Printers (XP Clients)

[andy_whitlock]

Currently I add printers for users at logon (machine name dependant script using con2prt), works OK.

 

I have some Vista machines which it plays up hell when adding printers (UAC when installing drivers and the likes).

 

Looking to implement a new server (2003 or hopefully 2008 R2 unless I find large stumbling block), there will be mainly XP clients (with a client upgrade to win7 in the next couple of years).... what would you recommend as a method for adding printers (and possibly selecting default printers)?

 

 

Thanks in advance, finding this forum an invaluable resource!

[pritchardavid]

What server do you host your printers on now? server 2003 r2?

 

Cause starting from 2003R2 (non r2 version doesnt have this feature) there is a easy way to add printers during startup or logon, on vista and windows 7

[andy_whitlock]

W2k Server at present, legacy system that I'm looking to haul forward a few years..

[dhicks]

I have some Vista machines which it plays up hell when adding printers (UAC when installing drivers and the likes).

 

I avoid this by having a Linux-based print server that publishes all printers as generic Postscript printers, converts each Postscript job to PDF as it arrives and sends it to the appropriate printer. It also does print accounting, counting how many pages each user prints. This avoids having to have any drivers installed on the clients, you can use Window's included Postscript drivers.

 

--

David Hicks

[imiddleton25]

moved from con2prt to vb scripts that map printers by user and location , works with xp, vista and windows 7

[andy_whitlock]

Very cheeky I know, mind if I look at your script? Sounds ideal for what we need. Vista doesn't like con2prt for some reason (hangs at each printer) which I believe to be UAC.

 

The linux idea sounds a good solution, yet don't feel I'll have time to implement anything like it, yet!!

[sted]

What server do you host your printers on now? server 2003 r2?

 

Cause starting from 2003R2 (non r2 version doesnt have this feature) there is a easy way to add printers during startup or logon, on vista and windows 7

 

as long as you have a 2003 r2 server you can deploy printers from at least a 2003 r1 box you just do as you would on r2 but point it at \\2003r1\myprinter rather than the usual \\2003r2\myprinter and that works as well