Question

vb script to connect network printer

Asked by: screamsavers

We share office space with another tennant who needs to access our Network printers. They are on a workgroup, we are on a domain. I've installed another NIC in our print server (Win 2003Std) and assigned in an IP address within their segment. I can browse to the print server and need to enter domain usernam and password. After doing this I can connect each of the workstations to our printers and print OK. After rebooting the workstations I can no longer print and get the message "Print spooler not running" (even thought it is.). I need to then delete and re-add each printer.

One idea I had was to ass the printer each time usig the below vbs script, but how do I pass domain user credential in the script so user is not prompted?

('// Name: setprint.vbs
'// Description: Add a network printer and make it the default

Set WshNetwork = CreateObject("WScript.Network")

'// Adds the printer. Substitute your server name and printer share.
WshNetwork.AddwindowsPrinterConnection "\\servername\sharename"

'// Makes the specified printer the default.
WshNetwork.SetDefaultPrinter "\\servername\sharename"

Many Thanks.

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Asked On
2006-05-28 at 23:37:03ID21866903
Tags

network

,

connect

Topic

Windows Networking

Participating Experts
3
Points
125
Comments
14

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Answers

 

by: Dark_KingPosted on 2006-05-29 at 02:52:41ID: 16783186

Not what you ask for but you can use “net” to map a printer.

net use lpt2 \\ComputerName\ShareName password /USER:username

Or you can execute this net command from inside VB code.

 

by: screamsaversPosted on 2006-05-29 at 06:11:19ID: 16783862

Thanks DK, however I believe that doing it this way using 'net use' does not add the printer in printers and faxes, and I would like to have this happen.

 

by: KlintanPosted on 2006-05-29 at 06:36:43ID: 16784040

Use the AddPrinterConnection method instead.

quick refrence
object.AddPrinterConnection(strLocalName, strRemoteName[,bUpdateProfile][,strUser][,strPassword])

so change the line
WshNetwork.AddwindowsPrinterConnection "\\servername\sharename"
with
WshNetwork.AddPrinterConnection "LPT1", "\\servername\sharename", false, "Username", "Password"


 

by: lazarus98Posted on 2006-05-29 at 06:46:52ID: 16784121

The below will add a SHARED printer on your Server or WORK station to whom ever runs it.
You can also set the printer as a defualt or not by removing the " ' " from the last line
Change the PrinterDrive Name and Printer Share name accordingly as well.

Set WshNetwork = CreateObject("WScript.Network")
PrinterPath = "\\SERVERNAME\iR5000"
PrinterDriver = "Canon iR5000-6000 PS3"
WshNetwork.AddWindowsPrinterConnection PrinterPath, PrinterDriver
'WshNetwork.SetDefaultPrinter "\\SERVERNAME\iR5000"

 

by: KlintanPosted on 2006-05-29 at 07:01:09ID: 16784225

You could also initate with username and password before you add your printer connection

Dim WshShell
set WshShell = CreateObject("wscript.Shell")
WshShell.Run "cmd /c net use \\servername\ipc$ /user:username password" 'servername=printserver

 

by: lazarus98Posted on 2006-05-29 at 12:52:41ID: 16785690

There is no need to intiate username or password if you have your printer setup without restrictions on shared computer, or as long as your normal user has the proper rights given to him in the AD
Why would want to display in a script a username or password anyhow? The only reason you might need to use it that way is if you are not using Active Directory.

 

by: KlintanPosted on 2006-05-29 at 14:12:08ID: 16786015

Well that is the problem. It's both AD and workgroup.

 

by: lazarus98Posted on 2006-05-29 at 18:16:49ID: 16786755

Well that problem can be fixed by encrypting the VBS file.
There are more than a few ways to skin that cat.  But leaving a Username and Password in an exposed script is not smart at all. Not if you want a secure Network anyways.
Here's one such solution: http://www.experts-exchange.com/Web/Web_Languages/Q_20531269.html?query=vb+script+encrypt&clearTAFilter=true

I would recommend however that you ad your workgroup into your AD however so that they are part of your Network's AD. If you need to restict them for some other reason from your network, Use Groups and GPO to do that , and or also use a seperate Subnet to help out as well.

 

by: KlintanPosted on 2006-05-29 at 23:31:48ID: 16787748

The author of this question wanted to pass user credentials in the script. Your idea is great but I do not see how the link yould help the user.

 

by: lazarus98Posted on 2006-05-30 at 06:53:46ID: 16789721

It's just a workaround to keep USERNAME/PASSWORD from being broadcast. It would be alot easier to just roll everything into the AD though, since the credentials are passed without the script, like I said. But it's all still workable.

 

by: KlintanPosted on 2006-07-31 at 00:33:03ID: 17213711

That works for me.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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