A. Printer location tracking, when enabled, allows Windows 2000 to calculate a location based on the users subnet and fills in the Location field.
When a user searches for a printer, Windows 2000 uses the specified location (and other search criteria) to find a printer nearby. You can also use this policy to direct users to a particular printer or group of printers that you want them to use.
If you disable this policy, or do not configure it, and the user does not enter a location as a search criteria, Windows 2000 searches for a nearby printer based on the IP address and subnet mask of the user's computer.
To use printer location tracking you must have the following:
- Active Directory must be installed on the network
- There must be more than one site and subnet
- The IP addressing scheme must match the network physical layout within reason
- Client computers must be able to query via LDAP 2 or later
- Each site must be on a separate subnet
- Each subnet must have have its own subnet object in the Active Directory
To enable perform the following:
- Start the Active Directory Users and Computers MMC snap-in (Start - Programs - Administrative Tools - Active Directory Users and Computers)
- Right click on the domain and select Properties
- Select the Group Policy tab
- Select the 'Default Domain Policy' object and click Edit
- Expand Computer Configuration - Administrative Templates - Printers
- Double click 'Pre-populate printer search location text'
Click here to view image - Select Enable and click Apply then OK
- Close the Group Policy and the MMC snap-in
You then need to set a location for each printer:
- Select properties for the printer
- Enter a location
- Click Apply then OK
To test try and find a printer and a new browse button will be available and your location found!
