Add a network printer in Windows Server 2008
May 15th, 2008
0: Motivation
This is not a “group policy” anything. I have a Brother HL-2070N with built in ethernet; having such, I didn’t want to use up a usb port on my Windows Server 2008 box (along with not having to worry about printer sharing when the machine is down).
1: Drivers
Win2008 is based off the Vista core, and thankfully the drivers have not changed much since; just make sure you have the correct number of bits (32/64). If you need me to tell you how to find this out, get a USB cable an use it.
2: Curs’d Components
Being my second day on Win2008, I’m still supprised how many things one has to turn on.
Start >> Admininstrative Tools >> Server Manager
Server Manager >> Features >> Add Features
You want to add “Print Services”, and nothing else. Install that.
4: Adding the Printer
Start >> Admininstrative Tools >> Print Management (this is new)
Print Management >> Print Servers >> YOURBOXNAMEHERE >> Printers
Right click on the printers icon and select “add”. I’m installing mine as a TCP/IP printer, and thankfully have a hostname to use (which I got off my router). I also uncheck the “Auto detect”, since I can do an install from the driver I loaded, using the standard “Have Disk” later on.
5: Conclusion
It is interesting that one needs to install print management to have any printers working. I could be wrong about this; I did not try and install a local printer.
But hey, I don’t have to be worried about an extra charge for Areo. (if you can find how to enable it)
Note: kb938923 was what convinced me that “add printer” was not going to get past an “access denied” on its own.
-Sud.
Posted in Technical |