Adding a Shared Network Printer on Mac

Owned by Cody Janak (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Sept 16, 2021
3 min read

Shared network printers are printers in common areas such as labs or offices suites. They are added to the print server to allow for multiple users to connect to them simultaneously. The following steps will walkthrough connecting a network printer to a device running macOS.

Devices connected via USB do not need to be added using this method.

 

Add a shared network printer

  1. Open System Preferences and select Printers & Scanners

  2. Click on the + icon in the bottom left hand side of the Printers & Scanners pop up window

  3. Control + click on the blank space to the right of the Windows tab in the Add pop up window

    1. Select Customize Toolbar… on the menu

  4. In the new window, drag and drop the Advanced tab to the top toolbar and click Done

  5. Click the Advanced tab and enter the following information for the printer:

    1. Type: Windows printer via spoolss

    2. Device: Another Device

    3. URL: Enter the URL as smb://coe-pcmf-ps1.engr.tamu.edu/ and then paste the appropriate Printer Name (Mac) entry from the spreadsheet found at the bottom of the page

    4. Name: e.g. ETB IT Suite

    5. Location: e.g. ETB 3019

    6. Use: Generic PCL Printer

      1. If the Generic PCL Printer option isn’t available, there is an issue with the URL. Make sure that there are no spaces and the format is like the one in the screenshot below.

  6. If macOS is unable to determine the exact configuration of your printer, it will ask you a few questions about what hardware configurations the printer has (e.g. tray options, duplex printing, etc.). Select the appropriate options. If you are unsure, you can leave the options unchecked.

  7. When you go to print, you will be asked for login credentials. You will need to use auth\NetID and NetID password as shown below

    1. Check the Remember this password in my keychain option so it does not prompt for this every time you print

Add a personal office printer by IP

  1. Open System Preferences and select Printers & Scanners

  2. Click on the + icon in the bottom left hand side of the Printers & Scanners pop up window

  3. Click on the IP tab and enter the following information for the printer:

    1. Address: IP address of your printer

    2. Protocol: Line Printer Daemon - LPD

    3. Name: e.g. ETB IT Suite Printer

    4. Location: e.g. ETB 3019

  4. Click Add to add the printer

  5. If macOS is unable to determine the exact configuration of your printer, it will ask you a few questions about what hardware configurations the printer has (e.g. tray options, duplex printing, etc.). Select the appropriate options. If you are unsure, you can leave the options unchecked.