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Printer Sharing Problem

I've recently changed the way our printers are managed, so that now all print jobs go through a server using a standard tcp/ip port, rather than a tcp/ip port on each computer.

The problem now is that in order to make use of the shared printer, the printer must be installed, as a shared resource throught active directory, through every user's account on every computer. I mean, if I set the printers up myself, it seems that I have to log on to every account, on every computer. For 20 accounts and 10 machines, for example, this means 12 x 20 = 200 jobs to do. There must be an easier way?

crissand

You can try to make a logon script using

net use lpt1: \\computername\printername

and assign it to all users.

or you can use kixstart to create even more sophisticated and reliable scripts. Kixstart is on www.kixstart.org, as I remember.

The syntax is something like

AddPrinterConnection ("\\Servername\printername")

You can use kixstart for more tasks that just assigning printers, so you better start with it.

Debsyl99

Hi

I've happily used the vbs script described in this PAQ, assigned as a logon script

http:Q_20966158.html

Deb :))

Jason210

ASKER

Deb, I can't use GPO because ít doesn't work properly on our system. The DNS server is done by another machine outside my control. This is an endless source of suffering for me. Active Directory and DNS are integrated together, so since my server doesn't do DNS...I can't properly implement group policy. A real pain.

Crissand, are you sure that LPT1....LPT1 will work? It's name implies that it use the LPT port, which is used for another printer. The printer in question has it's own TCP/IP port. Or is this LPT1 just a name?

Thanks for the help all.

Jason210

ASKER

Also, what would be the printername in DOS? Where can I find that info?

Debsyl99

Hi
So what are you thinking is a way to get these changes out to your users? (I'll bet it's an endless source of suffering!)
Can you use netlogon?
For printer names Typing "net view" at a command prompt should do it I think,

Deb :))

Jason210

ASKER

Hi,

I run log on scripts from NETLOGON, yes. These map drives and send out messages etc. If I could map the printer in the same way, then that would be great!

Net View \\computer name showed me the printer share names. I'm just not sure what this "LPT1" command does.

Anyway, I added this line to the batch file script, as suggested by crissand, but I couldn't seem to get it to work:

net use LPT1: \\server1\Brother2\ /persistent:yes

Brother2 is the sharename of the printer in question, but it's connected to TCP/IP port via a jet direct print server, not to the LPT1 port.

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Debsyl99

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crissand

The net use command connect the local port lpt1 or2 or 3, to a network spool. It must be done on each workstation, that's why I recommended a login script. If the workstation has another printer on lpt1, you can connect lpt2. But that's not the best solution, since you're not interested in printing from DOS. The vbs script solution suggested by Debsyl99 is much better. But without a logon script it must be copied on each computer in \Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.

Debsyl99

Just tested it via netlogon script and it does work for me anyway, although it's better to put it into a batch file rather than a bathfile,

Deb :))

Jason210

ASKER

Thanks. Works great.