Setting Printers onine over Domain

wannabedamned · 25 Mar 2014 at 05:30

We have an issue on site where once a directly connected printer is turned offline, We have to manually visit it and turn it back online, due to the need for admin priviledges for the install.

Is there a command we can send over the network to turn the printer online?

ots3go · 25 Mar 2014 at 06:37

As in the printer itself is going offline, in which case you'll need to investigate the model of printer, or the domain is setting the printer as offline?

wannabedamned · 25 Mar 2014 at 08:23

It's a usb zebra printer. It gets set to offline automatically when people switch it off. Then when it's turned back on it requires us to visit the bench to set it back to online as it requires admin rights. The obvious solution is don't turn it off, but in an environment with 500+ staff. It's hard to control. Itd help us greatly if we could remotely set them online.

Deleted member 77746 · 25 Mar 2014 at 12:17

Look in the settings ? might be something there to stop it from going into offline mode?

wannabedamned · 25 Mar 2014 at 23:08

I've had a look and cant find anything unfortunately.

Terrier_Jimlad · 25 Mar 2014 at 23:35

You could simply utilise the printer management scripts built in to Windows (location varies on version of Windows)

For example:

cscript c:\windows\system32\prncnfg.vbs -t -p "USBZebraPrinter" -workoffline

Use -workoffline to bring it online, +workoffline to make it offline. Send the above command to the PCs remotely using PSExec or something similar

wannabedamned · 26 Mar 2014 at 00:36

Oh I like that. I just tested it and it works nicely.

Is it possible to push admin privedges using this?

Terrier_Jimlad · 26 Mar 2014 at 00:41

Well if you're running it remotely it will run under whatever account you're sending it from. However, if you want to specify a username/password in the actual command, you can use the -u and -w switches, for example:

-u AdminUserAccount -w Password123

To be honest though, i would be investigating why you need admin rights everytime the printer is switched on, something doesnt quite sound right there fella!

wannabedamned · 26 Mar 2014 at 03:56

Yeah, It's a custom locked down XP image used by the company I work for. Very Very locked down.

I think the real issue is, it gets turned off, and then when its turned back on it tries to install under a different virtual printer port, Which then flags for admin rights due to limited account access on the packing stations.

Thanks for your help!

wannabedamned · 1 Apr 2014 at 00:38

I don't suppose any of you guys could share some light on this isuses linked here?

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18590523

Not networking, but related to the initial issue. Having it stay on a single port means setting the printer back online allows for me to use the

cscript c:\windows\system32\prncnfg.vbs -t -p "USBZebraPrinter" -workoffline

Without then needing to mess about with ports due to it defaulting to the new one.