Local printer to print with remote desktop

[empd2]

Hello, I am currently using remote desktop to connect to a server and I am having trouble adding one of my printers. The printer is working locally but I need it to beable to print from within the server (2008). It is behind a net gear VPN FW FVS318v2 and I have a static IP address set for the printer. It is also on DHCP for the router. I feel like I have tried everything... I have tried adding it to DMZ and using the LAN IP address with no luck. I also then added the WAN ip on the server port for printers. Drivers are correct but it is not getting through. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
The printer is a mf4100 Canon and I am using a printer server module that is being read with the router and printing locally. It just isn't being recognized in Server side. Please help.

EDIT: I am using Computer 1 which is hooked up to the router/vpn/fw and also the printer is also hooked up on this same hub. I am accessing a server using remote desktop on Computer 1 and would like to be able to print on this same exact printer INSIDE remote desktop. (incase I am in another office I can print offsite)
I have admin rights and full access to the server.

EDIT 2: Here's a diagram of the office.

 

[lewza]

You will need to share the printer and connect to the server.

Then go...

Start > Run > \\computername

It should open up a window showing the printer you have shared. You will have to connect to this printer on the server (if its a different OS to your local machine you may need to find the driver) then print a test page to make sure its worked.

 

[hang-the-9]

When you remote into a system, the local printers will show up as printers on the remote PC. Are you not seeing that? Or is this a printer not on the server? When you say "local printer" do you mean a printer just on the remote site or local as in attached directly to the PC which is what a "local printer" is.

 

[lewza]

Sounds like the printer is connected to a client machine but he wants to print off the server.

 

[empd2]

Sounds like the printer is connected to a client machine but he wants to print off the server.

You are correct Lewza. I am using windows XP on the local machines and I am using remote desktop to connect to the offisite server. All my offices use the off site server to share a database and to also work on things. And yes Lewza, the printer is connected to a client machine and I would like to have it installed on the server for other people in the server can print to other offices.

 

[hang-the-9]

Get a network adpater for the printer, stick it on the network directly. Then configure a share for it on the sever. Sharing out the printer through a regular PC is never a good idea unless it's a simple home network.

You'd need a VPN tunnel between the two networks setup.

 

[empd2]

Its a printer that is not made for networking but it has worked in the past this same exact way, ISP recently changed the modem because it crapped out. The printer is not through any computers directly, it is hooked up into the network (VPN/FW) directly already and the other computers in that physical office are able to print locally. I am trying to get it to forward that port to remote desktop into the server.

 

[hang-the-9]

When you said "the printer is conneted to a client machine" sounds like it is connected to the computer and not networked.

Can you ping the printer IP from the server? You should not have to forward any ports if you have a VPN tunnel between the sites. If you can, you can setup the printer as a local IP printer on the server, and share it out from there. Although I may not be understanding you setup too well.

 

[empd2]

When you said "the printer is conneted to a client machine" sounds like it is connected to the computer and not networked.

Can you ping the printer IP from the server? You should not have to forward any ports if you have a VPN tunnel between the sites. If you can, you can setup the printer as a local IP printer on the server, and share it out from there. Although I may not be understanding you setup too well.

Ping is not working from server. It is timing out. Added a diagram to original post.

 

[hang-the-9]

Can't expand it to see it very well. Can you ping the other computers in the site, just not the printer?

 

[empd2]

Able to ping the printer through the local PC's but not through the server.

 

[hang-the-9]

I mean can you ping other computers at the site, not just the printer. You need to have a VPN connection from the server to the site unless they are on the same network already to reach the printer. Make sure there are no duplicate addresses between the sites, I can't see your image, but if you have VPN between the two sites (not just the two computers you are remoting to and from), it should work, barring any IP issues.

 

[empd2]

I mean can you ping other computers at the site, not just the printer. You need to have a VPN connection from the server to the site unless they are on the same network already to reach the printer. Make sure there are no duplicate addresses between the sites, I can't see your image, but if you have VPN between the two sites (not just the two computers you are remoting to and from), it should work, barring any IP issues.

Ping is not working within the server. The computers will ping at the site but not from the server. How do I go about creating a VPN connection from windows server 2008 ?

 

[hang-the-9]

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/network/bb545442

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc725734%28WS.10%29.aspx

According to your post your router has built-in VPN which is good, that way you don't have to setup a PC to PC connection but can put that whole site on the same network as the server. That does mean your IP scheme will probably need to change.

 

[empd2]

Hang-the-9 Thank you so much for all the input I am going to try the links to configure the VPN tonight.