While users can browse the network for printers, publishing
printers in Active Directory can make it easier for users to identify printers
by location, function, responsible party, and so on. In a very large network, publishing
printers to Active Directory can really simplify printer access as well as
printer management.

By default, Active Directory includes any printer shared on
an active domain member. In some cases, however, you might want to include
printers hosted by stand-alone computers.

To do so, follow these steps:

  1. Right-click
    the organizational unit in which you want to publish the printer, and
    choose New | Printer.
  2. In the
    New Object-Printer dialog box, enter the UNC path to the print share.
  3. Click
    OK to apply the change.

Along with the print share name, you can use the IP address
of the server or the host name in the UNC path.

In some cases, you might want to explicitly prevent a
printer from appearing in Active Directory. For example, let’s say you’ve
restricted a printer to a small number of users. Publishing this printer in Active
Directory will generate too many requests from unauthorized users to print to
the printer.

To remove a printer from the directory, follow these steps:

  1. Open
    the printer’s properties.
  2. On the
    Sharing tab, deselect the List In The Directory check box.
  3. Click
    OK to apply the change.

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