Why does wsd printing work then not work?

[fishleg]

Hi, just a quick one when customers add a printer via doing it themselves usually windows will use wsd and do everything. I've seen literally hundreds of instances now and I usually just disable wsd on install to prevent it but still if I forget, a user uses wsd it will work but then suddenly not work without installing the printer again?

[Gift]

Re: Why does wsd printing work then not work?

I don't get the question here but we all know WSD is not reliable. We also disable WSD at all new machines since a while during pre-install in our shop.

[ihatefinishers13]

Re: Why does wsd printing work then not work?

I'm not sure "WHY" it doesn't work, but it's quite irritating that it doesn't. I wish it would, as it's a nice way to quickly be able to print... But if it's going to be helpful to connect, at least switch it to IP.

[bsm2]

Re: Why does wsd printing work then not work?

I love wsd it me make lots of money fixing customers problems

The main problem it never installs the correct print driver on commercial equipment

[blackcat4866]

Re: Why does wsd printing work then not work?

Maybe I've got this wrong. Somebody please correct me if I do: WSD only connects with the printers during initialization. If the printer loses communication, or is not available during bootup of the PC, it won't connect, then stay unconnected. The ONLY time it can connect is during initialization, kinda like the old parallel printers. That's why restarting the PC always fixes WSD connection issues, at least temporarily. What is doesn't do is print those stranded print jobs in the queue that have been sitting there, sometimes for years. Just make WSD go away.

On a tangent, another thing that I've seen Windows 11 PC's doing is changing IP addresses, default printer choice, even deleting installed print drivers all by itself. There is a toggle switch: "Let Windows manage your printers ... " DEFINITELY choose NO. It makes bad choices.
=^..^=

[ntbann]

Re: Why does wsd printing work then not work?

We started disabling IPP also as windows will load a printer on that too.

[mbcruzin]

Re: Why does wsd printing work then not work?

WSD was windows poor attempt to simplify driver installs. I love it when the driver is set up with XPS instead of IPP..... WHO STILL USES XPS??? So we have been doing the same things. Disable WSD/IPP and let the customer know that the OEM driver needs to be installed to get full functionality. However I still have to explain this to IT people that insist on using a universal driver.

Unnamed IT guy: I have a color printer that will only print BW.
Me: Did you load the current OEM driver?
IT guy: no we just installed a universal driver.
Me: Please load the current OEM driver and try that before you share it out on the network. (Screaming in my head:: HOW ARE YOU IN THIS FIELD AND GET PAID MORE THAN ME!!!!!!!!!)

[Hart]

Re: Why does wsd printing work then not work?

Why disable IPP ? I currently have no problem with it.
Sharp now have WSD disabled by default, IPP still enabled.
You need IPP for AirPrint no ?

[mbcruzin]

Re: Why does wsd printing work then not work?

Why disable IPP ? I currently have no problem with it.
Sharp now have WSD disabled by default, IPP still enabled.
You need IPP for AirPrint no ?

Airprint uses Bonjour mainly. Plus I use LPD when setting up most of my Mac drivers. If someone comes to me with a mobile device like an Ipad, then I would turn IPP back on just in case. However most of my customers do not.

[copier tech]

Re: Why does wsd printing work then not work?

Hi, just a quick one when customers add a printer via doing it themselves usually windows will use wsd and do everything. I've seen literally hundreds of instances now and I usually just disable wsd on install to prevent it but still if I forget, a user uses wsd it will work but then suddenly not work without installing the printer again?

Yes WSD is so flaky, only really designed for the home user or office staff who bring a laptop into the office occasionally for the odd print.

WSD nice idea, shame it's so unreliable.

[alp]

It was once explained to me by a " highly credentialed" IT person that WSD issues a security cert on install. However that Cert has an expiration, so in time it will stop communicating. Reinstalling the printer will renew the cert. Whether that is true or not, I dont know. I have found no documentation one way or another, but it sort of makes sense.

[Mako]

Disable WSD and IPP on set up before machines go in the field.

[Reybdiel]

Always set a static IP or DHCP reservation for the printer and install it using a Standard TCP/IP port instead of WSD. A stable connection and avoids the reinstallation headache also works.

[SenseiNYC]

WSD is unreliable as it creates a psuedo name entry to address the device as well as a port. it then creates a session to the device however the slightest thing can upset the session and even kill it. When this happens you obviously will have a problem printing. If your network is properly configured and you use the OEM drivers, WSD is simply a waste. I never use the MS drivers, especially I disable the OS' ability to auto-detect new printers.

[Hart]

But the real question is, what's the best alternative on Windows ?
For Mac most of the times I don't bother with driver (unless there is a finisher) and go with the AirPrint solution, but for Windows I have no idea.
I have customers that does not have Admin access on their Windows laptop (and IT refuse to do anything about it) and I can't do shit about it, I go with the default Microsoft driver.