How do you manage network printers?

[zag]

So how does everyone manage their network printers?

 

Currently we give the printer an IP address, then share it through a windows 2003 server.

 

Then we use a little piece of software called jsprint that runs on startup and allocates a printer based on a user choice of location.

 

I'm sure this can be improved...

[glennda]

Group Policy - to deploy printers shared from a 2003 (at current - will be 2k8 r2 soon)

 

then use Papercut to manage everything else

[sted]

give printer an ip share through server 20**

 

depending on the school and server vbs script/gpp preferences or deploy printer in group policy (2003r2+)

[Hightower]

Shared on server, allocated through GPP, managed through Impero.

[smithson83]

We only have one printer, it's in the office, under the watchful gaze of the Office Manager, Teachers and Admin get Colour, Kids and Support Staff get Mono. Don't need any monitoring SW as the Office Manager is maniacal about what is printed

 

EDIT: One printer (Photocopier) for 400 Kids, 40 Staff, 250 Machines... Works great...

[Michael]

Give the printer an IP address, install drivers, share it through Windows 2003/2008, then deploy using Group Policy, either on a per user or per computer basis.

[pete]

Set IP, set "only accept print jobs from $range_of_IPs*", share via a printserver and deploy via GPO

 

*i.e Printserver(s), couple of management stations, monitoring box and any hardware that handles printing to shared printers poorly.

[SHimmer45]

same as alot of others Ip to Printer, shared from a win 2k3 Server, installed per machine/scripted (often changed for exams ect) for managment we use Pcounter which works well