how to password a networked printer

[Nyirripi]

Hi I have 10 networked macs running osx 10.6.8. I have a samsung lazer printer/fax/copier also on the network. it is accessible from all the network. I would like it to remain available but with a password (so I can gate keep usage). All the macs automatically start up to the same user (without a password).
any suggestions as to how I can do this.
thanks

[acme.mail.order]

You will either have to set up OSX Server and use the print management functions therein, or read the excellent manual that came with the printer to see if it supports such a function.

[Nyirripi]

Thanks, I have downloaded the rather large manual to see what it says.

[onceagain]

Quote: Originally Posted by Nyirripi I would like it to remain available but with a password (so I can gate keep usage). All the macs automatically start up to the same user (without a password).

Seems kind of odd you're more worried about who is using the printer than who is doing "whatever" on your network.

It's worth pointing out though that if you DO set up the users with accounts on the network, you can use this information to monitor printer activity (and so much more). You can do this via CUPS, which is already installed with OS X. You can access CUPS at http://localhost:631/

You probably have not already enabled the web interface. You may do so by gaining root access to your system, and then issuing the command "cupsctl WebInterface=yes".

Among other things, you can set up individual printers and classes of printers, and control which users may print to which printers. For example, you may set up a printer class called "colour laser" or "plotter" and then define which users may print to those expensive printers.

You can also see not only who has been using what, but copies of what they were printing (i.e. reprint the job). You'll need to edit the config file (which you can do from the web interface) and change two lines:

CHANGE FROM:
JobPrivateAccess all
JobPrivateValues none

CHANGE TO:
JobPrivateAccess all
JobPrivateValues none

You can do all kinds of things - limit number of pages per day for each user, enforce file size limits and other stuff.

[benwiggy]

Quote: Originally Posted by onceagain You probably have not already enabled the web interface. You may do so by gaining root access to your system, and then issuing the command "cupsctl WebInterface=yes".

The CUPS web interface is enabled by default.

[onceagain]

Quote: Originally Posted by benwiggy The CUPS web interface is enabled by default.

It wasn't on my system. I got the message specifically telling me how to turn it on when I went there.

FWIW, I believe this changed with ML or possibly even Lion (they changed the default security settings I noted above as well). If you "upgraded" it may not have changed to the new standard, but on a fresh install, it does (I believe).

In any event, I have a "fresh install" of ML on mine and it was NOT enabled by default, I got the message specifically telling me how to turn it on when I went there.