With the new network, we decided to deploy printers remotely via the Active Directory. This will allow us more control and management over the network printers.
After the printer is added to a network printer server, you can then deploy the printer via a GPO in Active Directory.
The following is the procedure to deploy the printer:
Step 1: Initializing the Group Policy Object
- Launch Group Policy management (read previous post if you are not sure how to access this)
- Navigate through the structure to locate the “Computers” OU
- Right click and select “Create a GPO in this domain, and Link it here…”
- In the new pop-up window give the GP a name
- This step can be skipped if this is a new policy
- Right click on the GP and select Edit
Step 2: Initializing Printer Mapping
- In the Group Policy Management Editor, navigate to Computer Configuration > Policies > Windows Settings > Deployed Printers
- Right click and select Deploy New Printer
- In the new printer interface window you can either type the UNC path name to the shared printer on the server.
Note: If the printer is not shared from the server first it will not be seen here. - Click OK
If you need to add additional versions of the print driver…
Follow step #3 on the following document: