Remote Printing Using a Public IP Address

The steps below detail how to set up a printer in one location in such a way that users at a different location can print to the printer over the Internet using a public IP address. This is sometimes necessary when using a mobile device that needs to connect to a server at another location. Since mobile devices cannot pass a printer reference to the server through the remote desktop session the way a computer workstation does, special setup of the printer is required.  

A common scenario for Agvance users would be the need to print to a remote printer while using Mobile Sales on a device connected to the server via a WAN (Wide Area Network).

Prerequisites

  1. The printer should be a network printer with a local IP address.
  2. One Public IP address per printer is required.

Steps

  1. Set up a firewall rule that marries the public IP address with the private IP address of the printer. All incoming traffic to the public IP on port 9100 should go to the private IP of the printer.
  2. In the same rule, set the firewall to accept traffic from only the approved servers or computers. To do this, add the public IP address of these computers to the allowed list in the firewall rule. Deny access to all other IP addresses. This makes it more secure and allows printing from only these computers.
  3. Install the printer driver on the terminal server using the public IP address of the printer for the port. This will allow anyone logging into the server to see the printer.
  4. Once setup is complete, print a test page. If the test page prints correctly, this new printer can be selected at the printer selection boxes within the Agvance program.