VMWare Horizon usb redirect not working for printers

[scottjones74]

printing to USB printers has stopped working since upgrading to horizon 2206 (have upgraded to 2209 to see if that helped and it did not).

we are non-persistent instant clones, print drivers are installed in the image, USB redirect is installed with the agent, USB is allowed in horizon admin.   Even checked GPO's and registry ([HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\VMware, Inc.\Installer\Features_HorizonAgent] "PrintRedir"="Local" for VMware printing )

It was working on previous versions of horizon 8.  We are using windows 10 enterprise version 21H2.

The issue occurs on zero clients, thin clients, and horizon client from a windows laptop, so I know its something with the image or a setting.  I have built two new master images from scratch to try and find the issue but cannot.  The printer is “seen” in the control panel, but it does not load the driver.  If I run the master image, the driver is loaded immediately.  

any help or direction is appreciated, this should be a simple fix but i cannot find it. 

[Jackson_Goverme]

Any updates on this ?  its killing us here with our users. 

[jeigh]

@mbenner what NOS image are you using?  We're using Stratodesk NoTouch OS 3.4.195, and when connecting to a Windows 21H2 instant clone, only the scanner is recognized in the remote desktop whether we use Logical Printer Forwarding or VMWare Integrated Printing.  When connecting to 21H1, the printer is recognized correctly using either LPF or VIP.

[mbenner]

@jeigh We're using k515 with image version 3.4.407. I had to submit a ticket to stratodesk support to figure it out though. Looks like by default the printers are connecting with USB redirection. They told me to specify a ppd and that solved my issue, the knowledgebase article (https://kb.stratodesk.com/printer_configuration) was a little out of date and didn't reference that it was required. Here is the specific response I got about having to add the ppd.

"yes, integrated printing is supported, all images with a Horizon 8.x should work with integrated printing. Regarding configuration, you mainly just need to add a printer object as described in the KB, integrated printing in the VMware settings is already activated by default and will forward the printer. Make sure that you have configured a PPD file for the printer since we noticed that VMware seems to rely on the PPD if integrated printing is being used.

By the way since you mention ThinPrint, if you environment still supports that older method then this would also still be supported, there's the EEv build in our portal with Horizon 5.5 included which still works with ThinPrint (and is still supported by VMware)."

[ofox]

VMware has provided all necessary info/data to MSFT per request and highlighted that multiple Horizon customers are experiencing this issue. We're waiting for a progress update from MSFT. Will keep the Communities posted.

[Jackson_Goverme]

I cant beleive how many users this affects and customers of vmware and yet no real rush to get this fixed. . It really makes us want to look at a replacement to horizion. 

[ofox]

Hi Jackson_Goverme, sad to see many customers have been impacted by this. We've been actively chasing MSFT on the issue. In the meanwhile, if you're not using Zero client, please try to use VIP(for Horizon8) or Virtual Printing(for Horizon 7) accordingly. 

[Rude]

@Jackson_Goverme 

We had a similar issue. Below is a summary of our environment and a working local printer setup. We are not using USB redirection as it will not work ( We are using VIP).

• Horizon 2111
• Enpoint - 10ZiG NOS Zero Client for VMware: 2111.1  (8.4.1) Horizon Client
• Windows 10 21H2: Horizon Agent 2111 (8.5.0) with "VMware Integrated Printing" Feature (**We had to add this back in**)

On the 10ZiG Endpoint (May be similar on other Zero Client Enpoint HW):

1. VMware Client - Horizon Settings > Plugins > Integrated Printing (Enable Check Box)

2. USB Device Redirection Setting - Make sure to Exclude Printer Redirection & Exclude "Printer that is detected"

3. Printers Setting - Detects and installs local printer if driver is included on Endpoint device (Otherwise manually add to endpoint)

4. Printer should automaticall by added once logged into VM (You will see printer listed with "vdi" at the end of name)

Note: In our environment - the printer that is detected/installed on the endpoint is what is passed to the OS via VIP. This will be the same for Horizon Software Clients on Windows, Mac OS, etc.

Note: VMware Integrated Printing feature is required on Horizon Agent installed in Golden Image (See attachment)

Let me know how this goes or if you have any questions.

[peetey100]

we have this setup but our thin client is a Dell OptiPlex 3000. however, we found although it similarly picked up the VMware postscript driver the printing was very intermittent - the printer was often pause for 10 minutes before printing, or would print ascii characters or would have different results printing adobe pdf documents sometimes nothing would print and nothing would be in the queue? does your printer print solidly ?

[Rude]

Yes, our printers print as expected with minimal delay including our remote workers (via UAG). What has most likely made things work as designed was that our enpoints have built-in printer drivers and that has helped. We have also added local printers that utilize the "Generic" endpoint drivers since the exact printer model was not in the endpoint driver image. 

[peetey100]

that's very helpful - thanks for that, unfortunately our Dell thin client do not have the same features to handle integrated printing. Could I clarify please - do you use a combination of the vmware postscript diver for local usb printers and also the driver built-in into your 10zig thin client?

[ofox]

I would like to provide an update.

We've escalated the support ticket that we filed to MSFT since last week. According to the latest update from MSFT support it's related to a known issue in one of their drivers. A next update is supposed to be soon.

[ofox]

Microsoft has just released the fix

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/windows-message-center

Highlights for the Windows 10, version 22H2 update:

·         This update addresses an issue that affects USB printers. The system classifies them as multimedia devices even though they are not.

Please try the new OS out and let us know if it works for you.

[ozbarge]

Confirmed working. The nightmare is nearly over. 

[Jackson_Goverme]

We have 940+ users on zero clients which is why this is killing us. 

[ozbarge]

It's fixed now. https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB5023773

[Jackson_Goverme]

What about windows 11? half of our zero clients are also on windows 11 and this has not been fixed for 11. 

[Jackson_Goverme]

Not for windows 11. its still broken. 

[Cortez_C_Cortez]

I can confirm KB5023773 fixed the issue with W10 22H2 printing in our environment. We've tested it with our test pool and will start the roll out and further testing in production.  Thanks for the update!

[peetey100]

unfortunately,  I have the same problems both when using a Dell Wyse thin client and VMware horizon and integrated printing and from a laptop using the horizon client -  although this time on a laptop with the horizon client and usb printer attached it created 3 instances of the same printer all with VMware  EMF driver

[Jackson_Goverme]

What about windows 11. 10 is fixed but 11 is not. you guys still need to push that with microsoft.