Remote Install of Printers using Powershell

[LeightonJames]

Hi All

 

Powershell Noob here but I need to understand why this script fails when running against remote machines. (IP is a placeholder obv.)

 

####################################################
# Change these values to the appropriate values in your environment

$PrinterIP = "10.10.10.10"
$PrinterPort = "9100"
$PrinterPortName = "IP_" + $PrinterIP
$DriverName = "Xerox WorkCentre 7855 PCL6"
$DriverPath = "C:\Temp\Photocopier"
$DriverInf = "C:\Temp\Photocopier\x2DSPYX.inf"
$PrinterCaption = "Colour Photocopier"
####################################################

### ComputerList Option 1 ###
# $ComputerList = $env:COMPUTERNAME

### ComputerList Option 2 ###
$ComputerList = @()
Import-Csv “C:\Temp\ComputersThatNeedPrinters.csv” | `
% {$ComputerList += $_.Computer}

Function CreatePrinterPort {
param ($PrinterIP, $PrinterPort, $PrinterPortName, $ComputerName)
$wmi = [wmiclass]”\\$ComputerName\root\cimv2:win32_tcpipPrinterPort”
$wmi.psbase.scope.options.enablePrivileges = $true
$Port = $wmi.createInstance()
$Port.name = $PrinterPortName
$Port.hostAddress = $PrinterIP
$Port.portNumber = $PrinterPort
$Port.SNMPEnabled = $false
$Port.Protocol = 1
$Port.put()
}

Function InstallPrinterDriver {
Param ($DriverName, $DriverPath, $DriverInf, $ComputerName)
$wmi = [wmiclass]”\\$ComputerName\Root\cimv2:Win32_PrinterDriver”
$wmi.psbase.scope.options.enablePrivileges = $true
$wmi.psbase.Scope.Options.Impersonation = `
[system.Management.ImpersonationLevel]::Impersonate
$Driver = $wmi.CreateInstance()
$Driver.Name = $DriverName
$Driver.DriverPath = $DriverPath
$Driver.InfName = $DriverInf
$wmi.AddPrinterDriver($Driver)
$wmi.Put()
}

Function CreatePrinter {
param ($PrinterCaption, $PrinterPortName, $DriverName, $ComputerName)
$wmi = ([WMIClass]”\\$ComputerName\Root\cimv2:Win32_Printer”)
$Printer = $wmi.CreateInstance()
$Printer.Caption = $PrinterCaption
$Printer.DriverName = $DriverName
$Printer.PortName = $PrinterPortName
$Printer.DeviceID = $PrinterCaption
$Printer.Put()
}

foreach ($computer in $ComputerList) {
CreatePrinterPort -PrinterIP $PrinterIP -PrinterPort $PrinterPort `
-PrinterPortName $PrinterPortName -ComputerName $computer
InstallPrinterDriver -DriverName $DriverName -DriverPath `
$DriverPath -DriverInf $DriverInf -ComputerName $computer
CreatePrinter -PrinterPortName $PrinterPortName -DriverName `
$DriverName -PrinterCaption $PrinterCaption -ComputerName $computer
}
####################################################

 

If I run this against a single machine (uncommmenting # $ComputerList = $env:COMPUTERNAME) it works fine. No drama and everything is hunky dory. If I run it against a list of remote machines using the settings above then I get this error:

 

Exception calling "Put" with "0" argument(s): "Generic failure "
At D:\GPInstall\Printer_Install_Scripts\ColourPhotocopier\ColourPhotocopier.ps1:56 char:1
+ $Printer.Put()
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
   + CategoryInfo          : NotSpecified: ( [], MethodInvocationException
   + FullyQualifiedErrorId : DotNetMethodException

 

This happens everytime

 

Has anyone got a working Powershell script that accomplishes this task or knows how to get this working?

 

I have even put the relevant files into a network share and tried running it from there (changing file paths accordingly obviously).

 

Cheers

[mukz]

Any reason your not using GPO?

Are you trying to do this on demand?

[LeightonJames]

Sorry for the delayed response.

 

We don't run print servers on the network. All the printers are installed using TCP/IP ports only.

 

If I can get this script to work I can then add it to GP and install the printers automatically.

[mukz]

Hi mate,

I can have a look at the script when I'm back from my leave. But call me old fashioned - the headache alleviated by having a print server plus gpo is second to none.

[LeightonJames]

I agree, unfortunately the powers that be don't want us to install print servers on site as we have over 50 locations to look after, and they fear we would be forever restarting spooler services on the servers.

[mukz]

Hi Mate,

 

I totally understand.

 

in the script swap the following:

 

$DriverPath = "C:\Temp\Photocopier"
$DriverInf = "C:\Temp\Photocopier\x2DSPYX.inf"

 

With

 

$DriverPath = “\\UNC_Path\Photocopier\Drivers”
$DriverInf = “\\UNC_Path\Photocopier\Drivers\x2DSPYX.inf”

 

Let me know how you get on.

[LeightonJames]

Cheers.

 

I'll give it a whirl this afternoon

[mukz]

No Problem.

 

Hopefully that works out for you.