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Network Printing
I was wondering whether it makes a difference in printing speed whether the printer is set up on the local server, or just set up as an IP on the network. In particular, I was thinking about printing permissions. If i set the printer up on the server, i can assign permissions to the global group on the printer. However, if we set up the printer as a local printer on each workstation, permissions can be assigned there but it is much harder maintain, and for the computer to verify permissions, and they may go out to a domain controller to check permissions. Would one way be any faster than the other?
mikebernhardt
If they're both using IP then speed is probably the same. Either way a print server (either a "server" or a "workstation") is spooling the print job to the printer. As you said, you have much more control- and less problems putting the printer on a server.
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what I was thinking about...... one of the problems we have in one of our center is the speed. It takes a long time to log in, because of the time to authenticate the user. Then when they print, they also have to wait, while it checks their permissions to print. Also, even though their database server is in their building, if their circuit is down, they might be able to get into some programs but they can't print, because the PDC isn't available to authenticate their permissions to print. I wondered if the printers were on the computer, with permissions assigned to the users' group, if they would be able to print, and if every day printing would be any faster.
Let's put it that way: If your network is generally congested, it will make no big difference; you'll have to redesign your topology. But if you install the printer locally and it indeed works significantly faster, then you probably have a name resolution problem that needs to be looked after.