auto deploy of printers

[RabbieBurns]

We have moved to win7 on our clients, a combo of x64 and x86.

 

We having real trouble with printers and drivers, especially the 2600's.

 

I want to basically just have all the student printers deployed to all the student laptops, (As they move classrooms regularly) and have them use the correct drivers for the relevent to the architecture.

 

IVe set up a 2008R2 virtual server to use as the print server, but what are the steps to making sure all the drivers are there, and also assigning them to computers.

 

Has anyone created a step by step guide for this yet?

 

Cheers

[SYNACK]

No guide but its usually not too hard:

1. get matching drivers (same version # and name) for both x32 and x64
   
2. use the print managment snapin to set up the printer port and use the x64 driver to install it on the server
   
3. go to the print drivers folder in the print managment snapin and add the x32 driver which will match the x64 and be avalible for downlevel clients
   
4. share out printer if you have not already done so
   

the only usual issues are junk drivers, like brother x32 drivers that only work with 7. I have had good luck with the hp UPD when deploying via script.

[sted]

ive found it a good idea to make sure the printers name and its share name match

[jcs808]

As SYNACK says but for x32 drivers I found it easier to install them onto the print server from a Windows 7 x32 computer. Install the admin tools (search microsoft.com for those) and add the Print Manager snap-in. Connect to your 2008R2 print server and add your x32 drivers.

[TheMinister]

I've found deploying printers via group policy to be the easiest method. It also allows you to set the default printer if there are more than one associated with a certain classroom.