I have a virtual windows machine on a ubuntu host and I wanted to print something.  Before, I would move the file to ubuntu and print it from there, but that is difficult and annoying.  Instead, I did the following and it works great!  It took me all of 10 minutes to do!

The Print Server is the Ubuntu computer that is directly connected to the printers.

1. On the server machine (the one the printer is attached to) open up printer manager with by going to System in the top toolbar panel, then Administration and Printing. This will open the Printer Configuration window.

2. Select Server in the menu bar, and then Settings.

3. This will open the Basic Server Settings window. If this computer only serves as a Print Server and does not need access to a printer connected to another computer select the second box.

   • Publish shared printers connected to this server

   If this computer acts as both a Print Server and a client (it does need access to a printer connected to another computer), select the first two boxes

   • Show printers shared by other systems
   • Publish shared printers connected to this system

4. Select the OK button.

That is all you need to do on the ubuntu “server.”  Next, I needed to configure my windows XP station to print to the printer as well.

WindowsXP Client Machine

1. Open the Control Panel

2. Click Printers and Faxes

3. Click Add a Printer

4. On the first page of the Add Printer Wizard, click Next

5. Choose Add a network Printer

6. Choose Connect to a printer on the internet and type http://SERVER_NAME:631/printers/PRINTER_NAME in the text box and then click next

7. On the next screen, Choose the correct driver for your printer

8. Click ok to finish

9. Right click the printer, choose properties, and then try to print a test page