Remote Desktop & Printers

[btonetbone]

Hi everyone -
I've seen a few topics started on this, but none seemed to end up being very useful.

I am using Remote Desktop Connection constantly for work. Both machines run Windows 7 Professional x64.

My local machine has a few printers installed, but only some of them appear in the Remote Desktop session for use. Here is what I figured out so far:

Printers would NOT show up if
- They are connected to my local machine through the network (ie - the printer is shared by a server, and I am connecting to it that way)
- They are connected to my local machine via USB
Printers DO show up if:
- I connect to a network printer using their specific IP address as a local port instead of connecting through the server

I have all the appropriate checkboxes selected in the RDC box. I have also tried bringing my remote machine to the local machine and physically plugging in the USB cord and installing the drives to ensure I can print when physically connected to the machine.

Does anyone know how to fix this? My biggest desire it to get the USB printer working, with the server vs. IP address issue being secondary.

Thanks in advance!!
Ivan

 

[Norwood]

I'm guessing all the computers and printers are on a domain?

If you were to sit down locally at one of the remote computers they are connected to a print server via \\print-1\printername?

At my job we have an older, legacy domain on which some machines are connected.

Be sure, that when you are logging into the remote computer you're using the correct domain credentials...

DOMAINA\yourname
DOMAINB\yourname

You want to log into the computers using the same domain the computers are connected to.

Can you see the printers if you RDP to the printeserver?

 

[btonetbone]

That may be part of the problem. Both computers are not on the domain. The local computer is my office machine, and part of the domain. The remote computer is my home laptop, and not part of the domain.

I need this setup, because our IT administrator does not feel that I am in need of basic productivity software, such as Microsoft Office.

However, I CAN remotely access many of the local domain-protected environments, such as shared network storage which is not accessible without the proper credentials. Wouldn't that mean that my remote machine is inheriting at least some of the credentials needed to access local items such as printers?

 

[Norwood]

Yes, via group policy that your IT department is defining.

But let me ask you this...you say you're using RDP a lot. Is that because you're working from home? Or you are RDP'ing onto another box?

When I work from home, I simply turn on my laptop, VPN into our building and then have access to all resources I normally have.

When I am at work, I installed the work's printers on my laptop...obviously when I go home I don't have access to them. To get that access you need to VPN into your building. I would ask your IT department for a VPN client, normally people use their normal windows logon to create the VPN connection.

Once you do that, you should be able to print.

Unless I'm missing the point altogether.

 

[orthohin]

Remote Desktop Printing

I was facing this kind of problem like print from local printer using remote desktop server. Right now i am using TSPrint software which no need any driver to install. It's working very nice. For detail please visit..

http://terminalworks.com/tsprint.php

 

[Nina Denial]

You can try Printer for Remote Desktop from FabulaTech. It doesn't require to have printer drivers installed on the server, works with both RDP and ICA protocols, and your printer will be isolated within individual session.
Printer for Remote Desktop - redirect printer to RDP or Citrix session