Note:

Due to the large number of different printers and system configurations, we cannot guarantee that printer monitoring will work flawlessly on your particular system. Please make sure, therefore, to test these features on your system using the trial version of SiteKiosk before purchasing any licenses.

Installing printers

SiteKiosk always uses the printers set up as the default printers on your Windows system.


Note:

If you set up your printer after installing SiteKiosk, please start the System Security Wizard and set it to Unprotected.

After that, log on to the SiteKiosk user and set the printer as the default printer. Then log off completely(!) from the SiteKiosk user and switch back to your normal user.

Afterwards, please restart the System Security Wizard and set the SiteKiosk user to Protected again.


1.1 Installation information for local printers if SiteKiosk printer monitoring is enabled

Install the printer as any other printer under Windows and make sure that the printer is set up as the default printer of your Windows system.


1.2 Installation information for network printers if SiteKiosk printer monitoring is enabled

When using network printers with printer monitoring enabled, you will need to set up these network printers in a specific way. Furthermore, you will have to distinguish between a printer that is shared over the network by a computer (B) and a standalone network printer or print server (A).


A. Procedure for setting up access to a network printer or print server:

  1. Go to Start - Control Panel - Printers - Add a printer (Wizard opens) or Start - Control Panel - Printers and Faxes - Add a printer (Wizard opens)
  2. Next
  3. Check Local printer attached to this computer
  4. Disable automatic detection
  5. Next
  6. Create a new port
  7. Choose type or port Standard TCP/IP Port
  8. Next
  9. You will see the following dialog box: "Enter the Printer Name or IP address, and a port name for the desired device" Specify the IP address or the name/URL of the network printer in this dialog box. Example: 192.168.10.40 or laser.domaene.de
  10. Click OK
  11. Now, select the correct driver
  12. Next
  13. Enter the printer name and, if desired, set it as your standard printer
  14. Next
  15. Print test page (optional)
  16. Finish


Repeat these steps for all clients.


Note:

Network printers may NOT be set up as any regular network printer, but must be configured separately as a local printer on each individual client.


B. Steps for shared network printers made available by a computer:

I. On the server (the computer to which the printer is physically connected)

Perform a regular Windows installation of your printer, set it up as a network printer, and make it available under a shared name (e.g. Brother).

After that, set up the printer a second time and proceed as follows:

  1. Go to Start -> Control Panel -> Printers -> Add a printer (Wizard opens) or Start -> Printers and Faxes -> Add a printer (Wizard opens)
  2. Next
  3. Check Local printer attached to this computer
  4. Disable automatic detection
  5. Next
  6. Create a new port
  7. Choose type of port: Local Port
  8. Next
  9. You will see the following dialog box: "Enter a port name" Enter the printer name under which you want to share the printer on the network. Stick to this format: \\Computer\Share Name, e.g.: \\MAJESTIX\BROTHER
  10. Click OK
  11. Now, select the correct driver
  12. Next
  13. Enter the printer name and set the printer as your default printer
  14. Next
  15. Print test page (optional)
  16. Finish


This may not seem to make a lot of sense, as there will be two printers installed on the server. However, this is necessary for SiteKiosk to monitor the printer.


Important:

1. Make sure to set the simulated Local Port network printer as the default Windows printer.

2. Open the client settings and turn off printer monitoring for the non-simulated printer (the "real" printer). To do so, add and edit this printer as a standalone printer. 

ATTENTION: Since SiteKiosk has no control over the printers that are displayed in external applications (e.g. print dialog box of Acrobat Reader), it is possible that an unmonitored printer will be made available there as well.

As a consequence, we generally recommend that you use a standalone network printer or connect the printer to a so-called USB print server.


II. On the clients

  1. Go to Start -> Control Panel -> Printers -> Add a printer (Wizard opens) or Start -> Control Panel -> Printers and Faxes -> Add a printer (Wizard opens)
  2. Next
  3. Check Local printer attached to this computer
  4. Disable automatic detection
  5. Next
  6. Create a new port
  7. Choose type of port: Local Port
  8. Next
  9. You will see the following dialog box: "Enter a port name" Enter the printer name under which you want to share the printer on the network. Stick to this format: \\Computer\Share Name, e.g.: \\MAJESTIX\BROTHER
  10. Click OK
  11. Now, select the correct driver
  12. Next
  13. Enter the printer name and, if desired, set it as your standard printer
  14. Next
  15. Print test page (optional)
  16. Finish

Repeat these steps for all clients.


Information about the problem that only administrators (initial start of SiteKiosk) will be able to print:

Some printer drivers require full access rights to function properly. Thus, you might want to grant all user accounts on the network full access to the corresponding printer (Full Control/Everyone). Make sure that each client computer is able to control (e.g. stop) all print jobs processed by the printer. If selected under a limited SiteKiosk user account, this option does not represent an immediate security risk when used in combination with the SiteKiosk print dialog box or direct printing.


Information about the use of restricted user accounts

SiteKiosk user account

If you set up the SiteKiosk user account automatically, the security manager will assign all required printer access rights. If you run into any problems, simply execute the security manager application one more time.

Other restricted user accounts

If you have set up a Windows user with limited access rights, make sure to also grant this user the corresponding printer access rights. For the necessary settings, go to Printer Properties under the tab Security. Select the user and assign the corresponding access rights.