Network printer install best practices

Question

I know an end-user (Windows 7 workstation part of a domain with NO admin privileges) can install a network printer (with static IP installed on a server) basically through two different ways:

adding a TCP/IP printer
- Open Control Panel / Device and Printers Click Add Printer
  Select Add Local Printer then click Next Select create new port, choose Standard TCP/IP from menu, then click Next Type static IP assigned to printer in Hostname or IP address field (port name is automatically IP_129.107.X.X where X is defined by static IP)
  Check option to Query Printer and Automatically Select Driver then click Next Click Finish in the Completing TCP/IP window If driver is not found in list click Have Disk and select Driver when prompted then click OK Use default name for printer then click Next Select option to Not Share Printer then click Finish
Through the command: \\SERVER_NAME\PRINTER_NAME then double clicking on the printer icon

Are there any differences between these two methods, and which one is considered to be best practice?

Thanks a lot.

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Nov 11 '14 at 22:30

2

The best practice is the one which you have evaluated in your environment and determined to be most appropriate for your admins and users.

answered Nov 11 '14 at 22:30

MikeyB

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So there's no difference..am I right? Both techniques are correct – karl Nov 11 '14 at 23:06
They end in totally different configurations, neither of which is better for all environments. – MikeyB Nov 13 '14 at 00:12

Network printer install best practices

1 Answers1