Clientless access from Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008 to iPrint

  • 7003442
  • 03-Jun-2009
  • 26-Apr-2012

Environment

Netware 6.5 SP7
iPrint v4.38
eDir 8.7.3.9
iManager 2.7.0

Windows Server Std 2008
Vista SP1

Situation

Customer is trying to setup a printer from both a Vista box and a Windows 2008 server to print to a NetWare server running iPrint (IPP). They are trying to do this without using the Novell iPrint client [or the Novell NCP client].

From XP and Windows Server 2003, it is a simple matter of putting the URL in the "Connect to a printer on the Internet or on a home or office network" dialog box (ie. http://iPrint_servername/ipp/printername). This works without any issues.

From Vista and Server 2008 the Add Printer wizard comes back with a message "Windows cannot connect to the printer. Make sure that you have typed the name correctly, and that the printer is connected to network"

When entering following URL in a web browser, the iPrint web page displays Ok. http://grf1.gns.cri.nz/ipp/avit4000_pcl

If they install an iPrint printer on an XP machine and share this they can access it without any problem from Vista or Win Server 2008.

Resolution

While Vista and Windows Server 2008 do not need the Novell iPrint client, they do need an IPP client of some sort in order to access IPP printers. They found that it was necessary to install an IPP client in Vista and/or Server 2008 for this to work...

Start | Administrative Tools | Server Manager | Features | Add Features

Place a tick in the "Internet Printing Client" feature. Follow the installation instructions. Reboot once installed. This will install the Microsoft Windows IPP client, allowing users to set up and print to IPP printers.