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Uploading Printer Drivers to a Samba Server

The steps below detail out the process for uploading printer drivers to a Samba server.  This process results in Samba being able to automatically provide the Windows client with the driver(s) necessary to print to the printer chosen.    

Steps to Install Printer Drivers on the Samba Servers

  1. Log into an ECN supported Windows workstation with a domain user account that meets the following criteria: 
  • The account must have local administrator access on the Windows machine
  • The account must be in the UNIX "ECNPrint" group on the Samba server where you will be adding the printer drivers

  • Once you are logged on, click Start->Run.  In the Open field, type \\%sambaserver% where %sambaserver% is the actual Samba server name.  i.e. \\pier
    Click OK.

  • Find and double click on Printers and Faxes.

  • Identify a printer that is shown in the right panel. Let us assume the printer is called ms104hp. Right-click on the ms104hp icon and select the Properties entry. This opens a dialog box that indicates that The printer driver is not installed on this computer. Some printer properties will not be accessible unless you install the printer driver. Do you want to install the driver now?  It is IMPORTANT at this point you ANSWER NO.

  • The printer properties panel for the ms104hp printer on the server PIER is displayed. Click the Advanced tab. Note that the box labeled Driver is empty. Click the New Driver button that is next to the Driver box. This launches the Add Printer Wizard.

  • The Add Printer Driver Wizard on Pier panel is now presented. Click Next to continue. Select the printer manufacturer from the left panel.  In the right panel, select the printer. Click Next, and then Finish to commence driver upload. A progress bar appears and instructs you as each file is being uploaded and that it is being directed at the network server \\pier\print$\W32X86.
    **If the driver upload fails, verify that the W32X86 folder exists.  If it does not exist, create it and then try adding the printer drivers again.

  • The driver upload completes in anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. When it completes, you are returned to the Advanced tab in the Properties panel. You can set the Location (under the General tab). Under the Sharing tab it is possible to load additional printer drivers.

  • Click OK. It will take a minute or so to upload the settings to the server. You are now returned to the Printers and Faxes on Pier monitor. Right-click on the printer, click Properties->Device Settings. Now change the settings to suit your requirements. BE CERTAIN TO CHANGE AT LEAST ONE SETTING and apply the changes even if you need to reverse the changes back to their original settings.  This is necessary so that the printer settings are initialized in the Samba printers database. Click Apply to commit your settings. Revert any settings you changed just to initialize the Samba printers database entry for this printer. If you need to revert a setting, click Apply again.

  • Verify that all printer settings are at the desired configuration. When you are satisfied that they are, click the General tab. Now click the Print Test Page button. A test page should print. Verify that it has printed correctly. Click OK on the ms104hp on Pier Properties panel.

    • Last Modified: Dec 19, 2016 11:12 am US/Eastern
    Created: Aug 9, 2006 12:59 pm GMT-4 by admin
    JumpURL: https://eng.purdue.edu/jump/46be8