Block Network Printer??

I will have to go in to the site to check some of these settings. BUT does it add complication that the 'only' computer that should use the printer is a system-operating PC (no people). Do I get that user name as a local user?

Will have to play with this......Thanks!! ss

Put the printer in someone's office.

Unfortunately, not everyone plays nice.

SearchEagle has given one solution.

I'm sure there are more.

There's probably a way to find the culpritsif it is a hard wired network system.

Wireless should be password protected at startup.

Solar Eagle is correct. The print thief will want to join your workgroup. That means he will want to wangle the credentials needed to join the work group.

Make sure you personally enroll each of your group members, so that none of them know the password - what they do not know can not be weasled out of them.

The paper thief might be one of their friends, so expect some 'Human Engineering' schemes or requests for the password because they have dropped off the network and need to log back on.

Refuse these people, go there in person and log them back in without letting them look over your shoulder. Simply tell them to respect your password privacy since patient records are involved.

Observe any such inquiries = might reveal the thief.

A alternate solution to the already mentioned User Group Restriction is to address why this unauthorized use is occurring... likely convenience. This printer is closer, or more convenient to the unauthorized user than the one they are suppose to be using.

By modifying convenience of use for both printers; increasing for the one they should be using and decreasing for the one they shouldn't be using, the unauthorized use will self-correct.

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This reminds me of a time though early in my career when I pulled double-duty as a Sys Admin in addition to being a CAD Draftsman. We had a group of Rent-a-Pencils and one fancied themselves as a 'Power User' and liked to mess with things and work against the grain. Problem is, he had a lot of previous experience on the equipment we hired him in for so Management wanted to keep him. After he crashed the network on a Friday - I got approval to provide him with 'alternate' tools.

Upon his arrival into work the next Monday his computer and desk were gone, replaced with a Drafting Board / Desk Combination with an old-school Drafting Machine - and an IBM Selectric Typewriter. Heck, we even found old Engineering Forms (Change Requests, Bills of Material, etc.) that were carbon triplicate, in storage after we converted from Manual to CAD drafting for his use.

After some lively discussion - it was clear that we valued his design experience and that we wanted him to stick around but that the use of organization tools was at the purview of the organization and if he didn't respect the higher-end tools, then we had some lower-end ones for him.

Most printers will have a log. Which would identify the devices which sent it something to print. Anybody have a look at it?

Just because there is excessive use does not mean it's some other department.

I was going to suggest looking at the print log, but Ozzb beat me to it. This is the simplest method to see who has been sending jobs to the printer. I would imagine you can even see how many pages were used for each job, whether it was color or B/W, etc. I know for the last few years, the printers we use have hard drives that store the jobs; and if you have the needed credentials, you can actually "reprint" past jobs, another way to get a pretty good idea of who is using the printer.

Tell the guilty to quit; if this issue can't be resolved with simple instructions, that workplace has bigger problems than using too much paper and toner.

Tom D.

If they go through the logs and then allocate a cost to that department for those prints = rage somewhere for some people, esp if there is enough detail to show personal use on that hard drive. That person will get invoiced

I have found network connected printers somewhat easy to print to, especially if you are already a member of the work group. Domain controlled networks are easier from the IT point to limit permissions. Many domains allow just about anyone to print to network connected printers - to the point if you are not careful you can end up printing to someplace obscure in the building --- (now where is my printout today?)

Printers connected to a pc are usually easy to block access from the local computer.

You may need a managed switch and set the allowed traffic to the printer.

Or lock the printer in someone's office.

A web cam pointing at the printer and a written log where users have to enter name number of sheets and purpose will identify the culprits or justify why legitimate use is so high. It would catch or deter unauthorized users. If theft is involved it would also provide conclusive evidence.

In our office we have a printer which each user who requires access is given a user code. This allows only those who have access codes to use it. As each use has a user cide against it, costing is much easier.This is printer specific and not user specific. The IT department issue the user codes. Perhaps looking at the printer facilities may be better than looking at user access

All our printers keep a log. I thought all printers had a log of some sort. Some logs are easier to find than others. The log will show ID, time and what was printed.

I have to keep tract of all ours for maint. purposes. So I have my computer set up to view the logs I check them once a month to see how much they are being used so I know when I need to call the maint. company to come out and do whatever it is they need to do.

Never realized just how much printing supplies we go thru until this got laid in my lap when the other guy retired.