Printers

Desktop Management > Desktop Policy > Printers

• This page only displays if Desktop Policy is installed.

The Printers page creates and maintains printer connection policies and applies them uniformly to selected machine IDs. Each managed machine can be assigned the appropriate set of printer connections automatically, depending on the policy applied. The same policy is applied to each user on a machine, whether they are logged in or not. Changes take effect the next time the user logs on. Applying printer connections across an organization frees up user time for more productive tasks. It also reduces IT support calls to implement these printer connections manually. A machine must have the Desktop Policy client installed using Install/Remove to display on this page.

Note: Ensure credentialed users on target machines have access rights to the printers specified. In general, use domain administrator credentials when managing machines. See Agent > Set Credential.

Determining the Printer Network Location

When editing a Printers policy, you must specifying a UNC location for the network printer in the format \\Server\Share. To determine this printer network location:

1. Display Properties for a printer listed in your Printers and Faxes window.
2. Select the Ports tab.
3. The printer network location displays in the Port column with a checked checkbox next to it.

Actions

This page provides you with the following actions:

• Schedule - Click to display the Scheduler window, which is used throughout the VSA to schedule a task. Schedule a task once or periodically. Each type of recurrence—Once, Hourly, Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Yearly—displays additional options appropriate for that type of recurrence. Periodic scheduling includes setting start and end dates for the recurrence. Not all options are available for each task scheduled. Options can include:
  • Distribution Window - Reschedules the task to a randomly selected time no later than the number of periods specified, to spread network traffic and server loading. For example, if the scheduled time for a task is 3:00 AM, and the distribution window is 1 hour, then the task schedule will be changed to run at a random time between 3:00 AM and 4:00 AM.
  • Skip if offline - If checked and the machine is offline, skip and run the next scheduled period and time. If blank and the machine is offline, run the task as soon as the machine is online again.
  • Power up if offline - Windows only. If checked, powers up the machine if offline. Requires Wake-On-LAN or vPro and another managed system on the same LAN.
  • Exclude the following time range - Applies only to the distribution window. If checked, specifies a time range to exclude the scheduling of a task within the distribution window. Specifying a time range outside of the distribution window is ignored by the scheduler.
• Apply Now - Apply a selected policy to selected machine IDs.
• Cancel - Cancel schedule options for selected machined IDs.
• Edit - Add, edit or delete an existing Printers Policy. When adding or editing a policy you can rename the policy. You must assign the policy to a specific group. To create a new policy select <Create New Printer Policy> from the policy drop-down list and click Edit.

Select All/Unselect All

Click the Select All link to check all rows on the page. Click the Unselect All link to uncheck all rows on the page.

Machine.Group ID

The list of Machine.Group IDs displayed is based on the Machine ID / Group ID filter and the machine groups the user is authorized to see using System > User Security > Scopes.

Printer Policy

The policy assigned to this machine ID.

Last Apply Time

The last time this policy was applied to this machine ID.

Skip if Machine Offline

If a checkmark displays and the machine is offline, skip and run the next scheduled period and time. If no checkmark displays, perform this task as soon as the machine connects after the scheduled time.

Next Apply Time

The next time this policy is scheduled to be applied. Overdue date/time stamps display as red text with yellow highlight.

Period

If recurring, displays the interval to wait before running the task again.