Additional configuration is required in Windows Gold Images to install the drivers required for a user to print from the guest session. The following are supported for printing from a virtual Windows session:
- Print with VERDE print facilities. VERDE's print facilities enable printing to the client's default printer. This option does not require installing the specific driver for the printer in the Gold Image. Instead, VERDE uses a generic printer driver. To enable the VERDE print facilities, confirm the desired printer is already set as the default on the client, install the VERDE printer driver on the Gold Image, and select the printer as the default in the guest session. If you're using a Windows client, you'll also need to confirm Adobe Acrobat Reader is installed.
- Printing to a network printer only. There is no printer installation required on the client. The specific printer driver must be installed in the Gold Image and the printer must be available on the network.
- USB printer attached to the client device. If a USB printer is attached and working with the client device, this printer will be re-directed into the guest session. Confirm the correct printer driver is also installed in the Gold Image.
If you're planning on utilizing the VERDE User Console5 to launch remote sessions, special steps apply for accessing printing services. See the topic Printing for VERDE User Console5 below for more information.
Setting the Client’s Default Printer in the Gold Image
This section applies to the first scenario previously described. The solution requires the installation of a printer on the client workstation. The setup applies to RDP and SPICE sessions launched from the VERDE User Console. Create a generic printer (\\host\client-printer) inside a Windows Gold Image that will allow any virtual desktop launched from the Gold Image to print to the client’s default printer. The configuration will also allow the user to print to a USB printer that is connected to the client workstation.
A default printer must be properly configured for the user’s workstation.
Log in to the VERDE Management Console as an administrator and check out the Gold Image to modify. Launch the Gold Image from the User Console.
Configure Printing for Windows 7
Perform the following steps to enable printing for Windows 7 guests:
- Select Start > Devices and Printers.
- Select "Add a printer."
- In the Add Printer dialog box, select "Add a network, wireless, or Bluetooth printer."
- Select "The printer I want isn’t listed."
- Choose the radial button for "Select a shared printer by name."
- Type "\\host\client-printer" in the Browse text box and select "Next." If the Connect to Printer dialog box appears, select "OK" to proceed.
- Search for the "HP Color LaserJet 2800 Series PS" (or a similar name) and install the printer driver.
- Leave the Printer name as is and select "Next." If you’d like to test the printer, select "Print a test screen."
- Select "Finish."
- In the Printers and Faxes section, check to see whether or not your printer has been added successfully. If it has, you will see a new printer icon named client-printer on host with a green check mark to indicate that this is the default printer.
- In the VERDE Management Console, check in the Gold Image. To learn how to check in a Gold Image,
Any virtual desktop session using that Gold Image will now be able to print to its client’s default printer. Test the deployed image’s printing from a user’s client/workstation.
Configure Printing for Windows 8.1 and 10
Perform the following steps to enable printing for Windows 8.1 and 10 guests:
- Enter "Devices and Printers" in the Windows search box, or select "Devices and Printers." The Devices and Printers window will open.
- Select "Add a Printer." The Add Printer window will open.
- Select the option, "The printer that I want isn't listed," A new window will appear.
- Choose "Select a shared printer by name."
- Type " \\host\client-printer" in the "Browse" text box and select "Next." This will prompt the system to search for the printer and add its driver.
- After the printer has been successfully added, a new window will appear. Leave the Printer name as is and select "Next."
- In the next window, select "Print a test screen" if you'd like to test the printer connection. Otherwise, select "Finish."
- In the Printers section, check whether or not your printer has been added successfully. If it has, you'll see a new printer icon named "client-printer on host" with a green check mark to indicate that this is the default printer.
- In the VERDE Management Console, check in the Gold Image.
Any virtual desktop session using that Gold Image will now be able to print to its client’s default printer. Test the deployed image’s printing from a user’s client/workstation.
Selecting the Default Printer in the Guest Session
In the guest session, during initial access, the user should define the default printer. For example, in a Windows guest image, the user should select "Start", then click on "Devices and Printers" and select "client-printer on host" as the default.
If required, update the Desktop Policies in the VERDE Management Console to enable the client USB printer.
Printing for VERDE User Console5
If you are using VERDE User Console5 to connect to a virtual desktop , you will need to follow the steps below for printing from the session:
- On the browser or application that contains the item you wish to print, select the Print option. The example below depicts the “Print” option of a Chrome browser.
- After the Print window appears, select “Guacamole <redirect>” as the desired printer.
- Select "Print."
- After you perform Step 4, a small download box will appear on the bottom-right of the screen. This is your virtual print file.
Select “Download” to download the file to your client. The item will download to the folder you have chosen as the default for file downloads. From there, you will be able to print the item on any printer accessible by your client machine.
