Providing client access to local printers

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Providing client access to local printers

Terminal Services provides printer redirection, which routes printing jobs from the terminal server to a printer attached to the client computer, or to a network printer available to the client computer.

Print redirection is enabled by default, but it can be disabled using Terminal Services Group Policies (see Configuring Terminal Services with Group Policy) or on a per-connection basis using Terminal Services Configuration (see Connect client drives and printers at logon).

There are two ways to provide client access to local printers:

• Automatic printer redirection--for Remote Desktop Connection.

• Manual printer redirection--for 16-bit clients, Windows-based Terminals, and local printers that require drivers other than those shipped with Windows Server 2003 family operating systems.

Notes

• Bidirectional printing is not supported.

• Redirected printers are available for use with applications running on the server. Redirected printers appear in the Printers folder in Control Panel.

• Clients see only their own redirected printers in the Printers dialog box.

Automatic printer redirection

For Remote Desktop Connection, printer redirection is automatic when the local printer uses a driver that is installed on the server.

When a client logs on to Terminal Services, local printers attached to LPT, COM, and USB ports on the client computer are automatically detected and a local queue is created on the server. The client computer printer settings for the default printer and some properties, such as printing on both sides of the page, are used by the server.

Information about the client's local printers and settings are saved on the client computer. On subsequent logons, the printer queue is created using the information stored on the client computer.

Warning

• When a client disconnects or ends the session, the printer queue is deleted and any incomplete or pending print jobs are lost.

If a printer driver is not found on the server, an event is logged and the client printer is not created. To make the printer available, the driver must be manually installed on the server.

Manual printer redirection

Administrators can manually redirect printers that are attached to LPT and COM ports on the client's local computer so they can be used with Remote Desktop Connection.

Note

• Manual redirection of printers connected through USB ports is not supported.

To manually redirect a client printer, contact your administrator and provide the name of your computer (or IP address for a Windows-based Terminal). The client must be connected to the terminal server during manual redirection.

The administrator uses Add Printers in Printers in Control Panel to manually add the printer. The administrator uses the client computer name to select the printer port from the list of available ports in Add Printer. Ports for all clients currently connected to the server appear in the Port list. Terminal Services client ports are listed as follows:

When a client disconnects or ends the session, the printer queue is deleted, and any incomplete or pending print jobs are lost. Information about client local printers and settings are saved on the client computer. On subsequent logons, the printer queue is created using the information stored on the client computer.

Notes

• When automatic redirection for 32-bit client printers fails, an event is logged. Typically, this event in the log contains information about the reason for redirection failure and, if applicable, which server-side driver is missing.

• When the client disconnects or logs off, the printer queue is deleted, and incomplete or pending print jobs are lost.

• After the initial manual redirection, printers are automatically redirected during subsequent logons.