Symptoms
A redirected printer does not use the exact name configured in the RAS Console. For example, the redirected printer name may include one or more of the following:
- The client computer name.
- The RAS session number.
- The user name.
- The text
for %USERNAME% by Parallels.
Changing the printer name format or enabling Remove session number does not always produce a printer name containing only the original client printer name.
Cause
Redirected printers require a unique name on the RD Session Host. Multiple users can connect to the same RD Session Host while redirecting printers with the same local name. If the redirected printers were created with identical names, they could conflict with each other or with a printer already installed on the server.
For this reason, Parallels RAS uses a naming pattern that can include a user name, client name, or session identifier. The unique value allows the RD Session Host to distinguish printers redirected from different users and sessions.
Important: The printer naming options shown under the RDP printing settings apply to printers redirected with Microsoft Basic Printing Redirection. They do not change the naming behavior of printers redirected with RAS Universal Printing.
The exact resulting name can also depend on whether the requested name is already used by another redirected printer or by a printer installed locally on the RD Session Host. If the requested format would create a duplicate name, RAS adjusts the name to preserve uniqueness.
Resolution
Configure the printer name format for Microsoft Basic Printing Redirection
- Open the RAS Console.
- Go to Farm > Site > RD Session Hosts.
- Select the required RD Session Host and open its properties.
- Open the Printing tab.
- In the RDP printing section, click Edit.
- If the settings are inherited, clear Use default settings before editing them.
- Select the required printer name format.
- If available, enable Remove session number when the session number is not required in the displayed name.
- Click OK, save the server properties, and click Apply.
- Disconnect and reconnect the user session before checking the redirected printer name.
Note: Removing the session number does not guarantee that the printer name will contain only the original printer name. RAS can retain or add another unique value, such as the client name, when required to prevent a name conflict.
Use the supported printer-name variables
Depending on the selected RAS version and printing technology, printer-name patterns can use the following variables:
%PRINTERNAME%— the original client printer name.%CLIENTNAME%— the client computer name.%SESSIONID%— the RAS session identifier.%USERNAME%— the user name.
The default format may contain the printer name, user name, and Parallels identification text. The available options can vary by RAS version and selected printing technology, so use the formats displayed in the RAS Console for the installed version.
Check which printing technology is being used
- Open the affected connection in the applicable Parallels Client.
- Open the connection's Printing settings.
- Check whether printing uses RAS Universal Printing, Microsoft Basic Printing Redirection, or both.
- Configure the naming settings for the technology that is actually redirecting the printer.
- Reconnect the session and verify the result.
Changing the Microsoft Basic Printing Redirection naming settings does not change the printer name generated by RAS Universal Printing.
Configure RAS Universal Printing
- Open the RAS Console.
- Go to the Universal Printing settings for the applicable site or server.
- Confirm that RAS Universal Printing is enabled.
- Review the configured printer name pattern.
- Use the supported variables displayed in the console to identify the printer, client, user, or session.
- Save the settings and click Apply.
- Reconnect the session and verify the redirected printer name.
RAS Universal Printing must preserve enough identifying information to prevent two redirected printers from being created with the same name on the RD Session Host.
When an exact printer name is required
A redirected printer cannot reliably be configured to use only %PRINTERNAME% in every session. A unique identifier may be retained or added when the name would conflict with another redirected or locally installed printer.
If the application requires a fixed printer name without a user, client, or session identifier, use a printer-mapping or virtual-printing solution that is designed for that requirement. Such a solution is outside the standard RAS printer-redirection naming behavior.
Important: Upgrading Parallels RAS is not a solution for removing the required unique identifier from a redirected printer name. The behavior is expected and is required to prevent printer-name conflicts.
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