max)
ST9325:
Network: |
32MB RAM / 288MB RAM
64MB RAM / 320MB RAM |
| Compatibility |
Postscript 3, PCL6, PPDS |
Standard Connectivity
ST9325:
Network: |
USB, Parallel
USB, e-net |
| Maximum Resolution |
1200 x 1200 dpi |
Paper Capacity (sheets)
Standard (in/out)
Maximum (in/out) |
350 / 250
3850 / 2750 |
Paper Sources
Standard (in/out)
Maximum (in/out) |
2 / 1
7 / 3 |
| Duty Cycle |
Up to 175,000 pgs./mo |
| MICR Toner Yield (pages @ 5% coverage) |
14,000 |
| Quality Assurance Features |
MICR Guarantee to ANSI / ABA Standards
Auto Density Control
MICR Toner Sensing
Low Toner Warning and Auto Stop
Originally-Manufactured MICR Toner Cartridge
Printer Compatible MICR Fonts
Regulated Fuser Temperature for Optimal Performance |
| Security Features |
Printer Level Password
Datastream Encryption
Datastream Tray Protection
Audit Trail Reporting
Lockable Paper Drawer Option
Front Panel Combination Lock
Copy Count and Jam Recovery Control
Secure Font Management
E-13B MICR Font
Secure Numeric Font
ICR Numeric Font
MicroPrint
CMC7 Secure Font |
