Windows Server 2003 - Printers Not Found In Active Directory

Printer are not listed by default - even though they are there

open AD udsers and computers

right click the domain name

Select FIND

change the selection from "users,coontacts and groups" to "Printers"

Click find now - and you will see them

PeteLong I tried your suggestion and the only printer that shows up is one connected (LPT port) to the server. There are 5 others on the network that should be there.  Any other ideas?

Have you denied it in group policy?

The following settings can be enabled under Computer Configuration: • Allow Printers to be published to the Directory:
Enables or disables publishing of printers in the directory.
• Automatically publish new printers in the Active Directory:
On by default, this setting can be turned off so that only shared printers specifically selected are placed in the directory.
• Printer Browsing:
If you enable this setting the print subsystem announces shared printers for printer browsing. You should disable this setting if you do not want the print subsystem to add shared printers to the browse list. If this setting is not configured, shared printers are not added to the browse list if a Directory service is available, but are added if a Directory service is unavailable.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;234270

There is GPO's which can prevent printers showing up in AD
under Computer configuration - > Administrative Templates ->Printers
WBr Matti

PeteLong - I have not denied anything in group policy (at least not that I know of).  Haven't changed any group policies from original installation defaults.  I followed your advice for using group policies in the Microsoft link and found that all options for printer group policies were "unconfigured".  I created a new policy as instructed in the link and turned on (allow printers to be published), (automatically publish new printers), and (printer browsing).  Still no more printers AD.  Any other ideas? :)

There was a flaw in W2K (and I suspect now W2K3) where after clicking the list in the directory box you could then go back into the properties of the printer and it would be unchecked.

This is a flaw I have in my system that prevents me adding new printers into the AD.  The message 'directory operation in progress' displays but never succeeds......all I can say is good luck :( as I havent found a fix yet.

VioletFerret - I double checked and the printers do have the list in directory box selected.  

masa77 -  Sorry for the lack of knowledge but what are GPO's, and do I need to check them on the server or the workstations?  Thanks.

GPO = Group Policy Object
These things set what your clients can do and will be in AD.  You can check them on each folder by right clicking the folder in question for that user/computer and selecting properties.  On the group policy tab you will see the links you have for that area of AD.

Click EDIT to look at any of the set objects and make any changes you require.

VioletFerret - Thanks for the definition and explanation of GPO.  

Hi entnm8
In order to access a shared printer from a client.  When you click add a printer, check the network printer , from specify a printer window select the 2nd option in this window write down '\\clientmachinename\printername' and you should be able to see it/add it.  The best way is to install the printers on the server, then by going into the AD you will be able to see them all by going into '\\servername\sharedprinter'.
Hope that helps

amonzoor -  Thanks for the tip.  I manually added 5 printers to the server with the above instructions  ('\\clientmachinename\printername' ).  They still don't show up in the directory search?  

I then added the desired printers to each workstation via the same syntax.  The printers all appear to be operating :)!!!

What is the correct way to check if these printers are in fact published in AD.  When I do a search for available network printers it still only shows the printer that is directly connected via the LPT port to the server.  I also don't see a printers folder under the domain.  There are Builtin, Computers, Domain Controllers, Foreign Security, Principals, and Users.  Am I missing a printers folder?

Thanks

Not sure if this is exactly what you are asking, but after sharing the printer on the server, you can go to the client and select Network Places, or whatever they call it in the clients version of Windows and navigate to the server.

Under the server you will see all of the folders and the printers shared from it.  If you right-click on a printer, you can click on Connect to add the printer to the client.

I use vbscript to add the printers at logon to the clients.  This means that I do not have to go to every client to manually add the printer.  I can give you a vbscript example of this if you are interested.

AlanKingsley - Thanks again for looking at my problem.  When I do as instructed and check under server I don't see any shared printers except the one connected directly to the server.  The shared folders are shown.  Any other suggestions?

Thanks

If you navigate to the computer the printer is shared from (not necessarily the server), do you see the shared printer under it?  If so, you should be able to right-click on the printer and select Connect from there.

Feel free to post again if this doesn't work.  I'm trying to do this from memory because I am not at work this week.  It may take a few tries to remember exactly how to do this.

I think my answer provides the actual solution to the same problem the author was looking for.