Using Terminal Services Easy Print Driver

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Applies To: Windows Server 2008

By default, a Windows Server 2008-based terminal server is configured to use the Terminal Services Easy Print printer driver first when a client tries to print, and then it tries to use a matching printer driver on the server if the client does not support Terminal Services Easy Print.

To change this default behavior, modify the Use Terminal Services Easy Print printer driver first Group Policy setting. If you set this policy setting to Disabled, the terminal server first tries to find a suitable printer driver to install the client printer. If the terminal server does not have a printer driver that matches the client printer, the server tries to use the Terminal Services Easy Print driver to install the client printer. For more information, see Using Terminal Services Printing-Related Group Policy Settings.

Note

This policy setting is available in the Computer Configuration node and the User Configuration node.

Client requirements

To use the Terminal Services Easy Print driver, clients must be running both of the following:

  • Remote Desktop Connection 6.1 [The RDC 6.1 (6.0.6001) client supports Remote Desktop Protocol 6.1.]

  • At least Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 Service Pack 1 (SP1)

The following list provides information about which operating systems support the Terminal Services Easy Print driver, and whether additional configuration is required.

  • Windows Vista with SP1 includes both of the required components. By default, Windows Vista with SP1 supports the Terminal Services Easy Print driver with no additional configuration.

  • Windows XP with Service Pack 3 (SP3) includes RDC 6.1. However, you must install a supported version of the .NET Framework separately. You can download Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 (which includes .NET Framework 3.0 SP1) from the Microsoft Download Center (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=109422).

  • Windows Server 2008 includes both of the required components. However, by default, NET Framework 3.0 SP1 is not installed. Therefore, to use the Terminal Services Easy Print driver on a Windows Server 2008-based server (that is acting as the client), you must add .NET Framework 3.0 SP1 by using Server Manager or by adding the feature from the command line.

    To add .NET Framework 3.0 SP1 by using Server Manager

    1. Start Server Manager. To open Server Manager, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Server Manager.

    2. In the left pane of Server Manager, right-click Features, and then click Add Features.

    3. On the Select Features page, expand .NET Framework 3.0.

    4. Select the .NET Framework 3.0 Features and the XPS Viewer check boxes, and then click Next.

    5. Click Install.

    To add .NET Framework 3.0 SP1 by using the command line

    1. Start the command prompt with elevated privileges. To do this, click Start, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.

    2. At the command prompt, type the following, and then press ENTER:

      pkgmgr.exe /iu:NetFx3

      The installation occurs silently, and may take several minutes.

Additional information

When you use the Terminal Services Easy Print driver, users cannot save printing preferences from Printers in Control Panel. Instead, printing preferences can only be applied and saved per application.