My network-enabled printer supports several network printing protocols:
- LPR/LPD – The "traditional" unix printing protocol
- "Raw" TCP/IP printing
- IPP
- WSD
In addition, several network discovery protocols are supported: uPNP, SLP, mDNS, as well as SNMP.
I'm going to print from Windows 7 machines only. Several people are going to use the printer simultaneously in home environment.
I've had problems with WSD protocol in the past (Windows print spooler crashing randomly), IPP protocol allows to set up security (username/password), and allows clients to query the server, but apparently IPP print jobs are handled differently from WSD print jobs, so if two users use different protocols my printer gets confused. LPR/LPD is the oldest and dumbest protocol, most robust but no security at all.
I'd like to settle on just one protocol, and disable all the others, to simplify troubleshooting and to reduce the attack surface (we sometimes have guests, including kids with laptops on our Wi-Fi network).
Question: Which is the preferred network protocol for Windows clients?.
Best Answer
The preferred protocol is Raw. Every printer understands it, as does every Windows PC. LPR/LPD would be my next favourite. It does date back to the old Berkeley Unix days, but it works very reliably. It uses a "queue name" that can be printer-specific with older printers. Newer printers usually don't care what name you use. I would only use IPP if there is no other way of getting to the printer. WSD will only work with the latest printers.
All protocols allow any number of users to print simultaneously - even if they use different protocols. The printer accepts the jobs on a first-come-first-served basis.
I've never worried about security on printers. What is any hacker going to do to it? Yes it's possible to cancel jobs or change printer settings, but that is not a major hassle. If you're worried about security, protocols like telnet or http should be higher on your list.