How to configure network printing in a virtual machine in Virtual PC for Mac (919059)

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To configure network printing in a virtual machine in Virtual PC for Mac, follow these steps.

Step 1: Configure the guest PC in virtual switch networking mode

Assign the network adapter that you want to use in the virtual switch setting in Virtual PC Preference dialog box. Then, configure the guest PC in virtual switch networking mode. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Start Virtual PC, and then click Preferences on the File menu.
2. Under Global Setting, click Virtual Switch.
3. Click the network adapter that you want to use for the Virtual PC guest PCs, and then click OK.
4. In the Virtual PC window, click the guest PC that you want to configure, and then click Settings.
5. Under PC Setting, click Networking, and then click Virtual Switch.
6. In the Virtual Switch list, click Local, host, and external.
7. Click OK, and then restart the virtual machine.

Step 2: Determine the type of printer that is available for you to use

Determine the type of printer that is available for you to use. For example, you may be using one of the following configurations:

• Shared printing from the host Mac
  
  In this configuration, the printer is connected to the Mac host computer. To verify that Windows sharing and Printer sharing are enabled on the Mac, follow these steps:
  1. On the Apple menu, click System Preferences.
  2. Click Sharing.
  3. Click to select the Windows sharing check box and the Printer sharing check box if they are not already selected.
  The Mac should automatically detect the printers that are available. When you start the virtual machine, the shared printer is automatically made available in the virtual machine. No additional steps are required.
• IP Printing from a printer on a network
  
  In this configuration, the printer is not connected to the Mac host computer. Instead, the printer is connected to another computer on the network. Or, the printer is connected to the network directly by using its own IP address.
  
  To determine whether you are using IP Printing, follow these steps:
  1. On the Apple menu, click System Preferences, click Print & Fax, and then click Printing.
  2. In the Selected printer in Print Dialog list, note the available printers that you want to make available for the virtual machine.
     
     Note If you want to add a printer, click the plus (+) sign to add more printers. Click More printers, double-click the computer that is sharing the printer, and then click the printer. Click Add to add the printer.
     
     If no computers are available, continue with the remaining steps in this article to make the printer available.
  3. Close the Print & Fax window.

Step 3: Verify the workgroup name

Verify that the virtual machine and the other computers and printers on the network are using the same workgroup. When the workgroup name for the virtual machine matches the workgroup name for the other networked computers, you can see the available network resources including printers in My Network Places on the virtual machine, and in the Print & Fax dialog box on the host Mac.

To verify that all the computers are in the same workgroup, use one of the following methods:

• To verify the workgroup name for the Mac host computer, follow these steps:
  1. Open the following folder on the Mac hard disk:

     Applications:Utilities

  2. Double-click Directory Access.
  3. Click the lock to make changes, and then type the administrative password.
  4. Click SMB/CIFS, and then click Configure.
     
     The workgroup name is listed in the Workgroup box. By default, the workgroup is named "workgroup" on a Mac machine.
  5. Verify that the workgroup name matches the workgroup name for the other networked computers. To do this, use one of the following methods:
     • If the workgroup name is correct, click Cancel.
     • If the workgroup name is incorrect, change the workgroup name, and then restart the Mac.
• To verify the workgroup name for the virtual machine, or for other Microsoft Windows-based computers on the network, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, click Run, type sysdm.cpl, and then click OK.
  2. Click the Computer Name tab.
  3. Click Change.
  4. The computer name and the workgroup name are listed in the Computer Name Changes dialog box. Verify that the workgroup name matches the workgroup name for the other networked computers. To do this, use one of the following methods:
     • If the workgroup name is correct, click Cancel.
     • If the workgroup name is incorrect, change the workgroup name, and then restart the virtual machine.

Step 4: Configure the available printer in the virtual machine

To install the network printer in the virtual machine, use one of the following methods.

Use My Network Places to install a printer

To use My Network Places to display the contents of a shared folder, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click My Network Places.
2. In the Network Tasks list, click View workgroup computers.
3. In the workgroup window, double-click the computer that contains the shared printer, and then double-click the shared printer.

Use the Add Printer Wizard to install a printer

To connect to a shared printer from the Add Printer Wizard, use one of the following methods:

• Install a printer on a Microsoft Windows XP-based virtual machine
  
  
  1. Click Start, click Control Panel, click Printers and Other Hardware, and then click Printers and Faxes.
  2. Double-click Add Printer to start the Add Printer Wizard, and then click Next.
  3. Click Local printer, click to clear the Automatically detect and install check box, and then click Next.
  4. Click Create a new port, and then click Local Port in the Port type section.
  5. In the Port Name box, type the path of the printer that you determined in the "Step 2: Determine the type of network printer that is available for use" section. For example, type the following, where server is the name of the print server and printer is the name of the printer:

     \\server\printer

  6. Click Next, and then select a Microsoft Windows 2000 or a Microsoft Windows XP driver for the printer.
  7. Click Next, and then follow the instructions to finish the wizard.
• Install a printer on a Microsoft Windows 2000-based virtual machine
  
  
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers.
  2. Double-click Add Printer to start the Add Printer Wizard.
  3. Click My Computer, and then click Next.
  4. Click Add Port, click Local Port, and then click New Port.
  5. In the Port Name box, type the path of the printer that you determined in the "Step 2: Determine the type of network printer that is available for use" section. For example, type the following, where server is the name of the print server and printer is the name of the printer:

     \\server\printer

  6. Click OK, and then click Close.