adding IP printers

I've seen it work for some printers by using the print to file command and it will allow you to select an IP address as the file path. Some HP's wouldn't let me do it that way, by the Lexmark did.

Hi Sue,

Actually you can add the ports by IP address in a server. Then you can share the ports. That way user can add the printers by connecting to the server.

Regards,

dC

Hi

This is what you need to do:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307016

You will needd to do it for each machine but it's a one-time-only process.

After you have finished, all users, including new users who log onto a computer will automatically have the printer(s) you specify installed.

Good luck

Sue,
GPO is probably not what you're looking to use in this case, but, I have found its the only viable method to alot of simple problems. Also, I've found that Remote Desktop (log in as Admin) is a much more practical way of gaining access to a system than phisically visiting the box. I'm interested in learning of your final solution if possible.
-Allen

Once of the more easy/simple ways to set up printers that users can access via ip is to share them out from a master server.

It may not be the "best" way, but it sounds like you are just looking for a simplistic way to have users add printers on their own.

You do this buy giving the printer an ip address with correct mask. Then add that printer to the server adding a tcp/ip port. Once the printer is attached and drivers installed on the server you can share that printer out. Then the XP user can simply add a printer...choose the network option and type \\\

An easy way to set this up is to make a printer server. This would centralize your management of your printers.

The easiest way to go about this is to create the ports on the server you want to use and attach the printers to it. Add the drivers and then share out these printers.

A user would only have to add a printer by selecting a network printer and typing in:
\\\

It's a gentle and easy way to use printers.

I assume that your users is using workstation dedicated to themselves.

On each workstation, go to Control Panel, open the User Accounts applet. Add the username as Administrator.

Next time the user logs on to the machine, he/she will have administrator access, they can add printer ports by IP address, the process of adding printers will be a little bit longer, but now your users can do it themselves.

(Actually, I don't agree that someone will need to maintain printer server. In all companies I have worked for, printer server is set only when printer is added or removed. That's it. No need to touch it every day or every month.)

I agree with the last posting. A print server is usually something that does not require alot of maintenance once it is up and running. I think you misunderstood what I meant by "print server". You don't have to set up a stand alone server that the only job it has is to be the print server...rather you pick a server that you already maintain and have access to and attach the printers to it, then share them out. This will connect the user to the printer via IP address, however it is shared from the server instead. If you are talking about each printer sits by itself you need to put out the information of what kind of printer they are as well as are you running jetdirect on port 9100 or some other network protocol for them.

In accordance with the last few answers, if you have an actual server (example: box with Windows Server Ed. , Linux Server), attaching a printer to it and then sharing it would be the best way to go about it in a small environment. (I won't discuss a large one :) )

When you do this, you can make it easier on a user by simply adding a statement into all global user accounts that connects to the printer. Basically, at login time, it will run the DOS command in a DOS prompt and then flash away. The rest of the login process will then occur, and the printer will appear to the computer.

You also might try getting a little box called a printer server. On it will be a parallel or USB female, and a network out port. Once plugged into a DHCP server, possibly your router (?), it will respond to the ip given and therefore, so will your printer. From there, I believe you know what to do. You can find print servers (measuring well under a foot by a foot) on eBay for nice prices.

The least amount of work might be to assign one workstation in each department as a 'mini' print server. Install that department's printer as IP port on that computer, then share it and everyone else in that department can print to it. Only bad thing is you are limited to 10 users attaching to one computer.

I would like to thank everyone for their replys. I have found the answer finally on Microsofts site. Article ID 297780 which says administrators and Power Users only can do this and you have to have the load/unload device drivers privilege which is a Group Policy setting. Works like a charm.

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