The Citrix Universal Print Server Technical Preview extends XenApp 6.5 and XenDesktop 5.5 Universal printing support to network printing. This feature eliminates the need to install numerous network printer drivers on XenApp and XenDesktop hosts, and enables more efficient network utilization. The new Citrix Universal printer driver supports direct network printing on Windows and non-Windows clients.

After you install the Universal Print Server components and configure the new policy settings, a user can add and enumerate network printers through the Windows Provider and Citrix Provider interfaces. The Universal Print Server feature comprises a client component that you install on XenApp and XenDesktop hosts, and a print server component that you install on a print server.

System Requirements
Client component:

• Supported on servers running XenDesktop 5.5 with a hotfix or XenApp 6.5 with a hotfix. For the Technical Preview, the required hotfixes are supplied with InstallServicePatchOnVDA.bat for XenDesktop 5.5 and InstallServicePatchOnXAServer.bat for XenApp 6.5.
• The client component installer enables or installs the following items, if they are not already present:
  • Visual C++ 2005 SP1 and 2008 SP1 runtime libraries.
  • .NET 3.0 SP1 Framework. The installer requires this software.
  • Citrix Client-Side Extension. This is required to retrieve and configure Universal Print Server policy settings.

Server component:

• Supported on Windows Server 2008 32-bit operating systems.
  • Do not install the server component on a server that has XenApp or XenDesktop installed.
  • Install all Windows updates before installing the server component.

• The server component installer enables or installs the following items, if they are not already present:
  • Print server role. Enabling this role is provided as a convenience; if enabling this role fails, the installation proceeds normally.
  • Visual C++ 2005 SP1 and 2008 SP1 runtime libraries.
  • .NET 3.0 SP1 Framework. This is required for XPS printing. The installer requires this software.
  • Citrix Client-Side Extension. This is required to retrieve and configure Universal Print Server policy settings.

Click here to download and learn more about the Citrix Universal Print Server Tech Preview (requires a valid mycitrix.com account )