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Dell Open Print Driver
About Dell Open Print Driver MSI install command line options Installing using INF file Lockdown Policies
Dell Open Print Driver Version 1.9 |
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Table of Contents |
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Chapter 1 |
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About Dell Open Print Driver.............................................................................................................. |
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Operation Modes............................................................................................................................... |
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Dynamic Mode (Workstations Only)......................................................................................................... |
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Static Mode (Servers and Workstations) .................................................................................................. |
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Dynamic Mode/Static Mode - Connected to a Local Port (Servers and Workstations) .......................... |
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Selecting the Correct Mode ................................................................................................................ |
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Discover Both IPv4 and IPv6 Enabled Printers ..................................................................................... |
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Dell Open Print Driver MMC Snap-in................................................................................................... |
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Custom Media Size Support................................................................................................................ |
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Chapter 2 |
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MSI install command line options..................................................................................................... |
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Using the DellOPD Installer from the Command Line............................................................................. |
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Installing using INF File..................................................................................................................... |
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Static Instance......................................................................................................................................... |
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Dynamic Instance.................................................................................................................................... |
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Installing an USB printer with Plug and Play...................................................................................... |
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Installing a Web Services for Device (WSD) printer............................................................................ |
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Chapter 3 |
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Lockdown Policies............................................................................................................................ |
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Managing Printer Features Using Group Policies ................................................................................... |
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Available Policies..................................................................................................................................... |
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Discovery Feature Control ...................................................................................................................... |
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Printer Feature Control........................................................................................................................... |
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Paper Size Feature Control / Allowable Paper Sizes ........................................................................... |
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How to Define Policies on the Server ..................................................................................................... |
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Policies with Multiple Selection.............................................................................................................. |
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How Users See Policies ........................................................................................................................... |
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How to load and unload ‘Dell Open Print Driver’ drivers for standard user account?.......................... |
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Chapter 1
About Dell Open Print Driver
Dell Open Print Driver (Dell OPD) is a universal print driver for PCL 5, PCL XL and PostScript printers. It provides a common user interface and functionality for all printers and reduces administration and support needs in printing environments.
Dell Open Print Driver supports Windows operating systems for clients and servers and can be deployed via MSI install, INF install and point and print. The software is Microsoft WHQL tested and certified, as well Novell yes tested and Citrix certified.
Dell Open Print Driver supports PCL and PostScript from within the same print queue. Users can manually switch between the different print formats and Dell OPD will convert all settings between the desired formats. Settings like watermarks and default print settings will be automatically preserved.
Dell Open Print Driver supports all current and a large variety of legacy Dell PCL and PS printers explicitly. Additionally Dell OPD provides a generic print profile for printing to any printers that support PCL or PostScript, regardless of manufacturer.
Dell Open Print Driver is primarily geared towards network environments, but also supports USB connections.
Operation Modes
Dell Open Print Driver operates in 3 configuration modes.
1)Dynamic Mode (Workstations Only)
2)Static Mode (Servers and Workstations)
3)Dynamic Mode/Static Mode - Connected to a Local Port (Servers and Workstations)
Dynamic Mode (Workstations Only)
In dynamic mode OPD provides a network discovery dialog, which allows users to find printers on the network. Users can select and change to a discovered printer and print to it as needed. When changing printers, all printing preferences are automatically transferred from the previous printer to the new one.
Dell Open Print Driver automatically discovers printers through three different methods:
•SNMP via broadcast in the local IP subnet
•LDAP, if a local LDAP server is available and can be connected to
•NetBIOS, if no LDAP server is available
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Additionally, printers can be manually discovered by providing an IP address, an IP address range in CLDR notation or a UNC name for either a print queue or a print server.
The priority of the discovery methods and advanced discovery functions can be changed through policy settings (see below)
A dynamic print queue is automatically created after an MSI install.
Note: The dynamic mode is active when the driver is connected to either port “NUL:” or “DELLOPD_DYNAMIC”. The ‘Configuration’ tab in ‘Printer Properties’ has all controls disabled except ‘Static Printer Object’ management.
Static Mode (Servers and Workstations)
In static mode a Dell OPD print queue is always connected to one printer only, and behaves like a standard print queue. No network discovery is displayed and the printing preferences are stored only for its own printer.
For Servers: Static queues can be created either via Dell OPD Snap-in for MMC or via an INF install or a point and print install.
For Workstations: Static queues can be created either via the printer properties of a dynamic print queue or via an INF (Add Printer… Wizard) install or a point and print install.
Note: The static mode is active when a static instance of the driver has been created via ‘Static Printer Object’ management or Dell OPD Snap-in for MMC. When in static mode all settings on the ‘Configuration’ tab can be changed by the user. The ‘Static Printer Object’ management is NOT available; ‘Auto Configuration’ is available.
Dynamic Mode/Static Mode - Connected to a Local Port (Servers and Workstations)
When DellOPD is in Dynamic Mode or Static Mode and is connected to a local port, all settings on the ‘Configuration’ tab can be changed by the user. The ‘Static Printer Object’ management is NOT available; ‘Auto Configuration’ is NOT available.
Note: This mode is active when Dell OPD is connected to local port such as “LPT1:”, “USB001:” etc (except for “NUL:” or “DELLOPD_DYNAMIC”).
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Selecting the Correct Mode
Small networks without print servers:
For Workstations:
•Install Dell OPD via MSI on to the client systems. Users discover the printers via dynamic mode and may create static instances through the printer properties of the dynamic queue.
For Servers:
•Install Dell OPD via MSI on to the client systems. Users discover the printers via Dell OPD Snap-in for MMC and may create static instances through the printer queue.
Larger networks with print servers:
For Servers Only:
•Install Dell OPD on the server and use Dell OPD Snap-in for MMC to discover the network printers and to create the static print queues to be shared with the end users.
•End users create Dell OPD queues via Point-and-Print by double clicking on print queues on the print server.
Highly mobile workforces:
For Workstations Only:
•Install a dynamic instance on the client pc. The end user can discover printers in virtually any environment and connect to network attached printers as well as server queues, regardless of the drivers deployed in the network.
Discover Both IPv4 and IPv6 Enabled Printers
Dell OPD discovers both IPv4 and IPv6 enabled printers. If a printer has both IPv4 and IPv6 enabled, the printer name can be seen twice on Dell OPD discovery. User may find a specific printer:
•By specifying a known IP Address of a printer (For example for an IPv4 network 192.168.1.1 or for an IPv6 network FE80::215:99FF:FE76:93E6)
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Dell Open Print Driver MMC Snap-in
The Dell Open Print Driver Snap-in for the Microsoft Management Console allows administrators to find networked printers and create Open Print Driver queues.
The Dell Open Print Driver Snap-in for MMC installs automatically on a server install. An icon is placed on the server desktop to conveniently open the MMC with the Dell Open Print Driver Snap-in. It can also be found by opening the MMC and then opening the File menu and selecting Add/Remove Snap-in.
The Dell OPD MSI installer places and registers the Dell OPD Snap-in for MMC on your server for both 32-bit and 64-bit systems in C:\Windows\System32\dellopd.Snap-in.msc
For Dell OPD Snap-in to work properly, make sure following package is installed on your system:
For 32-bit Servers:
•C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\installutil.exe
For 64-bit Servers:
•C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v2.0.50727\installutil.exe
The Dell Open Print Driver Snap-in for MMC requires Microsoft .Net Framework 2.0 or higher.
For Microsoft Server 2003 the .Net Framework can be downloaded from
For 32 Bit operating systems
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=19
For 64 Bit operating systems
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=6523
For Server 2003, install Microsoft .Net Framework 2.0 to successfully register Dell OPD MMC Snap-in. If Dell OPD MMC Snap-in is unable to register, re-install Dell OPD after .Net Framework 2.0 has been successfully installed on your system.
The Dell Open Print Driver Snap-in provides two functions for the administrator:
•Printer Discovery
•Print Queue management
Printer Discovery
The Discover view allows the administrator to find printers on the network. The administrator can type printer addresses into the "Find Printers" field in the following way:
•IPv4 address including multicast addresses, e.g. 192.168.0.15 or 192.168.0.255
•IPv4 address range in CLIDR notation, e.g. 192.168.0.0/24
•IPv6 address, including multicast addresses, e.g. 2001:0db8::1234 or ff02::1
•UNC path to a queue on another server, e.g. \\server\printer
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IPv6 is supported only on Microsoft Server 2008 and above.
Printers are discovered using the following three protocols:
•SNMP for direct attached printers with valid IP addresses.
•LDAP for queues published in an available Active Directory. Dell Open Print Driver will try and connect to the rootDSE context
•MS-RPRN in case no Active Directory can be found.
The different protocols can be turned off or on using the settings button. Settings available include the discovery protocols, the SNMP community name and the timeout for network searches.
The recommended setting in a usual network would be:
•SNMP enabled and LDAP as well MS-RPRN disabled
•A timeout of at least 3000 milliseconds. In order to find printers in network segments with high latency try to increase the timeout
•A "public" as the SNMP community. If the SNMP community name was changed for the printers change it here in order to find those printers.
The Dell Open Print Driver Snap-in will list all discovered printers in the list below the "Find Printers" field. If a queue exists that already is connected to one of the printers that list entry will be displayed in bold characters. The administrator can hide all entries with attached queues.
By selecting an entry, several actions are available either in the action column to the right or by right clicking the entry:
•Create queue: this action creates a new Open Print Driver queue attached to the printers address. The administrator has the choice to enter the queue name, the share name and to publish the new queue in the Active Directory
If the selected entry has attached queues the following additional actions are available:
•Delete Queue: this action deletes the selected queue
•Printing Preferences: this action opens the printing preferences of the selected queue
•Printer Properties: this action opens the printer properties of the selected queue
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Print Queue Management
The print queue management view allows the administrator to convert existing print queues to Dell Open Print Driver queues. To change an existing print server environment to Dell Open Driver, the snap in will list all existing local queues on the server.
If an existing queue is already using Dell Open Print Driver, the list entry will be displayed in bold characters.
By selecting an entry, several actions are available either in the action column to the right or by right clicking the entry:
•Convert to OPD: if the queue is not a Dell Open Print this action converts the queue to Dell Open Print Driver. The administrator can chose the name do the queue, the PDL, and whether or not to preserve the old queue.
•Delete Queue: this action deletes the selected queue from the server.
•Printing Preferences: this action opens the printing preferences of the selected print queue.
•Printer Properties: this action opens the printer properties of the selected print queue.
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Custom Media Size Support
Dell OPD V.1.3 now supports Custom Media or Custom Paper Sizes. Custom Media Sizes can be created by adding a ‘Form’ in Print Server Properties. Forms or Custom Media Sizes are then available in the DellOPD printer driver’s user interface ‘Paper Size’ control and also from within the application. Only Forms or paper sizes that fit the currently selected printer will be shown. Also, a Form always needs to be defined in Portrait, this means that the Form needs to be taller than wide.
Forms can also be deployed using Group Policies across groups of users. Use the printmanagement.msc Microsoft Management Console (MMC) Snap-in to create the Forms.
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Chapter 2
MSI install command line options
Using the DellOPD Installer from the Command Line
Like all Windows Installer MSI packages, the Dell Open Print Driver installer (DellOPD.msi) can be run from the Windows command line. The command-line syntax is:
msiexec.exe {/i | /x | /f} DellOPD.msi [/q{n|b|r|f} [/l ‘log-file’] [properties]
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/i |
Indicates that the Dell Open Print Driver is to be installed |
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/x |
Indicates that the Dell Open Print Driver is to be uninstalled |
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/f |
Indicates that the Dell Open Print Driver is to be repaired |
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/qn |
Indicates that the installer is to be run silently. Note that on an uninstall or a repair, |
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/qb |
the installer will automatically restart the computer on completion |
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Indicates that the installer will run with a minimal user interface (progress bar only) |
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/qr |
Indicates that the installer will run with a reduced user interface |
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/qf |
Indicates that the installer will run with a full user interface (this is the default) |
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/l |
Causes the installer to log its activities to the specified log file. See the Windows SDK |
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documentation for the full list of logging sub-options. |
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properties |
Optional properties to further customize the operation of the installer |
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NODEFAULT=”1” |
Do not set the DellOPD dynamic instance as the |
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user’s default printer. If this property is omitted, |
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the dynamic printer instance will be created as |
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REDISTINSTALL=”1” |
the default printer. |
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Set the driver to install driver support for both 32- |
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NETWORKS =”NW1,NW2,…” |
bit and 64-bit printing clients. |
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Set multiple networks, where NW1 is Network |
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SUBNETS =”SN1,SN2,…” |
Address. For e.g. NETWORKS =”192.168.1.100,…” |
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Set multiple subnets, where SN1 is Subnet |
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Address. For e.g. SUBNETS =”255.255.255.0,…” |
Note: If the number of subnets does not match the number of networks specified, installer only includes the first N networks, where N is the count of the shorter list.
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PRINTERADDRESSES =
”Printer Name,Driver Name,Port Name;…” PRINTERADDRESSES = “@path”
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Install a static printer object for the printers at each of the given addresses. The addresses of the printers to be created may be specified as a semicolon ‘;’ separated list, while Printer Name, Driver Name and Port Name are separated by a comma ‘,’.
Each printer object consists of 3 parameters, the Printer Name, Driver Name and Port Name.
The ‘Printer Name’ is the name of the printer object to be created.
The ‘Driver Name’ is the parameter, can be either a number (1=PCL5,2=PCLXL,4=PS) or the actual driver name “Dell Open Print Driver (PCL 5)” or “Dell Open Print Driver (PCL XL)” or “Dell Open Print Driver (PS)”
The ‘Port Name’ is the parameter, is either an IP Address (192.168.1.124) or a Queue Name. For e.g. \\SERVER\Dell2355.
The addresses of the printers to be created may be specified as a full file system path to an ANSI text file containing a list of printers.
For e.g. Content of c:\myprinters.txt:
My Dell 7330dn (PCL5),1,192.168.1.18
My Dell 5130 (PCLXL),2,192.168.1.22
My Dell 7130dn (PS),4,192.168.1.15
My Dell 2355 (PS) via TESTSERVER,4,\\TESTSERVER\Dell2355
A reference to a file path is marked by a leading ‘@’. The path must be an absolute path, and may be a local path (such as “@c:\myprinters.txt”) or a UNC path referring to a network location (such as “@\\Server\InstallFolder\myprinters.txt”).
If the printer at a given address is a known and supported Dell printer, the static printer object will be created as the appropriate model.
Otherwise, it will be created as a generic laser printer.If the specified printer is not accessible
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(e.g. if it is turned off or has been disconnected from the network) at the time the install is done, a static printer object will nevertheless be created for that printer. It will be created as a generic laser printer with default printer settings. The correct model and specific printer configuration can be determined after the install is done, when the device can be successfully connected.
In the context of a Windows domain (where Active Directory is present), it is recommended that server names be specified on the command line as fully-qualified domain names. That is, if the Windows domain is “company.com”, to install a server-attached printer, use \\server.company.com\printer rather than \\server\printer
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Installing using INF File
Download Dell Open Print Driver “driver only” package from http://www.Dell.com
1) Download the ‘Dell Open Print Driver Package’ zip file to your local hard drive.
2) Extract the compressed zip file to your local hard drive.
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Static Instance
An INF file in this driver package contains PCL5, PCLXL, and PS3 drivers. To create a static instance for a known printer on your network, you must install a supported PDL driver for the PDL available on that printer.
The following instructions and screen shots illustrate to install Static Instance of ‘Dell Open Print Driver’ on your system:
For this example, we used ‘Dell 7330dn’ as a TCP/IP printer:
1) Go to Printer and Devices folder; Install the driver via the Windows "Add Printer" wizard.
2) Select ‘Add a local printer’ option.
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3)For ‘Chose a printer port’, select ‘Use an existing port:’ if the TCP/IP port already exists for the printer you want to install OR select an option ‘Create a new port:’ and ‘Standard TCP/IP Port’ from the drop-down list to create a new TCP/IP port as done for this example. Press ‘Next’.
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4) Enter your printer’s IP address in the text box for ‘Hostname or IP address:’ and press ‘Next’
5)Select ‘Have Disk…’ option, browse the DellOPD.inf file from the Dell Open Print Driver Package and Press ‘Open’
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6)Select the supported PDL available on the printer that you want to install. For this example, select ‘Dell Open Print Driver (PCL XL)’ from the Printer’s list and press ‘Next’.
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7)‘Type a printer name’ screen displays printer name ‘Dell Open Print Driver (PCL XL)’ and press ‘Next’
8) ‘Installing printer …’ process begins
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9) Dialog displays ‘You’ve successfully added Dell Open Print Driver (PCL XL)’ and press ‘Finish’.
10)A Static Instance of the ‘Dell 7330dn’ has been created as ‘‘Dell Open Print Driver (PCL XL)’ in your Printers’ folder.
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11) Right click on ‘Dell Open Print Driver (PCL XL)’ and select ‘Printer Properties’
12)‘Configure’ tab displays the ‘Active model’ as ‘Dell 7330dn Mono Laser Printer’ and installed configuration for the printer, such as Duplex Unit, optional trays and output trays.
Note: For printer model names not listed in ‘Active Model’ list; ‘Dell Open Print Driver’ configures that printer as ‘(Generic Laser Printer)’.
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Note: If a printer is powered off or printer’s TCP/IP is invalid or printer’s SNMP is disabled, follow instructions and screen shots are illustrated below:
After performing steps 1 - 4 from ‘Installing from INF file’ – Static Instance section, user may experience the scenario below:
1) Press ‘Next’ to continue
2) "Add Printer" wizard displays ‘Detecting the driver model…” screen
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3)Perform steps 5 - 11 from ‘Installing from INF file’ – Static Instance section. ‘Configure’ tab displays the ‘Active model’ as ‘Generic Laser Printer’
4)To ‘Auto Configure’ your static instance, make sure printer is powered on and printer’s TCP/IP is valid and printer’s SNMP is enabled. Check with your network Administrator for password to enable SNMP. Then select ‘Refresh’
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5)After a successful ‘Refresh, ‘Configure’ tab displays the ‘Active model’ as ‘Dell 7330dn Mono Laser Printer’ and installed configuration for the printer, such as Duplex Unit, optional trays and output trays.
Note: For printer model names not listed in ‘Active Model’ list; ‘Dell Open Print Driver’ configures that printer as ‘(Generic Laser Printer)’.
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