Domain Printing to Windows Print Server

Question

Domain Printing to Windows Print Server

Hi all,

Does anyone have some basic tips to get 10.8 clients to nicely print to windows printer shares in a domain (active directory) enviroment?

I would really like to keep my Mac's - but printing is becoming the issue.

My Macs run 10.8 fully patched and are AD bound. They login and authenticate to fileshares flawlessly.

I need to print to a Windows Server queue because all jobs are monitored via Papercut. Papercut client works well on the macs.

There seems to be two different methods to attach a printer; System Preferences > Printers > Add Printer (Default / Open Directory) or Add Printer (Windows - Domain - Servername - Printername) - both methods seem to work (sometimes)

However I often get authentication / job on hold errors, or "'yourprinter' is trying to use the printer. Type the name/password of a user in the 'print operator' group".

Yet sometimes everything works.

The last option would be to install papercut server on the mac server - and somehow join/share the databases, but I would like to try fixing the issues with printing first if possible.

Cheers

Matt

Posted on Sep 16, 2013 6:45 PM

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Answer 1

PAHU

Level 6

16,723 points

Sep 16, 2013 7:19 PM in response to Matt_nz_Karamu

One thing you can try if you have access to the Windows print server, or have a good relationship with your IT dept, is to enable LPD on the server. You can then add your printer on the Mac using IP > Line Printer Deamon. The Host Name will be the name or IP address of the print server and the Queue Name will be the share name set for the printer.

This method of connection saves you from authenticating to the Windows server when you print, but your AD credentials are still present in the spool file so Papercut will still be able to log the print jobs from the Mac.

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Answer 2

Sep 17, 2013 2:11 PM in response to PAHU

Thanks Pahu,

I am the domain administrator so can easily make those changes.

I do have LPD Service installed however it appears not to be functional. I will attempt a removal and reinstall and setup a queue and see how we go.

I appreciate your prompt response.

Matt

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Answer 3

Sep 18, 2013 4:23 PM in response to PAHU

I have changed one of the labs to lpd printing - appears ok so far so will monitor it over the next few days.

The only way I can actually see its printing via ldp is using the cups interface (localhost:631)

The only issue I have now is that the print driver (Konica C360) defaults to 2-sided. This happens on PC and Mac, but is a minor annoyance compared to the inability to print.

Will let you know if its all sorted and mark as answer soon. Thanks!

Matt

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Answer 4

PAHU

Level 6

16,723 points

Sep 18, 2013 5:08 PM in response to Matt_nz_Karamu

You can change the printer defaults on the Mac via CUPS. You select the printer, change the Administration drop menu to Set Default Options, select the supporting menu where the 2-sided setting resides and change it to 1-sided. Then scroll to bottom of that view and press the Set Default Options button. CUPS will then request you to authenticate with the local admin account. And you're done.

And Windows can be set via the Printer Properties > Advanced tab > Printing Defaults on the server. This should then propagate through to the client - you may have to refresh it.

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Answer 5

Nov 4, 2013 4:42 PM in response to PAHU

Hi Pahu,

Thanks - CUPS is the answer, even if its manual mac by mac. Windows was a little easier since it auto-propagates.

Printing is working flawlessly using LPR. The only strange bug is when you use a non-standard paper size, PaperCut doesnt charge anything, even though I have a base cost set regardless of size. Just something for me to look into.

Glad this solves our issues with the Macs - thanks!

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