Historically, in order to deploy printers using Group Policy we would have had to use a combination of scripts.

Now, Group Policy Preference Client Side Extensions an updated AD Schema and RSAT allow for printers deployed without any extra work.

1. Create and name a new Policy.

2. If you want to deploy the printer to a machine

Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Deployed Printers

Or

If you want to deploy the printer to users

User Configuration > Windows Settings > Deployed Printers

3. Right click in a blank area of the right-hand pane and select Deploy Printer.

4. Make sure the permissions are correct for the printer.
5. Type in the path to the printer e.g. \\myprintserver\hplaserjet9040

6. Save and apply your policy.

In case anyone missed it. BgInfo v4.13 was released a few weeks ago. I know that a number of School Computing Officers use this useful tool for audit and support purposes.

Link.

I have previously used BGInfo in a startup script to have machines ‘Check in’ to an Access DB. You can use somthing like this (one line):

\\campus\software\pathtofile\Bginfo.exe \\pathtoconfigfile\config.bgi /timer:0


The config.bgi file allows you to set what data you want to capture and set a path for the DB file.

http://technet.microsoft….s/bb897557.aspx

In order to add domain accounts to a machines local administrators group we would previously have used code something like this:

net localgroup administrators LocalAdministratorGroupName /add

This guide will show you how to you how to add domain users to local machine groups using the updated Group Policy Preference Client Side Extensions & RSAT.

Prerequisites

• RSAT
• Client and server machines must have the Client Side Extensions installed.

1. Create and name a new Policy.
2. Browse to Computer Configuration > Preferences > Local Users and Groups.

3. Right click in a blank area of the right-hand pane and select New > Local Group.

4. From the action dropdown select ‘update’ and from the group name dropdown select ‘Administrators (built-in)’

5. Click the add button.
6. Under name, type your s-id (campus\s-id) and under action make sure that ‘Add to this group’ is selected.

7. Close and save the group policy.

There are many more options available in the Local Users and Groups section alone which may be useful. Next time I’ll look at deploying printers via RSAT.