Internet Printing Client Overview

Applies To: Windows Server 2008

The Internet Printing Client feature enables users to connect and print to printers on the local network or over the Internet by using Internet Printing Protocol (IPP). You can use the Internet Printing Client and IPP to connect to the shared printer using a Web browser (if the print server has the Internet Printing role service installed), or using the Network Printer Installation Wizard.

To use the Internet Printing Client to connect or print to a print server using IPP:

  • The print server must have the Internet Printing role service and the Web Server (IIS) role installed.

  • The client computer must be able to reach the print server over a local, wide area network (WAN) or Internet connection.

Note

If the client computer can access the print server over a local area network (LAN) or WAN connection, Windows establishes a remote procedure call (RPC) connection to the print server, which is faster than IPP. If you can connect to the print server by using an RPC connection, you do not need the Internet Printing Client.