Printer configuration

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This article explains how to use locally connected printers. We suggest to use network printing and keep printers off the desktop infrastructure but there are situation where printing to locally attached printers in unavoidable.

Printer Configuration (NoTouch Receiver)

The main printer configuration is located in the "System Configuration" menu at "Drivers/Printer" and looks like this:

LISCONOS-PrinterConfiguration.png

Scenario 1: Using a local printer (connected via USB/LPT/...)

Situation: While logged in to an ICA/RDP session, you want to print directly to your local printer via USB/LPT/..., using an Autocreated Printer on the Remote Terminal Server.

Printer-Scenario1.png


How to configure a local printer
client-side server-side
Confirm that you have already installed the printer driver

on your Remote Terminal Server and that the system is allowed to create the printer for the user. (Refer to your Citrix or Microsoft documentation.)

Go to the LPD menu (Services -> LPD) and switch the LPD service parameter to ON. Confirm with the 'change' button.
Set these parameters in your local client's printer configuration:
  • Printer name: Here you define a name to the printer. This name may not contain spaces or special characters, only letters and numbers are allowed.
  • Port: Choose the appropriate option for your client
  • Windows printer driver: This setting has to be the exact name of the driver on your server. (Case sensitive!)
 Windows printer driver:

You get this information from your server's "Printer and Fax" view

*Confirm by using the 'Change'-button
  • Save your changes with the "Save"-button,
  • restart the client and your local printer is ready
You can easily check, if your Remote Terminal Server (ICA, RDP) has correctly mapped your local printer settings:
  • Open your "printer and fax devices" view on the server.
  • Search your entry (the name is like e.g.:
   "Client/[YOUR_CIENT_HOSTNAME]/[YOUR_PRINTERNAME]")
  • Open the properties. Under "Extented" you should see your printer driver.


Scenario 1 for network printers

In most cases, network printers are used directly from the server environment and there's no need to configure anything for the client. But if you need to print from the client directly for any reason (e.g. the printer is in a network segment thtat isn't reachable for the server but only for the client), you can use the same procedure as described above, but for the local printer configuration, you have to configure a network printer instead of a local one. So the needed changes are:

Port: choose "Remote Printer"

TCP printing port: leave it at "0", any other value would suggest you want to configure the client itself as the print box

Remote Print Server: fill in the DNS name or the IP adress of your printer


Scenario 1 - NTC configuration example

In case you have the following parameters:

Printer name: p1
Port: lpt1
Windows Printer Driver: hp LaserJet 1320 PCL 5e

...and you want to set them via the NTC (NoTouch Center), the line to enter for the printcap-Ressource is:

p1|lpt1|hp LaserJet 1320 PCL 5e|
Please mind the trailing pipe (|) at the end of the line!

Scenario 2: Standard TCP/IP Printing

Situation: You want to use your Thinclient as mere printbox, using a printserver for spooling and rendering the print jobs. Note: Use this scenario, if you want to make a clients local printer available to multiple clients in the LAN and/or anticipate large print jobs.


Printer-Scenario2.png

How to configure standard TCP/IP printing

Client-side (printbox)

Set these parameters in your local clients Printer configuration:

- Printer name: Here you define a name for the printer. This name may not contain spaces or special characters, only letters and numbers are allowed.

- Port: Choose the appropriate option for your client

- TCP printing port: set to "9100" (standard printing port)


Confirm by using the 'Change'-button

Save your changes with the "Save"-button,

Restart the client and your local printer is ready


Server-side

Install the printer driver to your printserver.

Use a login script on the Remote Terminal Server to assign the printer.

Scenario 2 - NTC configuration example

In case you have the following parameters: Printer name: p1 Port: lpt1 TCP Printing port: 9100 ...and you want to set them via the NTC (NoTouch Center), the line you enter for the printcap-Ressource is: p1|lpt1|||9100


Scenario 3 - "Driverless" Printing

Situation: Similar to Scenario 1, you let a ThinClient do the handling of print jobs, although without having to install the printer driver on the Remote terminal Server - it is installed as a CUPS driver on the Client.

Printer-Scenario3.png

How to configure a "driverless" local printer


Server-side

Confirm that the system is allowed to create the printer for the user. (Refer to your Citrix or Microsoft documentation.)


Client-side

Go to the 'CUPS printing' menu: Systems configuration -> 'Services' -> CUPS printing Turn the 'Start CUPS' setting to ON.

Confirm by using the 'Change'-button

Set these parameters in your local clients Printer configuration:

- Printer name: Here you define a name to the printer.

- This name may not contain spaces or special characters, only letters and numbers are allowed.

- Port: Choose the appropriate option for your client.

- Printer driver: Choose a CUPS printer driver compatible to your local printer.

Confirm by using the 'Change'-button Save your changes with the "Save"-button, restart the client and your local printer is ready


Scenario 3 - NTC configuration example

In case you have the following parameters:

Printer name: p1

Port: lpt1

Printer Driver: laserjet.ppd


...and you want to set them via the NTC (NoTouch Center), the line you enter for the printcap-Ressource is:

p1|lpt1||||laserjet.ppd|

Mind the trailing pipe (|) at the end of the line!

Configuring printers via NTC

To configure printers using the NTC the parameter printcap must be set accordingly.

Valid Syntax

  • printername|url|drivername|printer_parameters|standard_tcpport|ppdfile|lpoptions
  • printername|url|drivername|printer_parameters|standard_tcpport
  • printername|url|drivername|printer_parameters

Parameters

printername The printername must not contain spaces or special characters, only letters and numbers are allowed.
url The following are valid values: "com1", "com2", "lpt1", "lpt2", "usb1", "usb2", "tcp://Adress_of_remoteServer" and "lpd://remoteMac/remotePrinter"
drivername The drivername is the exact name of the driver on your Server. You get this information from your server's "printer and fax" - view. Be aware that this is case sensitive.
printer_parameters key/value pairs of the printer parameters delimited by ":", e.g.: "pl=6:pw=132"
standard_tcpport The Thinclient can act as a print server, this defines the listening TCP port (set to "0" if the client shouldn't listen for incoming print jobs)
ppdfile CUPS driver file
lpoptions extended options

Notes

  • "|" is used as a delimiter
  • If you are using more than one printer, the printers must be separated by a comma ",".
  • The drivername is the exact name of the driver on the TS.
  • The first printer mentioned in the printcap parameter is the default printer.
  • Check, that the lpt or usb board is enabled in the bios
  • When using the lpt port, be sure, that the EPP (Enhanced Parallel Port) modus is defined in the bios.

Examples

  • Two printers, a "magicolor 2200" on com1 and a HP Laserjet via lpd:
    • com1|com1|magicolor 2200 DeskLaser|pl=6:pw=132,silja|lpd://silja/lp_par|HP Laserjet 2100|
  • One printer - an "HP Laserjet 2100" via lpd:
    • silja|lpd://silja/lp_par|HP Laserjet 2100|
  • One printer via CUPS:
    • remoteCupsPrinterName|tcp://addressOfCupsServer||||laserjet.ppd|