Connect to an On-Campus Network Printer (Staff)

Owned by Jim Luther
Last updated: Oct 23, 2024 by A.J. Newman
3 min read

Users of university-managed computers can connect to a networked printer owned by their department.

You can only connect to an on-campus printer when connected to the UConn network. If you are off-campus, you will need the UConn VPN.

Windows

  1. Open Windows Settings and navigate to Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.

  2. Select Add device. Wait for the available printers to populate. At the bottom of the list, select Add a new device manually.

  3. Select the radio button for Select a shared printer by name and type in the printer name using the format \\print.svr.uconn.edu\<printername> (ex. \\print.svr.uconn.edu\DS-FoodCourt-Printer). Then click Next.

    1. If you do not know the hostname for your printer, you can add the printer via its IP address. This is listed on the printer’s status or settings page.

  4. The printer should then install with the correct driver. If the correct driver is not available, you should download it directly from the manufacturer’s website and install it to your computer.

  5. If asked to name the printer, leave the default or rename it as desired. 

  6. If asked whether you want to share the printer, select Do not share this printer.

macOS

  1. Open System Settings and navigate to Printers & Scanners. Select Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax….

    1. You may need to self-elevate yourself as an admin first. Instructions are available here: Request Administrator Rights on macOS

  2. In the Add Printer window, navigate to the Advanced tab (gear icon). If you do not have the Advanced tab, see below.

    1. Right -click the blank space to the right of the default icons (Default, IP, Windows) in the title bar and select Customize Toolbar….

      Add printer toolbar

    2. Hold-click the Advanced option and drag it to the toolbar to add it as an option. Close the toolbar customization window.

      Add advanced option

       

  3. Navigate to the Advanced menu.

  4. For the printer type, select Windows printer via spoolss from the dropdown menu.

  5. For the URL, enter the print server name and the name of the printer, following the naming scheme: smb://print.svr.uconn.edu/printername (ex. smb://print.svr.uconn.edu/ITS-Library-Printer02).

    1. For Name and Location, enter any information you like.

    2. For Use: you can select Generic PostScript Printer to use the default drivers that are in macOS. For best results, download the printer drivers from the manufacturer's website and select them (ex. smb://print.svr.uconn.edu/Accounting Office Color).

If the printer’s name contains spaces, replace the spaces with %20 (ex. smb://print.svr.uconn.edu/My%20Department%20Printer%20Name).

  1. Select Add to add the printer to your computer.

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