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Print from within a VirtualBox Virtual Machine box

Hi Experts!


I am using VirtualBox v6.1 and I need printer access to a VM running Windows 7 pro.  The printing is from a Word doc within the VM and also a DOS app to print a list.  I am searching for the proper way to setup printer access and found Setting >> USB there one can choose, but mines is empty.  I am still searching but any EE has the steps to access a printer from within a VM? (not the printer is an inject)

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rindi
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How is the Printer connected to the Host? How is your VM's network setup (NAT, Bridge...)?

If your printer is connected via the LAN, & you have the VM setup to use Bridge, you can access it like any other device on your LAN.

If it is connected to the Host via USB, you'd have to disable it on your host first, as USB devices can only be forwarded to a VM if it is not in use by the Host. So you should connect it via the LAN, if it includes it's own Ethernet port.

Printing from a GUI program on the VM like M$ Word should then not be a problem, provided the printer's driver is installed. For a DOS program it will depend on that program, but many can print to LAN Print Servers. You would just have to do the setup in that DOS program.
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How is the Printer connected to the Host? - wireless

How is your VM's network setup (NAT, Bridge...) - the below is what I have in Network and in Vbox Setting >> Network is NAT
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How can I set up printer access in VirtualBox?

Then change your VM's setup to "Bridge", & you should be able to access the printer. Bridge sets you on the same LAN segment as your host, therefore you get access to the same resources. NAT only lets you access limited resources like the internet, but not what else is on your LAN.
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Oh Ok.  and yes, I just checked the IP in the VM and is different than the host.

Ok will do.
The IP needs to be different, but on the same subnet...
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Sorry about that, I mean a totally different IP, like 10.x.x.x and my host is 192.x.x.x.

Ok I change to bridge and search for the wireless printer and doesn't appear:
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Then I connected my host to the wireless printer then tried in VM box and still no connection

What am I missing?
(FYI, I have  Canon Inkjet TS8300
.

You need to find out the IP address of the printer, then you can use the 'The printer that I want isn't listed' wizard to add the printer.
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Oh ok will try
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Didn't work.

I also connected a USB cable and no printer detected.

Is there something to be done in VirtualBox setting?

What am I missing?
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Went into VirtualBox prior starting the VM and "Setting >> USB " and added the printer but same problem:

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What am I missing?
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FYI, from Host printer works excellent!
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Also, I download the drivers in the VM of Canon Inkjet TS8300 from https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/support/details/printers/support-inkjet-printer/ts-series/pixma-ts8322?tab=drivers_downloads - though it started giving privacy messages etc. I tried to install it in the VM, but had error.

Please help.
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rindi
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The installation utility didn't work (https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/support/details/printers/support-inkjet-printer/ts-series/pixma-ts8322?tab=drivers_downloads) as said before, gave errors.

you must make sure it isn't used by the host
How do I do this?
Have you tried the Windoze Update method I suggested? I've used that many times & it has always worked. Therefore it is the most reliable.

As I have never connected my printers via USB (I only use LAN connected printers), I don't know for sure how to disable it on the host. Besides that it also depends on the OS running on the host (it will differ if it is Linux or Windoze).

But for example, I have a USB stick or disk connected to my Linux system. I can then open my file-manager, right click the USB Stick/Disk & click on "unmount". After that it becomes available under "Redirect USB device" (at least on KVM, which is the Linux built-in HyperVisor & better than VirtualBox, but under VBox there is a similar option).
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Well I am trying ur suggestions.  Too bad no info on "make sure it isn't used by the host", but what I did was uninstall the cannon from the hist and leave the USB in VBox:

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I'll try ur stuff and give u a feedback
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