A network of 8 Windows workgroups contains workstations with
- MS Windows 98 32 bit
- MS Windows Vista 32 bit
- MS Windows 7 32 bit
- MS Windows 7 64 bit
- MS Windows XP SP3 32 bit
- MS Windows XP SP 3 64 bit
This network is over many rooms in a few buildings, each room has 2-4 workstations with 1-4 network printers connected/plugged through PCs to athe network.
All users from their workstations are running a common shared application through terminal services (or remote desktops) on MS Windows 2003 Sever 64 bit. So, having entered remotely into the Windows 2003 64 bit terminal session, the users are printing to nearby network printer in his room but has to be able to choose and print to any of network printers (for the cases of printer failures).
In other words, any user (of any computer) should be able to print through (remote desktops/terminal session of) another computer to any network printer connected to a 3d computer
I'd like to understand which network drivers to which operating systems should I install and in which computers.
Suppose, I have separate network printer's driver for each of indicated above Windowses and I plug a network printer to a workstation with Windows 7 64 bit and need to be able to print from a computer with "MS Windows XP SP3 32 bit" both from it "directly" and from remote desktop on Windws 2003 64 bit
Update:
There are always 3 computers involved (giving in different combinations):
- (A) a Client - computer from which a user creates a printing job (Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 of 32 and 64 bits, mostly 32 bits) or connects to a terminal session on (B) from which is printing;
- (B) the Server - machine where user from (A) works in terminal session (remote desktop);
- (C) a Printing Computer - machine to which printer is attached ((Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 of 32 and 64 bits, mostly 32 bits)
If Client (A) prints to the printing machine (C) for the first time, he is offered and/or has to install corresponding printing driver on client (A) from machine (C) if everything for that printer was already installed and present on Printing computer (C).
And if client (A) prints from terminal session (remote desktop) on Server (B)?
Server (B) is just terminal and file sharing server, it just shares accesses and printers.
Also, note that it is in workgroup
So, if printing is from (A) without entering remote desktop on (B), computer (A) should install the corresponding printer driver in (A) from (C), corresponding to configuration (32/64 bit, Windows 98/7/XP/Vista) of its own machine (A).
And if (A) prints from terminal session (remote desktop) on computer (B)?
It is all good if everything is being detected and done automatically.
But sh*t happens and I'd like to understand what to uninstall, instal, reinstall where and what are the differences of drivers installed on printing machine (C), Client (A) and intermediary (B)
The question is about correcting incorrect installs, changing printers in case of malfunctioning, etc...