Editing Multi-function printer (section)

=== Software ===
MFPs also run a set of instructions from their internal storage, which is comparable to a computer's [[operating system]].

Generally, as the size and complexity of an MFP increases, the more like a computer the device becomes. It is uncommon for a small AIO or even a SOHO MFP to use a general purpose [[operating system]], however many larger MFPs run [[Linux]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ipa.go.jp/security/jisec/jisec_e/certified_products/c0087/c0087_erpt.pdf|title=Certification Report|work=JİSEC|access-date=27 February 2023}}</ref> or [[VxWorks]].<ref name=VxWorks>{{cite web | title = List of WindRiver (VxWorks) customers, including several MFP manufacturers | url = http://www.windriver.com/portal/server.pt?space=Opener&parentname=CommunityPage&control=OpenObject&in_hi_OpenerMode=2&in_hi_ClassID=512&in_hi_ObjectID=715#consumer | access-date = 2008-03-20 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071029003608/http://www.windriver.com/portal/server.pt?space=Opener&parentname=CommunityPage&control=OpenObject&in_hi_OpenerMode=2&in_hi_ClassID=512&in_hi_ObjectID=715#consumer <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-10-29}}</ref>

Additionally, many print controllers, separate, but integral to the MFP, also run computer [[operating system]]s, with [[Linux]]<ref name=EFILinux>{{cite web | title = EFI Antivirus guidelines for Linux based RIPs | url = http://www.efi.com/documents/support/security/security_antivirus_linux.pdf | access-date = 2008-03-20}}</ref> and [[Microsoft Windows]] (often [[Windows NT 4.0#Embedded|Windows NT 4.0 Embedded]], [[Windows XP editions#Windows XP Embedded|Windows XP Embedded]]<ref name=EFIXP>{{cite web | title = EFI Antivirus guidelines for Windows XP Embedded based RIPs | url = http://www.efi.com/documents/support/security/security_antivirusXP.pdf | access-date = 2008-03-20}}</ref>).

On top of the core [[operating system]] and [[firmware]], the MFP will also provide several functions, equivalent to [[Application software|applications]] or in some cases [[Daemon (computing)|daemons]] or [[Windows service|services]].

These functions may include (amongst many others):
* [[Bytecode]] interpreters or [[virtual machine]]s for internally hosted third party applications
* Image conversion and processing functions
* MFP Panel control for user input
* Network service [[Client (computing)|clients]] for sending of documents to different destinations
* Network service [[Server (computing)|servers]] for receiving documents for print or storage
* [[Raster image processor|Raster image processing]] functions (although, often this task is handled by a separate [[print controller]] unit instead)
* [[Web server]] for remote management functions