Setting up Automatic Printer Driver Downloads for Windows Clients: Difference between revisions

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= Introduction =
= Introduction =


Windows Point'n'Print driver deployment is a process used by administrators, to upload and preconfigure drivers on a Windows/Samba print server. This allows users to simply connect a printer. The driver is downloaded from the print server automatically, installed (no need for local administrator permissions) and the preconfigured settings are applied.
If you are running a Samba print server for Windows clients, you can upload drivers and preconfigure printers. If a user connects to a printer on the Samba server, Windows automatically downloads the driver and installs it locally. The user does not require local administrator permissions for the installation. Additionally, Windows applies preconfigured driver settings, such as paper sizes and the number of trays.


{{Imbox
In Windows 8/Server 2012, Microsoft introduced a the new printer driver model [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/hh706306%28v=vs.85%29.aspx version 4], that is currently not supported by Samba. However, this doesn't mean newer Windows versions can't print via a Samba print server. All Windows versions (2000 up to 10 and Server 2000 to 2016) support the driver model version 3, support for this has been included in Samba for a long time. For further information on the driver model versions and the differences, see https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj134171.aspx.
| type = note
| text = Before you can set up automatic printer driver download, configure Samba as a print server and share a printer. For details, see [[Setting_up_Samba_as_a_Print_Server|Setting up Samba as a Print Server]].
}}


<u>Important notes:</u>


* If you want to provide Point'n'Print support for drivers to be used on different architectures (typically 32-bit and 64-Bit Windows), you have to upload drivers with the same name for all the architectures! This is the only way to define the default printer settings just once on a platform of your choice. When the driver is downloaded to a host with a different architecture, these default values are used as well. However, this requires that the driver name is exactly the same for each platform. E. g. "HP Universal Printing PS" for x86 and "HP Universal Printing PS (v5.5.0)" for x64 wouldn't match, because of the different name! Choose exactly the same driver for all platforms that you want to support.


* Drivers for x64, can only be uploaded from a x64 Windows! Drivers for the x86 architecture can be uploaded from 32- and 64-bit Windows.


In the following, we assume, that you have successfully [[Setting_up_Samba_as_a_Print_Server|setup Samba as a print server]] and a [[Setting_up_Samba_as_a_Print_Server#Share_a_printer|printer is already shared]].


= Supported Printer Drivers =


== General Information ==


Many driver are provided in a way that enables you to upload them to your Samba print server:
* If the driver is provided in a compressed format, unpack the archive.
* Some drivers are require to start a setup application that installs the driver locally on a Windows host. In certain cases, the installer extracts the individual files into the operating system's temporary folder during the setup. To use the driver files for uploading them to a Samba print Server, start the installer, copy the files from the temporary folder to a new location, and cancel the installation.


Ask your printer vendor, if the driver supports uploading to a print server for automatic download by Windows operating systems.


== Granting print operator privileges ==


To be able to upload and preconfigure printer drivers, the relevant users and groups need to have been granted the "SePrintOperatorPrivilege" privilege. Due to this being a local setting, this is required on all print servers individually.


== Supported Windows Printer Drivers ==
This is required on Samba Domain Members, because they have their own, local SAM database. It is recommended to grant the privilege to a domain group, so changes can be done centralized and easily by adding/removing users from that group without touching the print server. To view the current privilege list on a host, run


Samba only supports the printer driver model version 3 that is supported in Windows 2000 to 10 and Windows Server 2000 to 2016.
# net rpc rights list accounts -U'SAMDOM\administrator'


To use package-aware drivers:
To grant SePrintOperatorPrivilege to the "Domain Admins" group, run
* Run Samba 4.7 and later
* Enable the <code>spoolssd</code> service. For details, see [[Setting_up_Samba_as_a_Print_Server#Enabling_the_spoolssd_Service|Enabling the spoolssd Service]].


The driver model version 4, introduced in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012, is not supported in Samba. Use version 3 drivers instead.
# net rpc rights grant 'Domain Admins' SePrintOperatorPrivilege -U'SAMDOM\administrator'



== 32-bit and 64-bit Drivers ==

Printer drivers for the 64-bit Windows architecture, you can only upload from a Windows 64-bit operating system. 32-bit drivers you can upload from both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows operating systems.

To provide driver for both architectures, you must upload 32-bit and 64-bit drivers that uses exactly the same name for both architectures. For example, if you are uploading the 32-bit <code>HP Universal Printing PS</code> driver and the 64-bit <code>HP Universal Printing PS (v5.5.0)</code> driver for Windows, the driver names are different and cannot be used and preconfigured for the same printer.



=== Uploading Only 64-bit Drivers to a Samba Print Server ===

Using the default setting, Samba reports itself as <code>Windows NT x86</code> architecture. Thus, 64-bit drivers stored on this print server can only be assigned to a printer if additionally a 32-bit driver with exactly the same name is uploaded. Otherwise, Windows does not display the driver in the list displayed in the printer's properties when assigning the driver.

To provide only 64-bit driver on the Samba print server:

* Add the following setting to the <code>[global]</code> section in your <code>smb.conf</code> file:

spoolss: architecture = Windows x64

* Reload Samba:

# smbcontrol all reload-config





= Granting the <code>SePrintOperatorPrivilege</code> Privilege =

Only users and groups having the <code>SePrintOperatorPrivilege</code> privilege granted can upload and preconfigure printer drivers. You can grant this privilege to any user or group.

For example, to grant the privilege to the <code>Domain Admins</code> group, enter:

# net rpc rights grant "SAMDOM\Domain Admins" SePrintOperatorPrivilege -U "SAMDOM\administrator"
Enter SAMDOM\administrator's password:
Enter SAMDOM\administrator's password:
Successfully granted rights.
Successfully granted rights.

{{Imbox
| type = note
| text = It is recommended to grant the privilege to a group instead of individual accounts. This enables you to add and revoke the privilege by updating the group membership.
}}

To list all users and groups having the <code>SePrintOperatorPrivilege</code> privilege granted, enter:

# net rpc rights list privileges SePrintOperatorPrivilege -U "SAMDOM\administrator"
SePrintOperatorPrivilege:
BUILTIN\Administrators
SAMDOM\Domain Admins







= Setting up the <code>[print$]</code> Share =


Windows downloads printer drivers from the <code>print$</code> share of a print server. This share name is hard-coded in Windows and cannot be changed.
== Setup the [print$] share ==


To share the <code>/srv/samba/printer_drivers/</code> folder using the <code>print$</code> share name:
To enable Point'n'Print support, a share named "[print$]" must exist. This share name is hard coded in Windows clients and can't be altered!


* Add the share to your smb.conf
* Add the following section to your <code>smb.conf</code> file:


[print$]
[print$]
path = /srv/samba/Printer_drivers/
path = /srv/samba/printer_drivers/
comment = Printer drivers
read only = no
read only = no


* Reload Samba:
* Create the folder that will later contain the drivers:


# smbcontrol all reload-config
# mkdir -p /srv/samba/Printer_drivers/


* Create the directory:
:The subdirectory structure is created on the fly by Samba, when uploading drivers.


# mkdir -p /srv/samba/printer_drivers/
* Set permissions on the filesystem of the share
:It is recommended, that normal users have read-only access on the filesystem of the entire share, while the group granted the [[#Granting_print_operator_privileges|SePrintOperatorPrivilege]] to ("Domain Admins" in the example), is able to write to it.
: It is also recommended that the permissions are set using Windows ACLs


* Set the permissions on the share. Users or groups having the <code>SePrintOperatorPrivilege</code> privilege granted must be able to to write to the share. For example, to set write access for the <code>Domain Admins</code> group and read permissions for other users to be able to download the drivers:

:* Using POSIX access control lists (ACL):
# chgrp -R "SAMDOM\Domain Admins" /srv/samba/printer_drivers/
# chmod -R 2775 /srv/samba/printer_drivers/

::{{Imbox
| type = note
| text = When setting up a Samba print server on an Active Directory (AD) domain controller (DC), you cannot use POSIX access control lists (ACL). Use the Windows utilities to set extended ACLs. For details, see [[Setting_up_a_Share_Using_Windows_ACLs#Enable_Extended_ACL_Support_in_the_smb.conf_File|Enable Extended ACL Support in the smb.conf File]].
}}

:* Using Windows ACLs:

::Set the following permissions using the Windows utilities:


:*[[Setting_up_a_Share_Using_Windows_ACLs|Set permissions using Windows ACLs]]:
::{| class="wikitable"
::{| class="wikitable"
!Principal
!Name
!Access
!Permissions
!Apply to
!Apply to
|-
|-
Line 67: Line 134:
|Authenticated Users
|Authenticated Users
|Read & execute, List folder contents, Read
|Read & execute, List folder contents, Read
|This folder, subfolders and files
|-
|SYSTEM
|Full control
|This folder, subfolders and files
|This folder, subfolders and files
|-
|-
Line 78: Line 141:
|}
|}


::For details, see [[Setting_up_a_Share_Using_Windows_ACLs#Setting_Share_Permissions_and_ACLs|Setting Share Permissions and ACLs]].
:* [[Setting_up_a_Share_Using_POSIX_ACLs|Set permissions using POSIX ACLs]]:


Samba automatically creates the architecture subdirectories on the <code>print$</code> share when uploading a driver.
# chgrp -R "SAMDOM\Domain Admins" /srv/samba/Printer_drivers/
# chmod -R 2775 /srv/samba/Printer_drivers/


= Uploading printer drivers for Point'n'Print driver installation =


''If you have already uploaded the driver for your printer in the past, you can skip this section.''


The following steps are done on a 64-bit platform, because 64-bit Windows allows uploading drivers for x86 and x64:


* Logon with an account that has the [[#Granting_print_operator_privileges|SePrintOperatorPrivilege]] granted


= Creating a GPO for Trusting the Print Server =
* Start the "Print Management" console (printmanagement.msc)


{{Imbox
* Expand the "Print Servers" node. If your print server isn't listed, add it by right-clicking / "Add/Remove Servers..."
| type = important
:[[Image:Add_Printserver.png]]
| text = In July 2016, Microsoft released an update to fix security issues in the Windows print spooler. This update changes the behaviour and limited support for non-package-aware printer drivers. In October 2016, Microsoft published an update to mitigate these problems in an Active Directory (AD). For further details, see [https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/3170005/ms16-087-security-update-for-windows-print-spooler-components-july-12,-2016 MS16-087]. This section describes the procedure to work around the problems in an AD.
}}


To avoid installing malicious drivers from untrusted sources, Windows asks you if you trust the print server when you preconfigure a printer or when a user installs a printer. Create a group policy object (GPO) to trust the Samba print server and work around the known issues introduced by the Windows print spooler security update:
* Navigate to "Drivers" below your print server. Right-click and choose "Add driver" to upload a new driver to your server
:[[Image:Print_Management_Add_Driver.png]]


* Log in to a computer using an account that is allowed you to edit group policies, such as the AD domain <code>Administrator</code> account.
* The "Add Driver" wizard will appear


* Open the <code>Group Policy Management Console</code>. If you are not having the Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) installed on this computer, see [[Installing RSAT|Installing RSAT]].
* Select the driver architecture you want to upload (upload one by one) and click "Next"


* Right-click to your AD domain and select <code>Create a GPO in this domain, and Link it here</code>.
* Click the "Have Disk..." button and browse to the directory containing the driver you want to upload


:[[Image:GPMC_Create_GPO.png]]
* The wizard will show you a list of all drivers contained in the directory you pointed to. Select the appropriate driver for your printer and click "Next".
:Remember: If you upload drivers for additional architectures for one printer, they all need to have exactly the same name! Otherwise the driver can't be associated and used with different platforms!
:[[Image:Printer_driver_selection.png]]


* Enter a name for the GPO, such as <code>Legacy Printer Driver Policy</code>. The new GPO is shown below the domain entry.
* In the end, the wizard will copy all required files to the [print$] share of your print server


* Right-click to the newly-created GPO and select <code>Edit</code> to open the <code>Group Policy Management Editor</code>.
* If you want to upload drivers for a different platform or other devices, repeat the steps


* Navigate to the <code>Computer Configuration</code> &rarr; <code>Policies</code> &rarr; <code>Administrative Templates</code> &rarr; <code>Printers</code> entry.
* The drivers list in the Print Management Console provides you a list of drivers on your print server and for which platform they are available.

:[[Image:GPME_Computer_Printer_GPOs.png]]

* Double-click to the <code>Point and Print Restriction</code> policy to edit the policy:
:* Enable the policy and set the following options:
::* Enable <code>Users can only point and print to these servers</code> and enter the fully-qualified domain name (FQDN) to the field.
::* Select <code>Do not show warning or elevation prompt</code> in both the <code>When installing drivers for a new connection</code> and <code>When updating drivers for an existing connection</code> list.

:::[[Image:GPO_Point_and_Print_Restrictions.png]]

:* Click <code>OK</code>.

* Double-click to the <code>Package Point and Print - Approved servers</code> policy to edit the policy:

:* Enable the policy and click the <code>Show</code> button.
::* Enter the print server's FQDN. For example:

:::[[Image:GPO_Package_Point_and_Print_Approved_Servers.png]]

::* Close both the content and policy properties by clicking <code>OK</code>.

* Close the <code>Group Policy Management Editor</code>. The GPOs are automatically saved on the <code>Sysvol</code> share on the domain controller (DC).

* Close the <code>Group Policy Management Console</code>.

Wait until the Windows domain members applied the group policy automatically. To apply the policy manually:
* Reboot the domain member.
* Run the following command using an account having local administrator permissions:

> gpupdate /force /target:computer





= Connecting to the Print Server Using the <code>Print Management</code> Console =

To connect to the Samba print server:

* Log on to a Windows host using an account that has the <code>SeDiskOperatorPrivilege</code> privilege granted and write permissions on the <code>print$</code> share.

* Click <code>Start</code>, enter <code>Print Management</code>, and start the application.

* Right-click to the <code>Print Servers</code> entry and select <code>Add/Remove Servers</code>.

* Enter the name of the Samba print server in the <code>Add servers</code> field, and click <code>Add to List</code>.

:[[Image:Print_Management_Add_Print_Server.png]]

* Click <code>OK</code>.

When you are connected to the print server, you can perform certain tasks, such as uploading drivers and preconfiguring printers.





= Uploading a Printer Driver to a Samba Print Server =

To upload a printer driver:

* Connect to the print server. See [[#Connecting_to_the_Print_Server_Using_the_Print_Management_Console|Connecting to the Print Server Using the Print Management Console]]

* Navigate to the <code>Print Servers</code> entry, double-click your print server, and right-click to the <code>Drivers</code> entry.

* Select <code>Add Driver</code>.

* In upcoming wizard, select the architecture you want to upload a driver for, and select <code>Next</code>.

* Click <code>Have Disk</code> and navigate to the folder containing the printer driver for the selected architecture.

* Select the driver to upload from the list.

:{{Imbox
| type = important
| text = When you upload 32-bit and 64-bit drivers for the same printer, both drivers must have exactly the same driver name. For details, see [[#32-bit_and_64-bit_Drivers|32-bit and 64-bit Drivers]].
}}

* Click <code>Finish</code> to start uploading the driver to the <code>print$</code> share.

* After uploading, the driver is shown in the <code>Drivers</code> menu.
:[[Image:Print_Management_Driver_List.png]]
:[[Image:Print_Management_Driver_List.png]]


Optionally, upload drivers for additional architectures.
= Associating a shared printer with a driver and pre-configuration =


* Logon with an account that has the [[#Granting_print_operator_privileges|SePrintOperatorPrivilege]] granted


* Start the "Print Management" console (printmanagement.msc)


* Expand the "Print Servers" node. If your print server isn't listed, add it by right-clicking / "Add/Remove Servers..."
:[[Image:Add_Printserver.png]]


* Navigate to the "Printers" node of your print server, to list all shared printers
:[[Image:View_remote_printers.png]]


= Assigning a Driver to a Printer =
* You could do the association of the driver with the printer share on Windows or on *nix side:


== Using the <code>Print Management</code> Console ==
:* On Windows:


To assign a driver to a printer using the Windows <code>Print Management</code> console:
::* Right-click to the shared printer, and choose "Properties"


* Connect to the print server. See [[#Connecting_to_the_Print_Server_Using_the_Print_Management_Console|Connecting to the Print Server Using the Print Management Console]]
::* If there's no driver associated with an printer yet, you'll be asked if you want to install the driver now. Answer this question with "No"!
:::[[Image:Question_install_driver.png]]


* Navigate to the <code>Print Servers</code> entry, double-click your print server, and select the <code>Printers</code> entry.
::* A default printer properties window will appear. Go to the "Advanced" tab and choose the already uploaded driver from the list, that fits to your printer.
:::[[#An_uploaded_driver_is_not_shown_in_the_list.2C_when_trying_to_associate_it_with_a_printer|FAQ: An uploaded driver is not shown in the list, when trying to associate it with a printer]].
:::[[Image:Choose_driver.png]]
:::''Note: You may receive an "Printer settings could not be saved. Operation could not be completed (error 0x0000007a)" error. This can be ignored. The changes are saved anyway. See [https://bugzilla.samba.org/show_bug.cgi?id=10482 Bug #10482].


* Right-click to the printer and select <code>Properties</code>.
::* Close the windows with "OK" to save the changes


:[[Image:Print_Management_Printer_Properties.png]]
::* If you do this step on Vista or higher, Windows will ask if you trust the server. This message can suppressed by a GPO. See [[Defining_printer_driver_sources_trusts|Setting up a GPO for trusting printer drivers]]). Choose „Install driver“, if you see this window.
:::[[Image:Question_trust_printer.png]]


* When no driver is associated with the printer, the following warning is shown:
::* After associating the driver, Windows renames the printer to the driver name. You can leave that or rename it back again. It is better to set the name on the Windows side rather than in smb.conf.


:[[Image:Print_Management_Driver_Not_Found_Message.png]]
:::''Note: Renaming the printer via the Printer Management console is only possible by editing the printers properties - not via [F2] (See [https://bugzilla.samba.org/show_bug.cgi?id=10770 Bug #10770]).''


: Click <code>No</code>. The driver is selected in a later step from the list of uploaded drivers.
:* On the Samba print server:


* Navigate to the <code>Advanced</code> tab and select the driver from the list. For example:
::* Retrieve a list of all drivers from the [print$] share


:[[Image:Print_Management_Select_Driver.png]]
# rpcclient localhost -U administrator -c 'enumdrivers'


: If you uploaded only a 64-bit driver and the driver is not displayed in the list, see [[#Uploading_Only_64-bit_Drivers_to_a_Samba_Print_Server|Uploading Only 64-bit Drivers to a Samba Print Server]].
::* Associate the driver with the printer (The driver name, must be exactly the same as in the output of the above „enumdrivers“ output):


* Click <code>OK</code> to set the driver for the printer.
# rpcclient localhost -U administrator -c 'setdriver "MyDemoPrinter" "HP Universal Printing PS"'
: If a warning is displayed, cancel the operation and set up a group policy to trust drivers provided by this print server. For details, see [[#Creating_a_GPO_for_Trusting_the_Print_Server|Creating a GPO for Trusting the Print Server]].


:[[Image:Trust_Print_Server_Warning.png]]
::* You can review the associations with


* After the driver is assigned to the printer, Windows automatically renames the printer to the name of the printer driver. It is recommended, to manually reset the name to the printer name set in the <code>smb.conf</code> file:
# rpcclient localhost -U administrator -c 'enumprinters'
:* Right-click to the printer and select <code>Rename</code>.
:* Reset the printer name to the name set in the <code>smb.conf</code> file, and press <code>Enter</code>.
:* If the printer list is not refreshed automatically, press the <code>[F5]</code> key.


* On Windows, now right-click and choose "Properties" again, to preconfigure the printer


* First take a look on the tab names of the properties window. Typically there's a tab called "Device Settings", "Settings", "Configuration" or something similar (depending on the driver). The tab usually allows configuration of the main printer settings (number of trays, duplex on/off, etc.). Set the values fitting to your device and click the "Apply" button.
:[[Image:Device_Settings.png]]


== Using the Samba <code>rpcclient</code> Utility ==
* On the "Sharing" tab, you can check "List in the directory", to publish the printer in your Active Directory, which makes it easier for users to find.


To assign a driver to a printer locally on a Samba print server using the <code>rpcclient</code> utility:
* To preconfigure the printers default settings, go to the "Advanced" tab and click the "Printing defaults..." button. A new window will appear. It's layout and possibilities differ and depend on the driver. Here you set the default values that the user will receive, when connecting the printer.
:[[Image:Printing_defaults.png]]


* List all drivers available on the <code>print$</code> share:
* To save the changes, click "OK"


# rpcclient localhost -U "SAMDOM\administrator" -c "enumdrivers"
If you have uploaded drivers for multiple architectures for the printer, the correct settings will be retrieved for the platform - regardless on which they have been set. However as mentioned earlier, this requires that all drivers for each platform have the same name.


* Assign the driver to the printer. For example, to assign the <code>HP Universal Printing PS</code> driver to the <code>DemoPrinter</code> printer, enter:


# rpcclient localhost -U "SAMDOM\administrator" -c 'setdriver "DemoPrinter" "HP Universal Printing PS"'


* To verify the result:


# rpcclient localhost -U "SAMDOM\administrator" -c "enumprinters"


= FAQ =


== An uploaded driver is not shown in the list, when trying to associate it with a printer ==


Windows clients only permit associating a driver with a printer, when the uploaded driver matches the architecture reported by the spoolss server. Samba reports "Windows NT x86" by default. This means that if you have only uploaded a 64-bit driver, you won't see it in the list when you try to associate it with the printer in it's "Advanced" tab. There are three ways to workaround:


* Set the following (undocumented) parameter in your [global] section of your smb.conf, to make spoolss announce itself as x64 architecture:
spoolss: architecture = Windows x64


= Preconfiguring a Printer =
* Assign the driver with rpcclient.

If the administrator preconfigured the driver on the print server, users connecting to the printer getting automatically the settings applied as default. Preconfigured settings are applied automatically to all driver platforms for the printer, if drivers for multiple architectures are installed on the server. For details, see [[#32-bit_and_64-bit_Drivers|32-bit and 64-bit Drivers]].

To preconfigure a printer:

* Connect to the print server. See [[#Connecting_to_the_Print_Server_Using_the_Print_Management_Console|Connecting to the Print Server Using the Print Management Console]].

* Navigate to the <code>Print Servers</code> entry, double-click your print server, and select the <code>Printers</code> entry.

* Right-click to the printer and select <code>Properties</code>.


* Depending on the driver, a tab, such as <code>Device Settings</code>, is provided that enables you to set general settings, such as installed paper trays.
* Additionally upload a x86 version of the driver with exactly the same name.


* To preconfigure further settings, navigate to the <code>Advanced</code> tab and click <code>Printing Defaults</code>.


* Update all settings you want to preconfigure. For example, paper sizes and the default paper source.


* Save the advanced settings and the printer properties by clicking <code>OK</code>.
== Point'n'Print doesn't deliver the drivers on all architectures ==


Make sure that you have uploaded exactly the same driver for that printer for all architectures. E. g. "HP Universal Printing PS" for x86 and "HP Universal Printing PS (v5.5.0)" for x64 wouldn't match, even if they are shipped in the same driver package!






== Printer driver error "The folder you specified doesn't contain a compatible software driver for your device" ==


If you receive the error "The folder you specified doesn't contain a compatible software driver for your device" when selecting an inf file for driver upload, you're likely hitting the following: [http://serverfault.com/questions/573411/why-cant-i-upload-drivers-to-my-samba-print-server Incompatible Printer Driver Architecture].




----
----
[[Category:Configuration]]
[[Category:Active Directory]]
[[Category:Domain Members]]
[[Category:NT4 Domains]]
[[Category:Printing]]
[[Category:Printing]]
[[Category:Standalone Server]]
[[Category:Group Policy Management]]

Revision as of 12:23, 27 November 2021

Introduction

If you are running a Samba print server for Windows clients, you can upload drivers and preconfigure printers. If a user connects to a printer on the Samba server, Windows automatically downloads the driver and installs it locally. The user does not require local administrator permissions for the installation. Additionally, Windows applies preconfigured driver settings, such as paper sizes and the number of trays.



Supported Printer Drivers

General Information

Many driver are provided in a way that enables you to upload them to your Samba print server:

  • If the driver is provided in a compressed format, unpack the archive.
  • Some drivers are require to start a setup application that installs the driver locally on a Windows host. In certain cases, the installer extracts the individual files into the operating system's temporary folder during the setup. To use the driver files for uploading them to a Samba print Server, start the installer, copy the files from the temporary folder to a new location, and cancel the installation.

Ask your printer vendor, if the driver supports uploading to a print server for automatic download by Windows operating systems.


Supported Windows Printer Drivers

Samba only supports the printer driver model version 3 that is supported in Windows 2000 to 10 and Windows Server 2000 to 2016.

To use package-aware drivers:

The driver model version 4, introduced in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012, is not supported in Samba. Use version 3 drivers instead.


32-bit and 64-bit Drivers

Printer drivers for the 64-bit Windows architecture, you can only upload from a Windows 64-bit operating system. 32-bit drivers you can upload from both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows operating systems.

To provide driver for both architectures, you must upload 32-bit and 64-bit drivers that uses exactly the same name for both architectures. For example, if you are uploading the 32-bit HP Universal Printing PS driver and the 64-bit HP Universal Printing PS (v5.5.0) driver for Windows, the driver names are different and cannot be used and preconfigured for the same printer.


Uploading Only 64-bit Drivers to a Samba Print Server

Using the default setting, Samba reports itself as Windows NT x86 architecture. Thus, 64-bit drivers stored on this print server can only be assigned to a printer if additionally a 32-bit driver with exactly the same name is uploaded. Otherwise, Windows does not display the driver in the list displayed in the printer's properties when assigning the driver.

To provide only 64-bit driver on the Samba print server:

  • Add the following setting to the [global] section in your smb.conf file:
spoolss: architecture = Windows x64
  • Reload Samba:
# smbcontrol all reload-config



Granting the SePrintOperatorPrivilege Privilege

Only users and groups having the SePrintOperatorPrivilege privilege granted can upload and preconfigure printer drivers. You can grant this privilege to any user or group.

For example, to grant the privilege to the Domain Admins group, enter:

# net rpc rights grant "SAMDOM\Domain Admins" SePrintOperatorPrivilege -U "SAMDOM\administrator"
Enter SAMDOM\administrator's password:
Successfully granted rights.

To list all users and groups having the SePrintOperatorPrivilege privilege granted, enter:

# net rpc rights list privileges SePrintOperatorPrivilege -U "SAMDOM\administrator"
SePrintOperatorPrivilege:
  BUILTIN\Administrators
  SAMDOM\Domain Admins



Setting up the [print$] Share

Windows downloads printer drivers from the print$ share of a print server. This share name is hard-coded in Windows and cannot be changed.

To share the /srv/samba/printer_drivers/ folder using the print$ share name:

  • Add the following section to your smb.conf file:
[print$]
       path = /srv/samba/printer_drivers/
       read only = no
  • Reload Samba:
# smbcontrol all reload-config
  • Create the directory:
# mkdir -p /srv/samba/printer_drivers/
  • Set the permissions on the share. Users or groups having the SePrintOperatorPrivilege privilege granted must be able to to write to the share. For example, to set write access for the Domain Admins group and read permissions for other users to be able to download the drivers:
  • Using POSIX access control lists (ACL):
# chgrp -R "SAMDOM\Domain Admins" /srv/samba/printer_drivers/
# chmod -R 2775 /srv/samba/printer_drivers/
  • Using Windows ACLs:
Set the following permissions using the Windows utilities:
Principal Access Apply to
Creator Owner Full control Subfolders and files only
Authenticated Users Read & execute, List folder contents, Read This folder, subfolders and files
Domain Admins Full control This folder, subfolders and files
For details, see Setting Share Permissions and ACLs.

Samba automatically creates the architecture subdirectories on the print$ share when uploading a driver.



Creating a GPO for Trusting the Print Server

To avoid installing malicious drivers from untrusted sources, Windows asks you if you trust the print server when you preconfigure a printer or when a user installs a printer. Create a group policy object (GPO) to trust the Samba print server and work around the known issues introduced by the Windows print spooler security update:

  • Log in to a computer using an account that is allowed you to edit group policies, such as the AD domain Administrator account.
  • Open the Group Policy Management Console. If you are not having the Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) installed on this computer, see Installing RSAT.
  • Right-click to your AD domain and select Create a GPO in this domain, and Link it here.
GPMC Create GPO.png
  • Enter a name for the GPO, such as Legacy Printer Driver Policy. The new GPO is shown below the domain entry.
  • Right-click to the newly-created GPO and select Edit to open the Group Policy Management Editor.
  • Navigate to the Computer ConfigurationPoliciesAdministrative TemplatesPrinters entry.
GPME Computer Printer GPOs.png
  • Double-click to the Point and Print Restriction policy to edit the policy:
  • Enable the policy and set the following options:
  • Enable Users can only point and print to these servers and enter the fully-qualified domain name (FQDN) to the field.
  • Select Do not show warning or elevation prompt in both the When installing drivers for a new connection and When updating drivers for an existing connection list.
GPO Point and Print Restrictions.png
  • Click OK.
  • Double-click to the Package Point and Print - Approved servers policy to edit the policy:
  • Enable the policy and click the Show button.
  • Enter the print server's FQDN. For example:
GPO Package Point and Print Approved Servers.png
  • Close both the content and policy properties by clicking OK.
  • Close the Group Policy Management Editor. The GPOs are automatically saved on the Sysvol share on the domain controller (DC).
  • Close the Group Policy Management Console.

Wait until the Windows domain members applied the group policy automatically. To apply the policy manually:

  • Reboot the domain member.
  • Run the following command using an account having local administrator permissions:
> gpupdate /force /target:computer



Connecting to the Print Server Using the Print Management Console

To connect to the Samba print server:

  • Log on to a Windows host using an account that has the SeDiskOperatorPrivilege privilege granted and write permissions on the print$ share.
  • Click Start, enter Print Management, and start the application.
  • Right-click to the Print Servers entry and select Add/Remove Servers.
  • Enter the name of the Samba print server in the Add servers field, and click Add to List.
Print Management Add Print Server.png
  • Click OK.

When you are connected to the print server, you can perform certain tasks, such as uploading drivers and preconfiguring printers.



Uploading a Printer Driver to a Samba Print Server

To upload a printer driver:

  • Navigate to the Print Servers entry, double-click your print server, and right-click to the Drivers entry.
  • Select Add Driver.
  • In upcoming wizard, select the architecture you want to upload a driver for, and select Next.
  • Click Have Disk and navigate to the folder containing the printer driver for the selected architecture.
  • Select the driver to upload from the list.
  • Click Finish to start uploading the driver to the print$ share.
  • After uploading, the driver is shown in the Drivers menu.
Print Management Driver List.png

Optionally, upload drivers for additional architectures.



Assigning a Driver to a Printer

Using the Print Management Console

To assign a driver to a printer using the Windows Print Management console:

  • Navigate to the Print Servers entry, double-click your print server, and select the Printers entry.
  • Right-click to the printer and select Properties.
Print Management Printer Properties.png
  • When no driver is associated with the printer, the following warning is shown:
Print Management Driver Not Found Message.png
Click No. The driver is selected in a later step from the list of uploaded drivers.
  • Navigate to the Advanced tab and select the driver from the list. For example:
Print Management Select Driver.png
If you uploaded only a 64-bit driver and the driver is not displayed in the list, see Uploading Only 64-bit Drivers to a Samba Print Server.
  • Click OK to set the driver for the printer.
If a warning is displayed, cancel the operation and set up a group policy to trust drivers provided by this print server. For details, see Creating a GPO for Trusting the Print Server.
Trust Print Server Warning.png
  • After the driver is assigned to the printer, Windows automatically renames the printer to the name of the printer driver. It is recommended, to manually reset the name to the printer name set in the smb.conf file:
  • Right-click to the printer and select Rename.
  • Reset the printer name to the name set in the smb.conf file, and press Enter.
  • If the printer list is not refreshed automatically, press the [F5] key.


Using the Samba rpcclient Utility

To assign a driver to a printer locally on a Samba print server using the rpcclient utility:

  • List all drivers available on the print$ share:
# rpcclient localhost -U "SAMDOM\administrator" -c "enumdrivers"
  • Assign the driver to the printer. For example, to assign the HP Universal Printing PS driver to the DemoPrinter printer, enter:
# rpcclient localhost -U "SAMDOM\administrator" -c 'setdriver "DemoPrinter" "HP Universal Printing PS"'
  • To verify the result:
# rpcclient localhost -U "SAMDOM\administrator" -c "enumprinters"



Preconfiguring a Printer

If the administrator preconfigured the driver on the print server, users connecting to the printer getting automatically the settings applied as default. Preconfigured settings are applied automatically to all driver platforms for the printer, if drivers for multiple architectures are installed on the server. For details, see 32-bit and 64-bit Drivers.

To preconfigure a printer:

  • Navigate to the Print Servers entry, double-click your print server, and select the Printers entry.
  • Right-click to the printer and select Properties.
  • Depending on the driver, a tab, such as Device Settings, is provided that enables you to set general settings, such as installed paper trays.
  • To preconfigure further settings, navigate to the Advanced tab and click Printing Defaults.
  • Update all settings you want to preconfigure. For example, paper sizes and the default paper source.
  • Save the advanced settings and the printer properties by clicking OK.