Windows Server 2003 for Dummies
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You can view and perform some management of your print servers, queues, and print devices from anywhere on the network, including your Windows Server 2003. From one location, you can view what's going on with all the print devices on your network. The only thing you can't do remotely is install something on the print device itself, such as memory or cables. But you knew that already!
The following list includes some issues to keep in mind as you manage print devices:
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Disk space on server: If you set up spooling on your network, you need to keep a close eye on the hard disk space of the print servers. The spooling process involves sending files from the print user to the print server. Remember that the print server can also be your Windows Server 2003. In either case, if your network has a high volume of print activity, it's possible to fill up a hard disk quickly with the spooling process.
After files are spooled to the print server, they remain on the hard disk in the queue until an available print device is ready. If there's a problem with the print device, jobs can back up quickly. Remember that queues take up space on the hard disk, so if the queues back up, more and more space is needed. Be careful that you don't run low on disk space!
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Memory in the print device: When your users print graphics on the network, memory becomes an issue on the print devices. Large graphics files require more memory to print. You can find out how much memory is in a print device by performing a self-test on the print device. Some organizations don't have a large budget for adding extra memory to all their networked print devices, so they select one or more in strategic locations and then define logical print device setups that point to the loaded print devices.
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Configuring the Printer's Properties: You can access the Printer's Properties menu by right-clicking a print device's icon in the Printers and Faxes folder. (Figure 13-3 shows the various settings you can alter for any print device on your network.) We go through each of the tabs here to help you understand which print device properties you can change:
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General: Here's where you add information about the print device, such as comments, location, and whether to use a banner page. We recommend that you add some general comments about the print device and its location. In medium- to large- sized operations, adding a separator page so that print jobs are more easily distinguished from each another is a good idea. The current print driver information is also found here. Change this only if you're going to install a new driver.
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Sharing: If you want users on the network to see this print device, you define the share name here (remember to make it meaningful). You can also tell Windows 2003 to allow this device to show up in the Directory. This is also where you tell Windows 2003 which client operating systems you have on your network and to which systems you want print drivers automatically downloaded.
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Ports: This is where you tell the system to which port your print device is attached. If it's a network-attached print device, you define it here using the Media Access Control (MAC) address; if it's a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) print device, you define it here using the IP address.
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Advanced: You may opt to have print jobs run at night for this print device. This is where you can schedule the print device's availability, priority, and spooling options.
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Security: This is where you set up auditing of your print devices, which enables you to gather information should something go wrong with a device. You may want to use the Security tab for charge-back purposes on a departmental basis (where you audit the usage and charge users or departments for that use) or to limit this print device's availability. You can also define who is allowed to manage this print device.
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Device Settings: This is where you define specific properties of the print device, such as paper size , dots per inch, and paper bin.
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