Status Update

December 9

As you know, over the weekend our primary print server suffered a critical hardware problem. The server CANNOT be restored. No data was lost, but we can, obviously, no longer use it as our print server.

In order to print, you must reinstall the networked printers. Note: some of you have had printers installed in a manner that does not require reinstallation. If you are not having printer problems, please ignore this message.

Students

For instructions, please visit http://www.wcl.american.edu/technology/ipp.cfm

When printing please check to make sure that you are printing to the new server. Printers names on the new server use the naming format STUDENTLAB_PRINTERNAME_MODEL (for example STUDENTLAB_ROCKY_HP9050). To avoid confusion you may want to delete the old printer from your list before reinstalling.

Faculty and Staff:

Visit http://printers.wcl.american.edu. Locate the printer you need and click on it to install.

When printing please check to make sure that you are printing to the new server. Printers names on the new server use the naming format DEPT_PRINTERNAME_MODEL_LOCATION (for example FASS_HUNTER_HP8100_325). To avoid confusion you may want to delete the old printer from your list before reinstalling.

December 7

This is intended to clarify some confusion regarding the current printer issues.

The WCL_STU1 server has suffered a hardware failure, which is causing the printer problems. We have left messages for our Novell consultant, but he has not yet responded. [Update: We spoke to the consultant. He will be at WCL at 9:30 am, Monday, December 8.] To avoid problems printing, please reinstall the printers by going to http://printers.wcl.american.edu while ON CAMPUS. We do not yet have an ETA as to when the WCL_STU1 server will be fully operational and back online. If you need to print at WCL, please do not delay. Reinstall the printers.
The WCL network is NOT down. Computers in the lab may have lost a network connection. Rebooting the computer will restore the connection. We are not sure who put the signs up around the school, but if you see them, please throw them away.
The lab printers have DeepFreeze installed on them. This may cause reinstalled printers to "disappear" after a reboot. We have a technician working to fix this problem. We are also working on the Clinic computers. Because of DeepFreeze, the computers may continue to default to the old printers. Make sure you ARE printing to printer names that start with STUDENTLAB.
You can ONLY install printers from http://printers.wcl.american.edu while ON CAMPUS.
Technically, you do NOT have to uninstall the printers you had installed prior to this problem arising. We have found, though, that even after the reinstall, users continue to direct print jobs to the OLD printer installation. To avoid this confusion, we recommended unintalling/deleting the printers you currently have installed first, and then reinstalling. Open the Printers directory on your computer, right click on the old WCL printers and choose Delete. The point is that you must make sure that you are printing to only those printers that start with the name STUDENTLAB.
Research_II is down. Research_I is intended ONLY for the Research computers, and, therefore, has only Windows XP drivers loaded on it. Mac and Vista users will NOT be able to install that printer.
The iPrint client does not have to be uninstalled if you currently have it. If you do not have it (this particularly applies to Mac and Vista 2L+ users), you must install the iPrint client. Go to: http://printers.wcl.american.edu/

Mac Users: You must use Safari to install the iPrint client.

Vista Users: You must run IE as Administrator to install the iPrint client. To do so, go to, Start | Right Click Internet Explorer | Select Run as Administrator. Some users will have to apply 2 HotFixes first. You can find them in the box on the right side of the page at: http://www.wcl.american.edu/technology/ipp.cfm