Issue with Printer Redirection in RDP on Terminal Server 2022: Defaulting to PDF Instead of Redirected Printer

Question

I am running an application from CentOS Stream 9 via an SSH client on a 2022 terminal server connected through RDP. The application prints to a local printer, which is redirected to the default local printer on my PC from which I initiate the Remote Desktop Connection (RDP to TS 2022). The SSH client performs printing via tunneling to the local printer. When I am connected only through the SSH client from my PC, the application prints to the default printer correctly. However, when I am connected through RDP to TS 2022, it always offers to print to PDF (which is installed by default), even if I select any redirected default printer. How can I set up the printing so that it prints to the redirected default printer and does not offer to print to PDF? The printers are redirected correctly, and I have checked everything, but the tunneled print from the SSH client still offers to print to PDF. However, if I print to the same printer from TS 2022 using a Windows application, the redirection works correctly, and the print is executed.

I have tried this setup on Terminal Server 2012 connected via RDP, and it works without problems. Clearly, the issue lies with the settings of Terminal Server 2022, which Microsoft has changed, and printer redirection no longer works the same as in Terminal Server 2012. What can be done about this?

Answer 1

Hello,

Please pay special attention to the following aspects when troubleshooting:

1. When connecting from a client to a Windows 2022 remote host, go to "Local Resources" in the RDP client Settings and confirm that "Printer" is selected.
2. Check group policy Settings:

• Open the Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) on the terminal server.
• Navigate to Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Remote Desktop Services -> Remote Desktop Session Host -> Printer Redirection
• Ensure that policy Do not Allow Client printer redirection is set to Not Configured or Disabled.

3. Set the values of the following two registry keys to 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\Wds\rdpwd\fEnablePrintRDR

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\Wds\rdpwd\fEnableRDR

4. Check that the Server 2022 host name contains no more than 14 characters.
5. Ensure that your terminal server 2022 has been fully updated with the latest patches and updates available from Microsoft. Install the latest version of the RDP client.
6. Check for printer driver updates on the client computer and terminal server. You can search and download the latest drivers by brand and model.

Reference: Default printer change upon RDP re-connection to terminal server - Microsoft Q&A

I hope this helps. If you have any follow-up questions, please contact us.

Best regards

Jacen

Answer 2

I have everything set up correctly. With the application under Windows (running from samba CentOS Stream 9) it works, but with the client connected via ssh to CentOS Stream 9 (using a Linux application), the print does not work.

From Terminal Server 2012, printing is possible both from Windows applications and from a client connected via ssh to CentOS Stream 9.

The problem is evidently in TS 2022, which works in a different way than TS 2012.

Hynek Bošek