Printing options available to a VM depend upon how the VM is configured, and may also depend upon other conditions imposed by the host physical machine. You can print from a VM in the following ways:

• over a network, using any network printer (if the VM is configured as a node on the network)
• to a local printer that the VM has defined as a parallel device (LPT1)
• by sending a print file to the host operating system to print (in this case, the VM defines one parallel port as a file)

If you have configured a VM using any of the network options (bridged, host-only, or custom), then the VM can print using a network printer.

A bridged VM can use any network printer. A host-only VM can use any printer that the host can access. The only restriction is that the guest operating system must have installed the correct printer driver for the printer, just as any OS would in order to print. A VM could therefore load several printer drivers so as to be able to print to any one of several network printers.

To enable printing to a network printer:

1. Configure a VM as bridged, host-only, or custom.
2. If necessary, add the VM to the network.

The VM must have an identity on the network, whether it is a LAN or enterprise network, or a VNET on the host. For bridged or custom virtual machines, use a valid network address. For host-only virtual machines, use a private network address.

3. Install desired printer driver(s) for target network printers.

After you have installed the guest operating system, you must install at least one printer driver to be able to print.

Windows NT Guest

You must install the desired printer driver.

Windows 95 Guest

Printer drivers are automatically installed; you need not install any. If the print server is running Windows NT then the server provides the necessary drivers and you need not install any.

A virtual machine can also define and print to a local printer. In fact, this is the only way that a virtual machine configured as standalone can print.

A guest operating system may support different printer drivers than the host operating system, with the result that the guest operating system may be able to print to a printer that the underlying host operating system cannot print to.

To enable printing to a local network printer:

[The VM can be configured with any network option.]

1. Configure a printer as a parallel port device.

Define parallel port printers as described in "Defining Parallel Port Devices" . You can add the parallel printer before installing the guest operating system and booting the VM, or you can add it in between VM sessions. You cannot add a parallel device while a VM is running.

In the VM configuration editor enter the path and name of a parallel printer attached to the physical machine for the device file name. Choose a parallel port to use for printing. Typically LP1 and LP2 are used.

2. Install the driver for the selected printer.

The driver for the parallel printer must be installed on the guest operating system before you can print.

3. If necessary, open applications and add the printer to the list of accessible printers.
4. Print by sending output to desired printer.

Under some circumstances you may decide to send print output to a file for later printing. One scenario when you might use this print technique is when the following are all true:

• the host operating system has defined a local printer
• you want to print from both the host operating system and guest operating system concurrently
• the printer cannot be or is not networked (that is, the printer is not a known printer to the VM)

To be able to print to a file:

1. On the VM configure a parallel port device with file type "File."

See "Defining Parallel Port Devices" .

2. From the guest OS, print the desired file.

If you have configured a postscript printer, for example, the Apple Laserwriter, then the file generated will be a postscript file.

3. Verify that the appropriate printer driver has been installed on the host operating system.
4. From the host operating system issue the print command.