Using Remote Printer Management

While NDPS allows users to download and install printer drivers on their workstations, the Remote Printer Management feature also allows administrators to designate printers to be downloaded and installed automatically. These printers then appear in the Windows Printer Folder for the user's workstation. Administrators can also use this feature to remove printers, assign a printer to be the default printer, and update printer drivers from the NDPS Resource Management Service database (RESDIR).

Remote Printer Management configures printing on workstations based on a User object, group membership, and container.

How Remote Printer Management Works

After a printer has been designated for automatic installation on a user's workstation, this information is stored on the eDirectory container object where the administrator has configured it. When a user logs in after the machine is rebooted, the workstation's client software checks the container object where the User object resides for the Remote Printer Management configuration. The client software compares time stamps stored on the workstation and in eDirectory^TM to determine whether any changes have occurred. If the time stamp is different, action is taken, and the printer list on the client is automatically updated to match the printer list maintained by eDirectory on the container.

• If the client finds a printer designated for installation that has not yet been installed, it is automatically installed.
• If a currently installed printer is added to the Printers to Remove list, that printer will be uninstalled automatically.
• If you designate a different printer to be the default in the Remote Printer Management list, the change will be automatically made on each client when it logs in.
• If the Do Not Update Workstations control is checked, you can update the Remote Printer Management configuration, but no changes will occur on the workstation.

When you install a printer using Remote Printer Management, its installed name will be limited to no more than 31 characters (including the periods). The name will be broken off at a logical point from the beginning of the installed name. This will not affect the ability of the printer to service jobs.

The reason that names are limited to this length is that some applications cannot handle printer names of over 31 characters.

Accessing Remote Printer Management

Remote Printer Management can be accessed in any of the following ways using NetWare Adminsitrator. Somewhat different functionality is available at each location.

• From the Tools menu in NetWare Administrator.

  By selecting the NDPS Remote Printer Management option from this menu, you can manage printers in all containers for which you have the Supervisor right at the container object.

• From the Details page for the Container object

  By pressing the NDPS Remote Printer Management button from this page, you can manage printers for this container only.

• From the Details page for a specific printer

  By pressing the NDPS Remote Printer Management button from this page, you can remotely manage that printer.

• From Users and Groups