This tip is excerpted from Windows 2000 and Mainframe Integration, by William H. Zack, New Riders.

Windows 2000's Plug and Play support will not automatically recognize a printer when it is plugged into a parallel port, as it would if it were a USB-based device.

To initiate the printer-creation process manually and create a printer on the print server, right click on the Start button and choose the Search option. From this dialog, specify the name and attributes (location, model, etc.) of the printer that you are looking for. Once you have located the appropriate printer, specify that a shortcut for that printer be added to your desktop.

Next, launch the Add Printer Wizard. It will guide you through the remainder of the printing process. When it asks whether you are installing a physical printer on a print server, you should specify "local printer." Otherwise, specify "network printer."

The wizard will ask whether you want to share the printer. Agreeing enables sharing options and you can choose to publish the printer in the Active Directory (which lets anyone access it); not share (so that no one else can use it); or not publish (which allows access to those who know its name or attributes, but does not publish the information in the Active Directory).

Adding a connection to a remote network printer must also be done manually in this same way. During the process, you will be allowed to specify the printer name or browse for it using the Active Directory. Another option is to connect to a remote printer over the Internet or via a corporate Intranet. The Browse for Printer windows lets you access a list of the networks that you may access (such as Microsoft Windows Network or Netware or Compatible Network). Double click on the appropriate network to expand the list of printers available.

For more information on Windows 2000 and Mainframe Integration, go to New Riders or InformIT.