Monday, October 22, 2007 7:41 AM
Kurt Roggen
Windows Server Terminal Services 2008: Easy Print
The Terminal Services Easy Print driver is a new feature in Windows Server 2008 that enables users to reliably print from a RemoteApp (remote/published application) or from a terminal server desktop session to the correct printer on their client computer. It also enables users to have a much more consistent printing experience between local and remote sessions.
By default, the Terminal Services Easy Print driver is enabled in Windows Server 2008.
But what is "TS Easy Print" actually?
"TS Easy Print is a proxy for every print action that simply redirects all printing-related work to the user's local machine without the need to install any print drivers on the Terminal Server. This system provides several benefits, such as being able to redirect any printer from the user's client machine without having to reconfigure the server while still allowing the user to configure the print job as though he were printing on his client machine."
What are the client/server requirements?
On the (Terminal) server-side, Windows Server 2008 needs to be installed. No additional drivers need to be installed; no additional configuration needs to take place. The Terminal Services Easy Print driver is enabled by default.
On the client-side, to use the Terminal Services Easy Print driver, clients must be running Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) 6.1 and Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 Service Pack 1 (SP1) must be installed.
Both RDC/RDP client 6.1 and .NET Framework 3.0 SP1 are intended to be available for Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 and Vista machines in the same timeframe as Windows Server 2008. As a result, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 and Vista machines will be able to connect to Windows Server 2008 servers and use TS Easy Print just as Vista machines will.
NOTE: The terminal server fallback printer driver is no longer included with Windows Server 2008. Although the "Specify terminal server fallback printer driver behavior" Group Policy setting still exists, it can only be used for Windows Server 2003 with SP1/SP2-based computers.
Some related Group Policies:
"Use Terminal Services Easy Print driver first"
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Terminal Services\Terminal Server\Printer Redirection
"Redirect only the default client printer"
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Terminal Services\Terminal Server\Printer Redirection
For more information:
Filed under: WindowsServer2008, TerminalServices