Sharing a WAN printer

[GoldenClick]

Here's my set-up:


I two separate server-based LANs (running windows 2003 server) in two seperate office buildings (same company).

The users in office A want to print to office B printers and vice vera. How can I share the printers in one LAN with another?

 

[PCSupportGlasgow]

are the domains connected in any way already?

there is a few solutions but rather than people posting long descriptions to cover all the angles a bit mor info would be required

eg
is there a vpn/isdn/t1 between the two ?
are the domain controllers linked so they can see eachother?
are both on totally seperate domain or they linked in a forest?
are both on the same internal ip address structure
are both sides getting ip via dhcp or on fixed ip's?
etc, etc

but some reading on ... Connecting 2 domains over WAN via VPN. should be your first port of call on google.

But as said depending on existing setup it will be relatively straight forward or require alot of reconfiguring.

And yes i know you could just add the printer at both ends by correctly configuring sharing and IIS but from experience once users start at printers then files and folders are next on the agenda so best getting everything done at the start that way you have it all nice and easy for the future.

 

[Front Range Computing]

vpn

I'd agree a VPN is the way to go on this one.

 

[Cue]

I love this idea

In a office it might not be possible to VPN into another office for various reasons.

But usually printers use specific ports to share the printer on a network, you will see what port in the driver/ports on the server that shares the printer locally.

Mine uses port 9100, so you might forward port 9100 (or whatever your port is) to the printer.
Security is another matter all together, but that can be solved later

Please let us know how it goes.

 

[Cue]

P.s

Some printers support printing email that they receive, perhaps that is another option.