Changes

The first step in setting up a Windows Server 2008 print server is to install the Print Server role. This is achieved by launching the Server Manager, selecting ''Roles'' item from the tree in the left pane and clicking on ''Add Roles''. In the ''Add Roles Wizard'' click next on the ''Welcome'' screen if one appears and then select the ''Print Services''' option. Click ''Next'' and read the information displayed before clicking ''Next'' once again to proceed to the ''Select Role Services'' screen. On this screen a number of different service options are available for selection and installation as outlined in the following table:

<td style="border-color: #cccccc">Installs the TCP/IP Line Printer Daemon Service (LPDSV) allowing UNIX, Linux and other Line Printer Remote (LPR0 ) based computers to print via the print server. This setting also opens port in the Windows Firewall.</td>

<td style="border-color: #cccccc">Creates an Internet Informaiton Information Service (IIS) hosted web site where users can manage printers and and connect and print to shared printers hosted in the server using the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP). The default URL for the web site is <nowiki>http://servername/Printers</nowiki>, where ''servername'' is the name of the server running the print services.</td>

Once print services are installed a number of print management tools are now available on the system. First and foremost is the Print Management snap-in which may be accessed via ''Start -> All Programs -> Administrative Tools -> Print Management''. A useful command-line tool is also available in the form of the Print Backup Recovery Migration tool. The executable is named '''Printbrm.exe''' and is located in ''%SystemRoot%\System32\Spool\Tools''.

A number of useful VBscript tools are also available in ''%SystemRoot%\System32\Printing_Admin_Scripts\en-US'' (note that if you use a language other than en-US the path will need to be change accordingly). Scripts are available for configuring printer settings ('''prncfg.vbs'''), listing and manging managing printer drivers ('''prndrvr.vbs'''), managing print jobs ('''prnjobs.vbs'''), managing print queues ('''prnQctl.vbs'''), publishing printers to active directory ('''pubprn.vbs'''), installing and managing printers ('''prnmngr.vbs''') and for managing TCP/IP printer ports ('''prnport.vbs''').

If the make and model of printer are not listed, check to see if the printer was suppled supplied with a driver disk, or whether a driver can be obtained from the manufacturer's web site. Assuming this to be the case, use the ''Have Disk'' button to browse for and select the appropriate manufacturer driver. With either a printer selected from the list, or a suitable driver specified, click on ''Next'' to configure the ''Printer Name and Share Settings''. On this screen, enter the name by which the new printer will be shared to clients over the network. If the printer is not to be shared, ensure that the ''Share this printer'' is not selected. Also, enter a location description (for example, "Printer in Accounts") and comment if desired. Click ''Next'' to display the printer summary screen as illustrated below where the selected settings are presented for review:

Assuming the configuration summary is correct, click ''Next'' to install the new printer. At this point the wizard will report that the driver has bene been successfully installed and that a test page is ready to be printed. If another printer is to be added to the print server, select the ''Add Another Printer'' option to instruct the wizard to loop back to the start of the installation process.

The preceding section discussed the use of auto-detection to locate and install and network attached printer. This section will cover the manual installation of a network printer. As with auto-detection, begin by invoking the Print Management tool (''Start -> All Programs -> Administrative Tools -> Print Management''), unfold the ''Print Servers'' category from the list in the left pane, right click the local or remote print server to which the new printer is to be added and select ''Add Printer...''. This will launch the ''Network Printer Installation Wizard''. On the initial page of of the wizard select the option labeled ''Add a TCP/IP or Web Services Printer by IP address or hostname'' and click ''Next'' to proceed to the ''Printer Address'' screen. If the type of printer is known (''TCP/IP device'' or ''Web Services Printer'') make the appropriate selection. Alternatively, leave the setting as ''Auto Detect'' to have the wizard identify the printer type. Enter the IP address or hostname of the printer to be added to the print server. The wizard will automatically generate a unique port name to accompany the IP address or hostname. The option is also provided to have the wizard attempt to identify the appropriate driver for the new printer. The following figure illustrates the screen as described:

Local printers will be connected to the server using either a serial (COM) port, a parallel (LPT) port or a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port. Often, Windows will automatically detect a new printer as soon as it is connected and powered up. In this situation an icon will appear in the task bar indicating that the new device has been detected. Clicking on this icon presents the option to view details about the installation process, resulting in the appearance of a dialog similar to the one illustrated below, where a Brother MFC-420CN printer has been detected and is being installed:

If Windows fails to auto-detect the printer it may be added manually from Print Management by right clicking on the print server to which the deice device is attached and selecting ''Add Printer...''. On the initial screen select the ''Add new printer using an existing port''and choose the port to which the printer is connected from the drop down list. Once selected, click ''Next'' to install a printer driver. if If one is already installed, select it from the drop down next to the ''use an existing printer driver on the computer''. Alternatively, select ''Install a new printer driver'' and either select the printer make and model from the list, or use the ''Have Disk'' to install the manufacturer supplied driver. Click ''Next'' to proceed to the ''Printer Name and Sharing'' screen. Choose whether the printer is to be shared and, if so, by what name. Proceed to the summary screen, review the information and complete the installation.