Q: I work at a school to set server print queues for all network printers on campus. However, we have a number of printers to teachers and others who use generic / student.
Is there a way to group these printers in the folder so people can choose from a list of Student / General printers or a separate list of the Faculty / Staff printers?
I know I could deploy security settings on the printer so that students could not it printed on some printers . but I do not really care to exclude them. I just want to make two categories so that users do not have to scroll through a list of the printers on one, they are available. In fact, if possible, maybe I can separate the printers by building and that makes it very easy to correct the printer you are looking for. Is there a way to accomplish this in Active Directory, or am I dreaming?
Thanks in advance!
Epsil0n
Best Answer: Dont do it unless its a one shot for all. Once you create a domain on the server any computers that need access to files or printer will need to have a domain account on that machine. You could, once the domain is created, go to each machine and map the drive using a single username but its going to cause problems.
Spend a weekend and create a domain – Then join the pro machines to the domain – Your asking for a lot in this questions and it is not a quick process. Keep in mind that once you join the pro machines to the domain, what about all the files that users currently use when they log in on the local machine – Yeah they are still on the machine – and you could create a shortcut on the new log ins to something like c:\documents and setting\username\ – But will the users complain?
What you want to do is a good idea – Its how a network should be set up – But its the users that will have to adjust for a few days or so once you make the change – Make sure they understand.
And the question about what you need to create a domain – If you dont know how to already – make sure test this at home – Get 2 or three machines and practice the scenerio!!
Good luck! =)
Re:I just had another thought. Not sure how your OUs are setup but let's say the PCs in Building A are all in their own OU. You can setup a GPO with a logon script to execute whenever someone logs into the machine and adds the closet printer to it automatically. Just a thought, may take some work to get it done though.
Spyordie's idea is pretty good too.
Re:Originally posted by: guy
Here's a thought for you to work off of.
Rather than having them use windows networking to find the printers put information about them in a web app and have them find the printers there. You could just have links off the web app to the UNC path for the printer so as soon as they clicked on it they would be prompted to install them. The advantage to this is you could than sort it however you wanted; the disadvantage is the time you'd have to take in order to set it up.
-Erik
AH, Erik! That is an awesome suggestions! I just tried that with an email to myself and it worked great! I could publish a printer list on an internal webpage, or even just send a user an email and say "Click on this link!" hmmm… this doesn't replace the printer directory method, but I can see it as being a useful installation method to compliment the standard installation routine.
THANK!!!
Epsil0n
Re:I just realized that the location field is filled in for all of our printers… but the location names need cleaned up a bit and standardized so things are clearly seperated… That will be a good start at least.
Re:Here's a thought for you to work off of.
Rather than having them use windows networking to find the printers put information about them in a web app and have them find the printers there. You could just have links off the web app to the UNC path for the printer so as soon as they clicked on it they would be prompted to install them. The advantage to this is you could than sort it however you wanted; the disadvantage is the time you'd have to take in order to set it up.
-Erik
Re:Originally posted by: guy
Your best bet would be to use the location field for where the printer is located. Then students can search the directory by room no, building, etc to find printers in their area.
I would seriously look into using security on the printers if you don't want students printing to facualty printers.
A. The location field would be an okay attempt at a solution–though I don't trust my users, especially the students, to bother searching by their building or searching at all to find a printer. Most everyone just hits the "Find Now" button with no search criteria and then browses through the list to find their desired printer.
B. The issue is not that I don't want students printing to Fac/Staff printers… in fact, I don't really care if they do or not. Most of the time, they wouldn't even bother because those printers are not in a convenient physical location for students to get to (ie. a different building on campus). I don't want to bother setting up security for all the printers… just want some way to group the printers so the process of installing the print queue is easier.
Thanks for the input! I am considering the location field as a starting point–it certainly can't hurt to have that information available.
Epsil0n
Re:Your best bet would be to use the location field for where the printer is located. Then students can search the directory by room no, building, etc to find printers in their area. I would also use the comments field to put in if they are for student or staff use. Then publish that information in the directory so they can search on it when adding a printer.
We do something similiar where I work. All printer have the location defined so if we have a visitor in the Sales area he can search for the printer by putting in Sales in the location field.
I would seriously look into using security on the printers if you don't want students printing to facualty printers.
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