GPP Printer deployment

[Alis_Klar]

Sorry to start another thread but can't find the answer to this question. Why is there no option to add "shared printer" in computer configuration.

 

It is present in user configuration along with TCP/IP Printer.

 

If I add by IP address will it work in exactly the same way?

 

Why is there no set as default option in computer configuration?

 

As a work around can i just add a shared printer in user configuration and use loopback processing to target this at all users who use a specified OU of computers?

 

Also I am creating this GPO on a windows 7 machine for deployment on windows 7 clients but our DC is 2003 R2. I will apply hotfix You experience a long domain logon time in Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2 after you deploy Group Policy preferences to the computer

 

Does it matter that i'm not running 2003 R2 not 2008 R2 server?

Edited September 18, 2013 by Alis_Klar

[plexer]

Just add it to the user GPP and use item level targeting to apply it to specific computers?

 

Ben

[Alis_Klar]

@ben thanks but is this inconsistent behavior (i.e. only TCP/IP being available in computer configuration) by design or what?

[plexer]

It's just how it is.

 

Ben

[Norphy]

We tried using GPP to deploy printers when we switched to Windows 7. It turned out to be far too much trouble. We're using a product called Printer Installer instead. This works and reliably too.

[plexer]

@Norphy what's the cost of that?

 

There is also PrintMAN Printer Utility

 

Ben

[Norphy]

I don't know, I'm afraid it was a system that was purchased when I was on holiday one year.

[plexer]

@Norphy any chance you could find out and either post here or pm if you don't want to publicise it?

 

Thanks

 

Ben

[Norphy]

It's one of @Roberto's systems, I'll ask him

[Stuart_C]

You need to use the user preferences and group policy loopback processing to apply them to PC's they you can set the default and add networked printers easilly.

 

One piece of advice I found was make sure you use the FQDN of the print server even if it's local to your network. (though this will cause confusion printing from Adobe products where there are a large number of printers installed (you'll see))

 

I also found that it:

• slowed down the login to windows by a huge amount
  
• Randomly decided to lose all the printers on on occasion
  
• didn't detect a local printer on some older printer models thereby cocking up the "set as default unless local printer present" option.
  

 

so I ditched it this summer and I've gone back to VBS login scripts which are much quicker.

 

I wish I could have got it to work as it should be really good. The only good news for me is that I now have some very funky printer scripts to install printers for staff and only set defaults if there is no local printer so not all bad.

Edited September 18, 2013 by Stuart_C

[Roberto]

@Norphy any chance you could find out and either post here or pm if you don't want to publicise it?

 

Thanks

 

Ben

 

... saw the ping from @Norphy

 

It's a subscription model. What they quoted us (and it might be different for schools as opposed to colleges) is 1000 dollars (so, about £600) p.a. and that covers us for up to 100 printers. Given how much time its saved staff, students and IT people, I consider it some of the best money I've ever spent for the college.

 

As we all know, each time someone rings for support it disrupts both you and them, and this product greatly reduces the number of calls (and reduces the complexity of the calls we do get) along the lines of "my printer's broken, how can I map another one?", "how can I find one with colour?", "Can I see what printers are near me?", "Can I print to the photocopier", "Can I always have printerX mapped wherever I am in the building?", etc...

 

I know I'm probably over-doing it at this point but it honestly beats me why Microsoft aren't driving dumper trucks full of money up to these folks' office and begging them to become part of MS so this can be bundled in Windows Server. Installation of the overall system and importing our current printers was a breeze (As Norphy will tell you, he left for vacation before we'd even started worrying too much about printing in our Win 7 migration and came back to this product fully deployed and working) and deploying brand new printers out of the box and allocating them to classrooms or offices is both simpler and more reliable than we found fiddling around with GPPs for 80+ printers to be.

Edited September 22, 2013 by Roberto

[plexer]

@Roberto ok thanks for that printerman is a lot cheaper then.

 

Ben

[Jamo]

You could always look at something like RES. They do a free version, RES workspace manager express, it does printer deployment and most of what schools require for start menu management etc.

[plexer]

Have you used res @Jamo ?

 

Ben

[Roberto]

@Roberto ok thanks for that printerman is a lot cheaper then.

 

Ben

 

Yeah. Comparing the two, printerman looks decent but less capable than Printer Installer, but its the difference between a Ford Focus and a Merc, so if printerman meets your needs and costs that much less then its crazy to splash out on extras you don't need.

Edited September 22, 2013 by Roberto

[Jamo]

Have you used res @Jamo ?

 

Ben

 

 

I was implementing it as I left my school so yes.

 

Was looking into it as a replacement for a CSE system, the freeware one does all the printer deployment and menu deployment you would ever need! Server is really simple (SQL express database) clients look to this and pull down content locally so it works on laptops away from the network as well as on.

 

Paid for version has some really nice to haves but was a little too expensive, for example you can get it to remove certain icons on the menus when certain conditions are met. IE when you are off the network remove normal SIMS icon, replace with SIMS Web icon etc

[plexer]

I've dabbled with RES express myself and wish I could devote more time to it I was IP Expo the other year when they launched it.

 

Ben

[Jamo]

I've dabbled with RES express myself and wish I could devote more time to it I was IP Expo the other year when they launched it.

 

Ben

 

 

Def worth a look in to. Considering its featureset I don't think it can be beaten for education. (I don't work for RES lol just found it really good!)