HOW TO: Publish Printers in Active Directory in Windows 2000 (321837)

SUMMARY

This article describes how to publish a printer in Active Directory. If you publish a printer in Active Directory, it is easier to locate the printer on a network. Additionally, you can publish the printers selectively, and the published printers are secure.

Because Windows 2000 Printing Services is integrated with Active Directory, you can use Windows to automatically publish printers. You can also publish printers on computers that are not running Windows 2000 by using the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in or by using a script that is provided in the operating system.

NOTE: The procedures that are described in this article apply only to computers that are part of a Windows 2000-based domain that uses Active Directory.

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How to Automatically Publish a Printer in Active Directory

Use the Add Printer Wizard to automatically publish a printer in Active Directory on a computer that is running Windows 2000.

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How to Add a New Printer

1. Log on to the computer as an administrator.
2. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers.
3. In the Printers folder, double-click Add Printer.
4. After the Add Printer Wizard starts, click Next.
5. Click to select the Local printer check box, click to clear the Automatically detect and install my Plug and Play printer check box (if this check box is selected), and then click Next.
6. Click an appropriate port (you typically use LPT1), and then click Next.
7. In the Manufacturers list, click your printer manufacturer, click your printer model in the Printers list, and then click Next.
   
   If your printer appears on this list, got to step 13. If your printer does not appear on this list, complete all of the following steps.
   
   NOTE: If your printer does not appear in the list of available printer models, you must obtain the drivers that your printer requires. You can obtain the drivers from the distribution media that came with the printer or you can download the required files from the printer manufacturer's Web site. You may have to cancel the Add Printer Wizard to prepare the drivers for installation. After you have the appropriate drivers, restart the Add Printer Wizard, and then return to this page.
8. Click Have Disk, click Browse, and then click the location of the drivers.
9. Click the appropriate .inf file, and then click Open.
10. Click OK.
11. In the Add Printer Wizard, click the printer in the Printer box, and then click Next.
12. Either type a name or accept the default name, and then click Next.
13. Click Share As, and then either type a share name or accept the default name.
    
    When you type the share name, use only letters and numbers; do not use spaces, punctuation, or special characters.
14. Click to select the List in the Directory check box, and then click Next.
15. Type any information that the printer users may find helpful, and then click Next.
16. Click No, click Next, and then click Finish.
    
    Windows 2000 installs the required printer drivers, and then adds an icon for your printer to the Printers folder.
17. Close the Printers folder.

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How to Share a Previously Installed Local Printer

1. Log on to the computer as an administrator.
2. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers.
3. In the Printers folder, right-click the printer that you want to publish in Active Directory, and then click Properties.
4. Click the Sharing tab, click Share As, and then either type a share name or accept the default name.
   
   Use only letters and numbers; do not use spaces, punctuation, or special characters.
5. Click to select the List in the Directory check box, and then click OK.
6. Close the Printers folder.

NOTE: If you want to make this printer available to users who are running different versions of Windows, you must install additional drivers. To do so, click Additional Drivers on the Sharing tab of the Printer properties, and then select the appropriate items in the list.

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How to Verify That the Previously Installed Printer and the Shared Printer Are Listed in Active Directory

1. Log on to the computer as an administrator.
2. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers.
3. In the Printers folder, right-click the printer that you want to verify, and then click Properties.
4. Click the Sharing tab, and then verify that the List in the Directory check box is selected.
5. Click OK, and then close the Printers folder.

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