XP as a Print Server???

[Timhi]

Hi. We have a Server 2003 Print Server that uses print management to deploy shared printers via Group Policy. This feature is built right into Print Management.

I am wondering if I can set up XP with the same ability? I know XP can operate as a print server, but to my knowledge does not have the ability to publish shared printers to a GPO.

Server2003 uses a exe called pushprinterconnections.exe to get this done. Does anyone know if I can make XP work this way?

Thanks.

 

[wahnula]

Not sure about through GPO, but if the XP machine is a member of the domain and the printer is shared it will appear in the Directory, although I think you're trying to tell the clients that the printer's there and ready for use without configuring each machine, but I'm not sure how to do that. XP does support GPO, I've just never worked in an org large enough to preclude going around to each machine and setting the printer manually.

If you're on a 2003 or similar domain, why not just connect the printer to the network? You've probably already thought of that, I'm just trying to help.

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[BadBigBen]

As Tony mentioned, I've never worked in a Windows Domain where the Printer was set up over the server (worked on Linux and regular Networked Printers (which is the easiest to set up at all)), with that said...

I would set up an XP PC, copy over the file from the 2k3 server and see if it works, you may have to copy over several files (dependencies)...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.

 

[Timhi]

Hi. Thanks for your replies. yes, I was basically looking for a way to have the printer be deployed to the PC via group policy wihout having to actually go to the PC and connect it manually. These printers are remote over a slow WAN, so I didn't want every print job to have to traverse the link twice in order to print to a printer 5 feet away.

I can share the printer via XP so it's on the network, but the GPO can only look for shared printers that are installed on a Print Server with Print Management, not XP workstations that have shared printers.

The only workaround I can think of is to:
1: Share the printer on an XP workstation.
2: Connect the Print Server to it, then go around and share it as a different printer.
3: Deploy the resulting shared-shared printer in GPO.

(I'm pretty sure that won't work very well!!)
So I think I'll investigate other means to get this done. Thanks for your help

 

[BadBigBen]

Or use something along the lines of this and cut XP out of the picture:

Linksys PSUS4 4 Port Switch mit USB Print-Server



Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.

 

[Timhi]

I will research this. Thanks for the suggestion.