Bulk-create printer objects on windows 2008 R2 x64 print servers using Windows PowerShell

Question

Hi,
I have an issue on a 2008 Server R2 x64 when trying to create a printer with this Powershell script:
function CreatePrinter {
$server = $args[0]
$print = ([WMICLASS]"\\$server\ROOT\cimv2:Win32_Printer").createInstance()
$print.drivername = $args[1]
$print.PortName = $args[2]
$print.Shared = $true
$print.Sharename = $args[3]
$print.Location = $args[4]
$print.Comment = $args[5]
$print.DeviceID = $args[6]
$print.Put()
function CreatePrinterPort {
$server =  $args[0]
$port = ([WMICLASS]"\\$server\ROOT\cimv2:Win32_TCPIPPrinterPort").createInstance()
$port.Name= $args[1]
$port.SNMPEnabled=$false
$port.Protocol=1
$port.HostAddress= $args[2]
$port.Put()
$printers = Import-Csv c:\printers.csv
foreach ($printer in $printers) {
CreatePrinterPort $printer.Printserver $printer.Portname $printer.IPAddress
CreatePrinter $printer.Printserver $printer.Driver $printer.Portname $printer.Sharename $printer.Location $printer.Comment $printer.Printername
The printer port creation work fine, but I have this error on the printer creator:
Exception calling “Put” with “0″ argument(s): “Generic failure ”
At C:\temp\createprinter.ps1:53 char:12
+ $print.Put <<<< ()
+ CategoryInfo : NotSpecified: (:) [], MethodInvocationException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : DotNetMethodException
Note: I first install the drivers manually.
Then i have tried with several win32 drivers and the issue is always the same.
I have tried on windows 2003 and it works like a charm…
Any idea ?
Help would be appreciated

Answer 1

I just ran through these commands on 2008 R2 Enterprise with no issues. I would try adding the printer with commands outside of the function to narrow it down to a problem with how the arguments are being passed, or if it's something with the driver being
specified.
PS C:\> $port = [wmiclass]"Win32_TcpIpPrinterPort"
PS C:\> $newPort = $port.CreateInstance()
PS C:\> $newPort.name = "IP_192.168.1.21"
PS C:\> $newPort.Protocol = 1
PS C:\> $newPort.HostAddress = "192.168.1.21"
PS C:\> $newPort.PortNumber = "9100"
PS C:\> $newPort.Put()
Path : \\.\root\cimv2:Win32_TCPIPPrinterPort.Name="IP_192.168.1.21"
RelativePath : Win32_TCPIPPrinterPort.Name="IP_192.168.1.21"
Server : .
NamespacePath : root\cimv2
ClassName : Win32_TCPIPPrinterPort
IsClass : False
IsInstance : True
IsSingleton : False
PS C:\> $wmiPrinter = [wmiclass]"Win32_Printer"
PS C:\> $newPrinter = $wmiPrinter.CreateInstance()
PS C:\> $newPrinter.DriverName = "HP LaserJet 4100 Series PCL6"
PS C:\> $newPrinter.PortName = "IP_192.168.1.21"
PS C:\> $newPrinter.DeviceID = "TestPrinter"
PS C:\> $newPrinter.Put()
Path : \\.\root\cimv2:Win32_Printer.DeviceID="TestPrinter"
RelativePath : Win32_Printer.DeviceID="TestPrinter"
Server : .
NamespacePath : root\cimv2
ClassName : Win32_Printer
IsClass : False
IsInstance : True
IsSingleton : False
PS C:\>