Printing Technologies

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Network printing is the collection of software components in the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 operating systems that provide network printing services for client computers. In addition to providing services to clients running versions of the Windows operating system, Windows Server 2003 can provide network printing services to client computers running other operating systems when the appropriate components are installed.

In some small offices, it might be practical to have a printer attached to every computer, but in an organization consisting of more than a few computers, sharing printing resources is desirable. Larger organizations with many users might be spread out over a large area and consist of multiple computing platforms. Windows Server 2003 gives you options for printing to remote printers in a variety of network configurations and from a variety of computing platforms.