Finding where printers are installed?

Hi,

I don't suppose it is possible to tell who has which printers installed is
there? I want to move a shared printer from one server to another and it
would be nice to be able to tell which workstations have that printer
installed so I can re-install it from the new server.

Thanks in advance,
Linn

It might be better to use a print server instead of a workstation to connect
to the printer. LAN and wireless print servers are not very expensive.
On the other hand knowing which work station a printer is connected to might
help in physically finding the printer, assuming it wanders around.

"Linn Kubler" <lkubler@chartwellwisc2.com> wrote in message
news:eBOq7PvCGHA.1028@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> Hi,
>
> I don't suppose it is possible to tell who has which printers installed is
> there? I want to move a shared printer from one server to another and it
> would be nice to be able to tell which workstations have that printer
> installed so I can re-install it from the new server.
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Linn
>
>

Chuck,

Thanks for the replay. I think you missunderstood though, all of my
printers are on print servers, all are controlled through a Windows Server.
Maybe this will better illustrate what I'm trying to do:

PrinterA is connected to our network with a JetDirect box.
ServerA has the printer drivers for PrinterA installed and is sharing it's
PrinterA connection.
Workstation1 and Workstation2 are using the printer share from ServerA to
print to PrinterA.

If I move the shared printer from ServerA to ServerB then Workstation1 and
Workstation2 will no longer be able to print to PrinterA. I need to change
the printers on Workstation1 and Workstation2 to ServerB, correct? At least
that's what I've found.

So, my question is, how can I tell which workstations in my network are
using PrinterA from ServerA, without visiting each workstation personally.
Is there a way to remotely query a workstation and get a list of it's
printers?

Hope that makes more sense.

Thanks,
Linn

"Chuck" <cdkuder@msn.com> wrote in message
news:%23j3gNGaDGHA.344@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> It might be better to use a print server instead of a workstation to
> connect
> to the printer. LAN and wireless print servers are not very expensive.
> On the other hand knowing which work station a printer is connected to
> might
> help in physically finding the printer, assuming it wanders around.
>
> "Linn Kubler" <lkubler@chartwellwisc2.com> wrote in message
> news:eBOq7PvCGHA.1028@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
>> Hi,
>>
>> I don't suppose it is possible to tell who has which printers installed
>> is
>> there? I want to move a shared printer from one server to another and it
>> would be nice to be able to tell which workstations have that printer
>> installed so I can re-install it from the new server.
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>> Linn
>>
>>
>
>

If PrinterA is connected via a JetDirect box, you do not need to use a print
server.

If you choose to use a print server, the advantage is that you can allow
anyone to connect to the printer share and thereby automatically get the
correct drivers and default settings. You will be able to administer the
printer centrally, for example setting permissions. However, if the print
server changes name, you will encounter the issue you describe. If the IP
address changes, you will have to change the TCP/IP port only on the print
server.

If you choose to eliminate the print server, you will have to install the
correct driver and set the default settings on each client separately and
connect to the printer using a TCP/IP port. You will not be able to
administer the printer centrally. If the IP address changes, you will have
to change the TCP/IP port on each machine.

You are correct that you must recreate the connections on each client, but
others may know of a way to better automate this.

Paul

"Linn Kubler" <lkubler@chartwellwisc2.com> wrote in message
news:uYko8LHEGHA.1384@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> Chuck,
>
> Thanks for the replay. I think you missunderstood though, all of my
> printers are on print servers, all are controlled through a Windows
> Server. Maybe this will better illustrate what I'm trying to do:
>
> PrinterA is connected to our network with a JetDirect box.
> ServerA has the printer drivers for PrinterA installed and is sharing it's
> PrinterA connection.
> Workstation1 and Workstation2 are using the printer share from ServerA to
> print to PrinterA.
>
> If I move the shared printer from ServerA to ServerB then Workstation1 and
> Workstation2 will no longer be able to print to PrinterA. I need to
> change the printers on Workstation1 and Workstation2 to ServerB, correct?
> At least that's what I've found.
>
> So, my question is, how can I tell which workstations in my network are
> using PrinterA from ServerA, without visiting each workstation personally.
> Is there a way to remotely query a workstation and get a list of it's
> printers?
>
> Hope that makes more sense.
>
> Thanks,
> Linn
>
> "Chuck" <cdkuder@msn.com> wrote in message
> news:%23j3gNGaDGHA.344@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
>> It might be better to use a print server instead of a workstation to
>> connect
>> to the printer. LAN and wireless print servers are not very expensive.
>> On the other hand knowing which work station a printer is connected to
>> might
>> help in physically finding the printer, assuming it wanders around.
>>
>> "Linn Kubler" <lkubler@chartwellwisc2.com> wrote in message
>> news:eBOq7PvCGHA.1028@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I don't suppose it is possible to tell who has which printers installed
>>> is
>>> there? I want to move a shared printer from one server to another and
>>> it
>>> would be nice to be able to tell which workstations have that printer
>>> installed so I can re-install it from the new server.
>>>
>>> Thanks in advance,
>>> Linn
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Thanks for responding Paul and yes, this is why I use a print server, ease
of administration.
Linn

"Paul Baker" <paulb@online.rochester.rr.com> wrote in message
news:OwusRmHEGHA.3920@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> If PrinterA is connected via a JetDirect box, you do not need to use a
> print server.
>
> If you choose to use a print server, the advantage is that you can allow
> anyone to connect to the printer share and thereby automatically get the
> correct drivers and default settings. You will be able to administer the
> printer centrally, for example setting permissions. However, if the print
> server changes name, you will encounter the issue you describe. If the IP
> address changes, you will have to change the TCP/IP port only on the print
> server.
>
> If you choose to eliminate the print server, you will have to install the
> correct driver and set the default settings on each client separately and
> connect to the printer using a TCP/IP port. You will not be able to
> administer the printer centrally. If the IP address changes, you will have
> to change the TCP/IP port on each machine.
>
> You are correct that you must recreate the connections on each client, but
> others may know of a way to better automate this.
>
> Paul
>
> "Linn Kubler" <lkubler@chartwellwisc2.com> wrote in message
> news:uYko8LHEGHA.1384@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
>> Chuck,
>>
>> Thanks for the replay. I think you missunderstood though, all of my
>> printers are on print servers, all are controlled through a Windows
>> Server. Maybe this will better illustrate what I'm trying to do:
>>
>> PrinterA is connected to our network with a JetDirect box.
>> ServerA has the printer drivers for PrinterA installed and is sharing
>> it's PrinterA connection.
>> Workstation1 and Workstation2 are using the printer share from ServerA to
>> print to PrinterA.
>>
>> If I move the shared printer from ServerA to ServerB then Workstation1
>> and Workstation2 will no longer be able to print to PrinterA. I need to
>> change the printers on Workstation1 and Workstation2 to ServerB, correct?
>> At least that's what I've found.
>>
>> So, my question is, how can I tell which workstations in my network are
>> using PrinterA from ServerA, without visiting each workstation
>> personally. Is there a way to remotely query a workstation and get a list
>> of it's printers?
>>
>> Hope that makes more sense.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Linn
>>
>> "Chuck" <cdkuder@msn.com> wrote in message
>> news:%23j3gNGaDGHA.344@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
>>> It might be better to use a print server instead of a workstation to
>>> connect
>>> to the printer. LAN and wireless print servers are not very expensive.
>>> On the other hand knowing which work station a printer is connected to
>>> might
>>> help in physically finding the printer, assuming it wanders around.
>>>
>>> "Linn Kubler" <lkubler@chartwellwisc2.com> wrote in message
>>> news:eBOq7PvCGHA.1028@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
>>>> Hi,
>>>>
>>>> I don't suppose it is possible to tell who has which printers installed
>>>> is
>>>> there? I want to move a shared printer from one server to another and
>>>> it
>>>> would be nice to be able to tell which workstations have that printer
>>>> installed so I can re-install it from the new server.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks in advance,
>>>> Linn
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>