How to publish printers to the users, using GPO on SBS 2008?

Deploying printers in SBS 2003 was pretty sweet: Add the printer in the SBS Console, and the SBS setup script would take care of installing it on the client when the user logged in.

SBS 2008 does not use this feature anymore.

With SBS 2008, we need to deploy the printers via Group Policy. But, not too worry, it is actually not that painful at all with the new Windows Server 2008 print management capabilities.

Essentially, you setup your printer on SBS, then use the Print Management Console to deploy the printer via GP.

We create a Default Printer Deployment Policy object at the Computers OU level so that both workstations and servers would inherit the printer deployment. We deploy per-computer unless there is a need to deploy per-user.

For Windows Vista, the GP deployed printer shows up and is available as soon as the Vista workstation refreshes its Group Policy settings, or via a GPUpdate /force command in the Run box or Search box.

For Windows XP Professional, you will need to tweak that GPO:

    * Client computers running Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows Server 2003 must use the PushPrinterConnections.exe tool in a startup script (for per-computer connections) or in a logon script (for per-user connections).

The above is from the SBS 2008 Help file.

A sample finished GPO:

Scripting is not an option at the moment.

I need someone to walk me through setting up the GPO to push network printers set up on the server.  As I have mentioned they show up in the directory and I can manually go to the workstation and set it up, but there has to be an easier way.

I have been to the GPO control panel settings found printer created new chose shared printer selected the printers on the SBS 2008 but they don't show up in the shared path or printer window.  Not sure what I am doing wrong.

Thanks,

In Administrative Tools->Print Management, can you see the printers?

On SBS 2008 I don't see Print Management under Administrative Tools?

If I go to control panel printers I see them, and they are listed in the directory so I see them in the SBS Console.  Also if I walk to a computer I can add printer and see them and add them with no problem.  I am just trying to push them out using the wonderful GPO that Microsoft provides that is where my problem is automating this.

If you right-clicked them, do you get to chose Deploy With Group Policy?

No when I am in printers or in the SBS Console I do not get that option when I right click the printers.

download and install the print management mmc http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=83066ddc-bc96-4418-a629-48c8abd2c7a0&displaylang=en

The requirements are shown for Windows 2003 server I am running Windows 2008 server (SBS 2008)?  

Nice link! I feel like I might be back on track, I now see Print Management in Administrative Tools.  Now I am able to right click and select deploy with group policy, I did one as a test so when I get back this afternoon I will check it out.

I have to help a client with an internet problem, so I'm leaving will be back this afternoon to continue on this problem.

Thanks,

No problem, glad we sorted that one out :)

Well I right clicked the printer and selected deploy with GPO selected SBS users, it showed up in deployed Printers but when I log in with an XP computer it doesn't show up in printers and faxes?  

Ironically I have manually added all the printers now I am just wanting to know how and maybe help someone else.  I have a virtual XP that I am using to test this on.