Printer access for defined classroom

[speckytecky]

We have a lone vanilla Server 2008 Standard domain with predominantly XP Pro clients. The Richo photocopier is default printer and that's set through an existing inherited script file.

 

In some classrooms there are additional shared printers (which don't appear on the script) connected through individual workstations. Users seem to be able to access and print to them but after logoff and logon they have to find them again.

 

We now have a new network capable printer that needs setting up for the photography classroom. What would be the best way to set this up so that the computers in that classroom can access it without a need to search for it each time and to sort out the other printer issues (the loss need to re-find specific shared printers each time).

 

I have a redundant RM SmartCache 2 that I could set up as an XP Workstation - perhaps set this up as a print server. All a bit new to me so advice would be greatly welcomed.

[glennda]

If its just one printer install it on your DC ( or setup the rm box as print server) and then setup a gpo to manage it. Lookup windows print management.

[tumbleweed]

look at Group Policy Preferences - you can add local, IP-based, or server-based printers - works for XP clients so long as they have the GPP extension installed.

It can also do Drive Mapping, etc...

[Simcfc73]

look at Group Policy Preferences - you can add local, IP-based, or server-based printers - works for XP clients so long as they have the GPP extension installed.

It can also do Drive Mapping, etc...

 

I have taken the plunge into preferences but I am struggling as the preferences seem to be a bit hit and miss, can I ask how you have set it up?

 

I have tried creating one policy at the top of the user tree, using user config preferences and made all my printers available via replace and ticked the box 'remove item....' I have then used item level tagging for each printer to assign it to a room.

 

Did you use the loopback to make sure the default is assigned properly.. I haven't and it seemed to take what I ticked in the user config bit.

 

I log onto 2 machines with the same account.. one gets the printers... another sees the printers from when i was testing a bit ago...not mandatory profiles which i am wondered if is an issue.

[speckytecky]

Yep I'd love a walk-through as well as it's something I have not been doing either.

 

I have taken the plunge into preferences but I am struggling as the preferences seem to be a bit hit and miss, can I ask how you have set it up?

 

I have tried creating one policy at the top of the user tree, using user config preferences and made all my printers available via replace and ticked the box 'remove item....' I have then used item level tagging for each printer to assign it to a room.

 

Did you use the loopback to make sure the default is assigned properly.. I haven't and it seemed to take what I ticked in the user config bit.

 

I log onto 2 machines with the same account.. one gets the printers... another sees the printers from when i was testing a bit ago...not mandatory profiles which i am wondered if is an issue.

[Simcfc73]

I've got it working.

 

All the computer rooms have their own OU

 

Create a policy and go into user preferences and control panel settings and then add a shared printer with the delete command to delete all connections on the OU group.

 

Add a new shared printer and browse to the connection on the server.

 

Go into common and click 'remove this item' and then click in item level tagging, I assigned printers to the computer rooms OU and have done some using security groups too.

 

Works a treat, was pulling my hair (whats left of it) out yesterday when printers where staying on the computers when I moved rooms but I had put the delete on the TCP/IP printers not the shared ones.

 

PS. Make sure the GP isn't at the top of the tree or it will delete all printers.