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On this page:
Overview
Collect Printer Information
Configure

Overview

LPR provides an option for non-Kerberized printing (usually under special circumstances) to connect a Windows Vista computer to an Athena printer in departments, labs, and centers.

Note: LPR has limitations, and it does not support printing to Kerberos-only printers, such as those in Athena public clusters. This is handled by Kerberized Line Printing (KLP). Today, KLP, not LPR, provides the recommended and optimal printer configuration for most printers on MITnet, MIT's network.

LPR provides facilities for checking the status of print jobs in a print queue and for removing a job from the queue. For more information, see Printing From Athena - Basic Printing Commands.

Collect Printer Information

You will need to determine the name of your printer and print server before you can configure Windows Vista for LPR.

The printer name can usually be obtained by using the printer's test page feature or by contacting your local network administrator. Once you know the printer name, you can easily determine the printer server name by looking it up in the hesiod database.

To Find Out the Printer Server Name for Your Printer Using Athena:

1. Log on to Athena (e.g., using HostExplorer or similar software).
2. At the Athena command line, type the following:
   
   hesinfo name-of-printer pcap
   where name-of-printer is the printer name (e.g., nil) of your printer.
   
   Example: hesinfo nil pcap
   
   Result: nil:rp=nil:rm=MULCH.MIT.EDU:sd=/usr/spool/printer/nil:ka#0:pc#0

Notes:

• In the example above, the printer name is "nil", and the name that follows "rm=" is the print server name: MULCH.MIT.EDU.
• If your printer is not listed in the hesiod database, see Set up Printer on MITnet or contact the Service Desk with questions.

Configure

Once you have learned the name of your printer and print server, you can begin configuring Windows Vista for LPR.

Note: You must be logged on to Windows Vista with Administrator privileges to complete the following procedure.

1. After logging on to Windows Vista via an Administrator account, go to All Programs>Printers.
   Result: The Printers and Faxes window appears.
   
   
2. From the Printer Tasks panel, choose Add a printer.
   Result: The Add Printer Wizard: Welcome dialog appears.
   
3. Click Next.
   Result: The Add Printer Wizard: Choose a local or network printer dialog appears.
   
   
4. Click on the default option for Add a local printer and click Next.
   Result: The Add Printer Wizard: Choose a printer port appears.
   
   
5. Select Create a new port, and, from the Type of port pull-down menu, choose LPR Port.
   
   The screen below shows the LPR Port choice.
   
   
   
   Note: If LPR Port is not one of the options, you must install "LPR Port Monitor" as follows:
   
   
   • In Control Panel, click Programs and Features.
     Result: The Programs and Features window appears.
      
   • Click Turn Windows features on or off.
     Result: The Windows Features dialog appears.
      
   • In the scrolling list of items, click on the + sign in front of Print Services and check the box for LPR Port Monitor.
   • Click OK to install the extra services.
   • Click OK to close the Features window.
   • Click OK to close the Programs and Features window.
   • Return to step 4 above.
6. Once the LPR Port option has been selected, click Next.
   Result: A window appears for entering a print server and printer (print queue) name.
7. Enter the print server name in the first field and the printer name in the second field. Use lower case, and include .mit.edu only as illustrated in the screen below. Then, click OK.
   
   
   
   After you click OK, the following screen appears:
   
   
   
8. In the Manufacturer window pane, select the manufacturer name (e.g., HP for Hewlett-Packard). In the Printers pane, select the exact printer model, then click Next.
   
   Note: For Network printers, select the PostScript model of the printer (the model name ending in PS).
   
   If the exact model of your printer does not appear in the list, you will need to install the correct printer driver from the CD (that shipped with the printer) or download the driver from the manufacturer's web site. Use the Have Disk button to select the driver from the CD or from the location on your computer containing the downloaded driver.
   
   Result: The Type a printer name window appears.
   
   
   
   Tip: Choose a name that will be easy for you to recognize, suchas the official printer name (e.g., NIL) or the name of the building or roomthe printer is in.
   
   Note: Depending on your system configuration, you may also see a Printer Sharing window. Unless you want other people to have access to your computer to send their print jobs, select Do not share this printer (if prompted). If you change your mind later, you can easily change this after the printer has been installed by right clicking on the printer and selecting Sharing...
9. Click Next. A window appears for printing a test page. Click Yes if you want to print a test page.
   Result: The new window will acknowledge that you sent a test page to verify that the printer was set up correctly.
   
   
10. Click Close and check that your test page was printed.
    Result: Your printer setup is now complete.