Share the Host Computer Printer

You can share any printer connected to the host computer with your Windows or Linux virtual machine. The printer will be available through the virtual machine printer port.

To share the host computer printer:

1. Launch Parallels Workstation and select a virtual machine.
2. Open the Virtual Machine Configuration dialog by choosing Configure from the Virtual Machine menu. Go to the Hardware tab and make sure the configuration includes a printer port. If necessary, add it. See Adding and Removing Devices .
3. In the Printer Port pane, select Connected if you want the printer to be automatically connected on the virtual machine startup. Click the Source field and select the appropriate printer from the list. You can use the Default printer option if you want to use the default printer set in the primary OS.
4. Click OK to close the Virtual Machine Configuration dialog.
5. Start the virtual machine.
6. In a Windows guest OS, if you have Parallels Tools installed, the HP Color LaserJet 8500 PS or Apple Color LW 12/660 PS printer is automatically connected to the virtual machine. You can use it at once. In a Linux guest OS, or if you do not have Parallels Tools installed in your Windows guest OS, no matter what type of printer you have, install either the HP Color LaserJet 8500 PS or Apple Color LW 12/660 PS printer driver. Then follow the procedure of adding a printer in a guest OS described below.

Warning: Do not install the driver from the installation CD (supplied with your printer) in the virtual machine.

Adding a printer in a Windows guest operating system

To add a printer in a Windows 7 or Windows Vista guest operating system:

1. Start the Windows virtual machine and log in as administrator.
2. Open the Windows Start menu and select Control Panel .
3. In the Control Panel window, select Hardware and Sound and click Add a printer in the Devices and Printers section ( Printers in Windows Vista). The Add Printer wizard opens.
4. In the first wizard window, click Add a local printer .
5. In the Choose a printer port window, choose LPT1: (Printer Port) (or another port to which the printer is connected) from the Use an existing port menu. When ready, click Next .
6. In the Install the printer driver window, specify the printer manufacturer and model. No matter what printer you have, choose either HP Color LaserJet 8500 PS or Apple Color LW 12/660 PS. When ready, click Next .
7. Continue with the printer configuration procedure. When the printer is added to the guest operating system, you can use it to print documents from your Windows 7 or Windows Vista virtual machine.

To add a printer in a Windows XP guest operating system:

1. Start the Windows virtual machine and log in as administrator.
2. Open the Windows Start menu and select Control Panel .
3. In the Control Panel window, double-click the Printers and Faxes item.
4. Click the Add a printer link to open the Add Printer wizard.
5. In the Welcome to the Add Printer Wizard window, click Next .
6. In the Local or Network Printer window, select Local printer attached to this computer and clear the Automatically detect and install my Plug and Play printer option if it is also selected. When ready, click Next .
7. In the Select a Printer Port window, choose LPT1: (Recommended Printer Port) (or another port to which the printer is connected) from the Use the following port menu. When ready, click Next .
8. In the Install Printer Software window, specify the printer manufacturer and model. No matter what printer you have, choose either HP Color LaserJet 8500 PS or Apple Color LW 12/660 PS. When ready, click Next .
9. Continue with the printer configuration procedure. When the printer is added to the guest operating system, you can use it to print documents from your Windows XP virtual machine.

Adding a printer in a Linux guest operating system

The procedure of adding a printer in a Linux guest operating system depends on the Linux distribution. In this example, we describe how to add a printer to a virtual machine running RHEL 5.4 Server. However, you can use these guidelines as general instructions on how to add a printer to a Linux virtual machine:

1. Start the Linux virtual machine and log in when the guest operating system boots up.

   Note: You must log in as root or acquire root privileges after successful login. If you don't do that, you will be required to enter the root password when starting the system-config-printer administration tool in the next step.

2. Start the system-config-printer administration tool by doing one of the following:
   • Click System > Administration > Printing ; or
   • Start the Terminal and enter the following command:

     system-config-printer

3. In the displayed window, click New Printer .
4. In the next window, you must type a printer name. Under this name the printer will be displayed in your Linux guest operating system. You can also enter the printer description and location. When ready, click Forward .
5. Now you have to specify how the host computer printer will be shared with the virtual machine. As the printer is connected to the virtual machine printer port, select LPT #1 (or another port to which the printer is connected) and click Forward .
6. Then specify the printer manufacturer and model. No matter what printer you have, choose either HP Color LaserJet 8500 PS or Apple Color LW 12/660 PS. When ready, click Forward .
7. Click Apply to finish setting up the printer.

   Now the printer is properly configured and you can use it to print documents from your Linux virtual machine.