Installing a VPS Printer on Windows XP

NOTICE:  AS OF 9/12/12 PLEASE HAVE USERS DO THIS:

START->RUN->  \\VPS##\PRINTERNAME

DO NOT LET THEM BROWSE FOR PRINTERS ANYMORE!

The VPS print servers provide shared printing services across the Engineering Computer Network. Some of the Schools of Engineering are implementing page accounting on some of the available printers. (See the list of Virtual Print Servers.)

This document provides instructions for installing the printers using the Materials Science undergraduate (arms2114) and graduate (arms2183) computer labs as an example, but the information is relevant for accessing any VPS printers on which a user has permission to print. Most printers will be restricted to users associated with a specific School of Engineering, or to students taking classes within a School.  There are no general use, open printers available to all users.

For help with Mac printing, see the Knowledge base article: Installing a VPS printer on a Mac running Leopard/Snow Leopard

Section 4 of this document contains additional hints for alternative installation methods and notes concerning laptop installations.

2.  The Address field

In the address field, type the following:    \\vps8.ecn.purdue.edu (reference the list above for the print server for your school)

3.  Install Printer.

In the Print Server window, double-click on the appropriate printer, and the print drivers will automatically install.   A connection to the printer will open showing the print queue.

4. Permissions and other installation methods.

If you are using a laptop, or non-domain computer, where you do not log in using your Purdue account, you may still be able to install a printer by providing your login name and password. When prompted to do so, enter your credentials by preceding your account name with ECN\ For example, user "engineer" would enter the name as ECN\engineer

Printers can also be installed with the “Add a printer” task by selecting

“A network printer, or printer attached to another computer”

“Connect to this printer (or to browse for a printer and click Next)

The following example is for Materials Engineering users, but demonstrate the procedure...

In the Name box, enter  \\vps8.ecn.purdue.edu\arms2114hp for the undergraduate lab

printer or  \\vps8.ecn.purdue.edu\arms2183hp1  for the graduate lab printer.

These instructions and names install PCL print drivers. To install postscript print drivers

for the printer you want to use, select  printername-ps from the list of available printers.

(i.e. arms2114hp-ps or arms2183hp1-ps)