Access printers through a Win2K machine
Mar 24, '02 11:09:57AM
Contributed by: predictive
Microsoft distributes a UNIX type Line Printer Daemon (lpd) with all versions of Windows 2000. The lpd daemon allows UNIX hosts to print to local printers over a network. This means that with a little work, you can print to any printer connected to a Windows machine from your Mac. According to Microsoft's Knowledge Base, this tip should also work for Windows NT and XP, though I haven't tested those configurations.
You will need your Windows installation CD handy, administrative access to the Windows machine, and should have already installed the proper drivers on your Mac for any printers accessed this way.
Read the rest of the article for the instructions...
Instructions:
- Follow the directions at Tek-Tips to install Print Services for UNIX, included on your Windows 2000 CD.
- Once you've installed lpd and shared your printers, you can test that the lpd daemon is working properly by opening a command window on the Windows machine and typing:
lpq -S -P
This should display the the printer's status (probably an empty queue).
- Once your Windows lpd daemon is working, it's back to your Mac to open the Print Center (found under /Applications/Utilities).
- Click on Add Printer, wait for a minute while it looks for network printers that aren't there, and select LPR printers using IP. In the box labeled LPR Printer Address, type the IP address of your Windows machine. Uncheck the box labeled Use Default Queue on Server, and type the name of the Windows shared printer in the box labeled Queue Name. Finally, select the printer model of your printer, and click on Add.
That's it; you should now be able to print to your printer through your Win2K box.
[Editor's note: I have not tried this one myself.]
Comments (7)
Mac OS X Hints
http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20020324110957498