Configuring Print and Document Services - Chapter 8

Configuring Print and Document Services

• Chapter 8 covers configuring print and document services.
• The overview includes configuring print and document services, deploying print servers, and using the print and document services role.
• Windows print architecture involves print devices (hardware), printers (software interface), print servers (computers or devices), and printer drivers (converting print jobs).

Windows Print Architecture

• Print devices are the actual hardware that produces hard copies on paper or other media.
• Printers are the software interfaces through which computers communicate with print devices.
• Print servers act as computers (or standalone devices) that receive print jobs from clients and send them to print devices.
• Printer drivers convert print job instructions from applications into commands that specific print devices understand.

Windows Printing

• Installing a printer in Windows involves: selecting the print device's manufacturer and model, specifying the port or interface, and supplying a printer driver.

Windows Printing Flexibility

• A single computer can manage all printing components (except the actual print device); alternatively, components can be distributed throughout a network.
• Four fundamental print configurations exist: direct printing; locally attached printer sharing; network-attached printing; network-attached printer sharing.

Direct Printing

• A locally attached print device is directly connected to the computer.

Locally Attached Printer Sharing

• In this configuration, a locally attached printer is shared via a network.

Network-Attached Printing

• Network-attached print devices can be shared across multiple print servers.

Network-Attached Printer Sharing

• This method uses a single, shared print server for network-attached print devices.

Sharing a Printer

• Hardware upgrades (memory and disk space) may be necessary for heavy print use.
• A dedicated print server is sometimes necessary.
• Sharing printers during or after installation is possible.
  • USB connections can automatically install drivers, provided they are supported by the system.
  • Network installations use device-supplied programs to locate, install, and configure printers.

Managing Printer Drivers

• Windows Server 2012 R2 generally uses the same drivers on client workstations.
• Installing alternative drivers (e.g., 32-bit vs 64-bit, or older OS drivers) is possible via the Additional Drivers dialog box.

Configuring Printer Security

• Clients require the correct permissions to access shared printers, similar to folder shares.
• Printer management has a simpler permission scheme than NTFS.
• Documents submitted and printer properties can be managed.
• Permissions for printer use can be assigned through the security tab.

Assign Printer Permissions

• Proper permissions are crucial for client access to shared printers.
• Using the Security tab of a printer's Properties sheet, permissions can be assigned to users or groups.

Basic Printer Permissions

• Default permissions cover tasks like printing, managing the printer, and managing documents (defined in the document by actions).

Managing Documents

• Default permissions enable everyone to manage their own documents.
• The 'Manage Documents' permission allows users to manage other user's documents.
• Actions like pausing, resuming, restarting, and cancelling jobs are managed within this configuration.

Managing Printers

• Typical configuration tasks encompass printer prioritization, scheduling printer access, and creating printer pools.

Using the Print and Document Services Role

• The Windows Server 2012 R2 default setup includes all printer sharing and management features.
• The role provides additional tools for enterprise network printing administration.

Print Services Role

• Print Server role: Includes a print management console for deploying, monitoring and managing printers. Required for adding print service roles.
• Distributed Scan Server role: Enables network-based document scanning.
• Internet Printing role: Enables website-based printing for external users.
• LPD Service role: Allows UNIX clients to print to Windows printers.

The Print and Document Services Role

• The Print and Document Service role enhances server management by including dedicated print management features.

Using the Print Management Console

• This console is used to manage print servers, drivers, ports, forms, printers and deployed printers.

Adding Print Servers

• The print management console displays a list of available print servers.

Viewing Printers

• Viewing all or filtered lists of print devices is possible.
• Default filters (All Printers, All Drivers, Printers Not Ready, and Printers With Jobs) and custom filters are configurable.

Managing Printers and Print Servers

• The console displays a detailed view of printer settings.

Deploying Printers with Group Policy

• Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) facilitates printer deployment to numerous clients.
• Administrators can search within the AD DS database for printers.
• Configuring a Group Policy Object (GPO) links a printer to a domain, site, or organizational unit.

Explore the essential concepts of configuring print and document services in Chapter 8. This quiz covers the architecture of Windows printing, including print devices, servers, and drivers. Test your knowledge on deploying print servers and understanding the interaction between hardware and software.