Connecting to network printer(s) using net use

Question

I was asked to add pinters to all users on a terminal server. There is a VPN connection between the terminal server and the network where the printer is installed.

I do not have much experience with network shares, but I managed to connect to the printer manually. (win+r > \192.168.xx.xx). After entering my credentials (Domain: ADAM.local) I see the shares in explorer, including a couple of printers. Double-clicking a printer adds it to the "printers and devices" and I am able to select it as a printer wehn trying to print a document.

I was hoping to be able to use "net use" to write a script that will connect a user to the printer on startup.

I tried using net use * \\192.168.xx.xx <password> /user:ADAM.local\printACC /persistent:yes to connect to the network share. This results in an error: System error 67 has occurred. The network name cannot be found.

Could anyone help me with the syntax and parameters for the net use command?

Answer 1

Terminal server maps/sets the default client printers from the desktop it connects from as default in user session.

To make this work You need to make sure that on the terminal server only the printer driver is installed. Install both 32 and 64 bit version. No need to map.

Make sure that the terminal server settings allow printer mapping. leave checkbox UNCHECKED.

The printing goes from the terminal server via the rdp protocol to the printer through the client.

Another options is to install all the printers as administrator on the server. They will be available to all users. However I do not recommend this. I think it is better to always redirect user to his default printer.

Answer 2

Your net use * \\192.168.xx.xx etc command is missing the queue name - you only have the server IP. Should be like net use * \\192.168.xx.xx\queue plus the other options you have, if you need them.

Answer 3

You can't use the net use command.

You do have a few options however. If you have a 2008 Domain, you can use Group Policy to deploy your printers.

If you don't have a 2008 print server, you'll need to use a login script. Add the following line to your login script:

cscript \\domain.local\NETLOGON\Printer.vbs //B

After that, add a file, call it Printer.vbs and put the following in it.

Option Explicit
Dim objNetwork, strPrinter1,strPrinter2,strPrinter3

strPrinter1 = "\\servername\printerx"
strPrinter2 = "\\servername\printery"
strPrinter3 = "\\servername\printerz"

Set objNetwork = CreateObject("WScript.Network") 
objNetwork.AddWindowsPrinterConnection strPrinter1
objNetwork.AddWindowsPrinterConnection strPrinter2
objNetwork.AddWindowsPrinterConnection strPrinter3

WScript.Quit

Answer 4

I thought when I tried to use the net use command, I use the LPT2 or LPT3 as the destination port, not *. I once can use the net use command successfully, but I don't use any username and password. Just, for example: NET USE LPT2: \\SERVER\CANONIP /persistent:yes and it works like a charm. I think your code is already correct. There's another problem somewhere. Sorry for not being too helpful.