How printing works in Citrix XenApp 7
I want to understand how printing works in citrix Xenapp 7, but before we put Citrix in the picture, I need to understand how printing works in Windows.
=========================
Let's say I have Windows 7 and Windows 2008 Print Server that already has Print queues and drivers on it.
From Windows 7, I can use Add printer wizard and point it to \\Win2008PrntSvr\PrntQueue
Now if I open MSWord and print a Document , would Windows 7 make any communication to Windows 2008 Print server for any reason or it just send the document to the print device specified in the print queue Port, without any communication to WIndows 2008 Print Server ?
==========================
Now let's put Citrix Xenapp in the picture.
If I understand there is no need for Drivers to be installed in Xenapp server, just to enable a policy related to Universal Print Drivers.
In this case when Windows 7 connects to Citrix opens up an Application from Citrix and print a document.
Is Citrix going to make any communication with Windows 2008 print server ?
==========================
It seems to me like Windows 2008 print server is used only the first time by Windows 7 client to download the drivers and the printer configuration such as the hostname of the print device and its print settings, then the client will not communicate with Windows print server at all.
Any clarifications on this topic will be very much appreciated.
Thanks
=========================
Let's say I have Windows 7 and Windows 2008 Print Server that already has Print queues and drivers on it.
From Windows 7, I can use Add printer wizard and point it to \\Win2008PrntSvr\PrntQueue
Now if I open MSWord and print a Document , would Windows 7 make any communication to Windows 2008 Print server for any reason or it just send the document to the print device specified in the print queue Port, without any communication to WIndows 2008 Print Server ?
==========================
Now let's put Citrix Xenapp in the picture.
If I understand there is no need for Drivers to be installed in Xenapp server, just to enable a policy related to Universal Print Drivers.
In this case when Windows 7 connects to Citrix opens up an Application from Citrix and print a document.
Is Citrix going to make any communication with Windows 2008 print server ?
==========================
It seems to me like Windows 2008 print server is used only the first time by Windows 7 client to download the drivers and the printer configuration such as the hostname of the print device and its print settings, then the client will not communicate with Windows print server at all.
Any clarifications on this topic will be very much appreciated.
Thanks
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
Brian CTXSupport
Mmmm.... So it needs to follow the Share.... Maybe for manageability, so that if they want no one to print to the print device they will just remove the print queue from windows print server...
Mmmm.... So it needs to follow the Share.... Maybe for manageability, so that if they want no one to print to the print device they will just remove the print queue from windows print server...
Correct, don't share printers if they don't want them printed to, but if that's the case, just get rid of the print server completely. The whole point of having a print server is to offload the print job, not serve as a printer installer.
ASKER
Ok That part of Windows Print server is understood. Thanks !!!
When Citrix servers comes into play...If I am not wrong:
1-Before Citrxi Xenapp version 7 I believe, Citrix Server acts as Windows Print Server. I mean Citrix Administrators will have to install printer queues and drivers on Citrix Server(Just like in Windows Print Server), then on Windows workstation they add printer and they point it to the one in Citrix Server, example \\Citrixservername\printer
2- In newer version of Citrix(I believe version 7)when Windows client connects to Citrix server it carries with it print configuration (That point to windows print server)through Citrix Session... and in Citrix Server , I believe there is a policy that tells the Client use windows print server when you need to Print.
Can you please Correct me on that or elaborate on it ?
Thanks
When Citrix servers comes into play...If I am not wrong:
1-Before Citrxi Xenapp version 7 I believe, Citrix Server acts as Windows Print Server. I mean Citrix Administrators will have to install printer queues and drivers on Citrix Server(Just like in Windows Print Server), then on Windows workstation they add printer and they point it to the one in Citrix Server, example \\Citrixservername\printer
2- In newer version of Citrix(I believe version 7)when Windows client connects to Citrix server it carries with it print configuration (That point to windows print server)through Citrix Session... and in Citrix Server , I believe there is a policy that tells the Client use windows print server when you need to Print.
Can you please Correct me on that or elaborate on it ?
Thanks
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
-
I know that on our Windows Print server, some print queues use Universal Print Drivers and some other queues use Native Drivers.
-In your comment above, you said if you will have to install native print drivers on Citrix Server, you do not need to configure the print queue on Citrix Server.
I wonder if you meant :
1- Configure the Print queue as well as install native print drivers on Window Print server
2- On Windows 7 client, Add the printer and point it to windows print server queue that you created in step 1
3- On Citrix server, just install native drivers the same as the ones installed on Windows Print Server
Citrix has a product called Universal Print Server, but that installs on a Print Server, not on a Citrix server.How can I verify that we have it in our environment ?
I know that on our Windows Print server, some print queues use Universal Print Drivers and some other queues use Native Drivers.
-In your comment above, you said if you will have to install native print drivers on Citrix Server, you do not need to configure the print queue on Citrix Server.
I wonder if you meant :
1- Configure the Print queue as well as install native print drivers on Window Print server
2- On Windows 7 client, Add the printer and point it to windows print server queue that you created in step 1
3- On Citrix server, just install native drivers the same as the ones installed on Windows Print Server
It will be in Programs and Features. You probably don't have it installed.
The Citrix server needs a driver to map a client printer. Generally that's the Universal driver. Sometimes that won't work though. The easiest way to install a driver is to create a local printer, then delete the printer, which leaves the driver. I'd try to avoid using any driver other than the Citrix Universal if you can work with it. Don't worry about the drivers unless you get a printer that doesn't work.
The Citrix server needs a driver to map a client printer. Generally that's the Universal driver. Sometimes that won't work though. The easiest way to install a driver is to create a local printer, then delete the printer, which leaves the driver. I'd try to avoid using any driver other than the Citrix Universal if you can work with it. Don't worry about the drivers unless you get a printer that doesn't work.
ASKER
Sorry Brian ..I have been busy lately:
** you said
**if I decide to go with install of Printer native drivers on Citrix server itself, then should I just create local printer with native drivers then remove the printer queue ?
I know I am asking lot of questions because I have not gotten the full picture yet of what I am supposed to do.
Thank you
** you said
It will be in Programs and Featuresof Windows Print Server or Citrix Server ?
**if I decide to go with install of Printer native drivers on Citrix server itself, then should I just create local printer with native drivers then remove the printer queue ?
I know I am asking lot of questions because I have not gotten the full picture yet of what I am supposed to do.
Thank you
On the Print Server, but don't worry about that for now. Try the Universal Drivers first and go from there. Native drivers on the Citrix servers are a last resort.
ASKER
http://blog.myvirtualvision.com/2013/07/31/the-citrix-universal-print-server/
I found the link above, it states that UPD is a package composed of 2 components the UP Server which should be installed on Windows Print Server and UP Client which should be installed on Xenapp server.
That clears it up if you agree with it Brian.
For Native drivers even though in our environment some windows print server queues have Native Drivers , but some citrix applications have specific printing (paper size and Type), it does not work properly. If I understand the only undesirable work around is to install Native print drivers on Xenapp servers (by the way I wonder if you need to install it on each Xenapp server or just on one and it gets replicated to other Xenapp servers in the farm)
I found the link above, it states that UPD is a package composed of 2 components the UP Server which should be installed on Windows Print Server and UP Client which should be installed on Xenapp server.
That clears it up if you agree with it Brian.
For Native drivers even though in our environment some windows print server queues have Native Drivers , but some citrix applications have specific printing (paper size and Type), it does not work properly. If I understand the only undesirable work around is to install Native print drivers on Xenapp servers (by the way I wonder if you need to install it on each Xenapp server or just on one and it gets replicated to other Xenapp servers in the farm)
Universal Print Driver (UPD) and Universal Print Server (UPS) are two different things. I don't necessarily recommend the Universal Print Server at this stage, but I might depending on the results you have with the Universal Print Driver, which is the easiest and most non-intrusive option to test.
What is the landscape of your users? Are any of them remote users, or are they all internal office workers? How are their printers installed on their local workstation? As long as you have printer objects installed on the end-user workstations, simply enable the Universal Print Driver (UPD) via policy, and set the policies to automatically map their printers. If that functionality works, then there's nothing else that needs to be done. If you have specific issues with certain printers, we can address those individually.
What is the landscape of your users? Are any of them remote users, or are they all internal office workers? How are their printers installed on their local workstation? As long as you have printer objects installed on the end-user workstations, simply enable the Universal Print Driver (UPD) via policy, and set the policies to automatically map their printers. If that functionality works, then there's nothing else that needs to be done. If you have specific issues with certain printers, we can address those individually.
ASKER
Sorry I meant this part :
From the planning guide: the Universal Print Server feature comprises of the following components:
◾Client Component: This component is installed on a XenApp server or XenDesktop virtual desktop. It receives the EMF or XPS based print stream from the Citrix UPD and forwards it to the print server. Both the print commands and print data are sent over the wire using their own respective ports. Defaults are TCP 8080 for the print commands and TCP 7229 for the print data.
◾Server Component: The Citrix UPServer component needs to be installed on a Windows based print server. It retrieves the print data and forwards it to the respective printer by means of the Citrix UPServer Virtual Port Monitor.
From the planning guide: the Universal Print Server feature comprises of the following components:
◾Client Component: This component is installed on a XenApp server or XenDesktop virtual desktop. It receives the EMF or XPS based print stream from the Citrix UPD and forwards it to the print server. Both the print commands and print data are sent over the wire using their own respective ports. Defaults are TCP 8080 for the print commands and TCP 7229 for the print data.
◾Server Component: The Citrix UPServer component needs to be installed on a Windows based print server. It retrieves the print data and forwards it to the respective printer by means of the Citrix UPServer Virtual Port Monitor.
Can you please test UPD first, and forget UPS for a bit?
ASKER
Brian,
Can you please paste here the 2 citrix policies That enable UPD and map the printers ?
or a link to these 2 policies ?
Can you please paste here the 2 citrix policies That enable UPD and map the printers ?
or a link to these 2 policies ?
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
Thank you !
ASKER
However when I print from Windows 7 I can see print jobs in the print queue on windows 7 as well as on the same queue name on Windows print server..
So still not clear if print jobs go straight from windows 7 to Print Device or they go to Windows Print server then to Print device............it makes sense if they go straight from windows 7 which already has the port name and the drivers instead of going through windows print server.