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Printing from within a virtual machine in VMware Fusion

Purpose

This article discusses various ways to print from within a virtual machine using VMware Fusion 2.x or 3.x.

Resolution

Printer Pass-through (ThinPrint)

Fusion includes technology to seamlessly pass printer information from the Mac to the virtual machine without the installation of additional printer drivers. This method is the least complex, but may limit access to more advanced printer features from inside the virtual machine.
 
To use Printer Pass-through:
  1. Ensure the virtual machine is powered off (not just suspended).
  2. From the Fusion menu, click Virtual Machine > Settings.
  3. Click Printers.
  4. Ensure that Enabled is selected. If appropriate, also select Match the default printer selected on the Mac.
  5. Power on the virtual machine and ensure that the printer is now present. In Windows XP, click Start > Control Panel > Printers and Fax.

Connecting a printer directly to a virtual machine through USB

Using a direct connection to the printer provides full functionality of the device, but the printer is not be accessible to the Mac while connected to the virtual machine.

To connect a printer to a virtual machine through USB:

  1. Ensure the printer is connected to the Mac using a USB cable.
  2. Power on your virtual machine
  3. From the Fusion menu, click Virtual Machine > USB > Connect <name of printer>.
  4. In the virtual machine, install any required printer software and drivers as if it was a physical computer. Use the installation disc provided with the printer, or obtain the latest software from the manufacturer's website.
  5. (Optional) To pass the printer connection back to the Mac, click Virtual Machine > USB > Disconnect <name of printer>. Quitting Fusion also passes the printer connection back to the Mac.

Connecting a networked printer

To connect a network printer present on the existing network:
  1. Change the network interface for the virtual machine:
    1. From the Fusion menu, click Virtual Machine > Settings.
    2. Click Network.
    3. Select Connect directly to the physical network (Bridged).
    4. Close the Settings window.
       
  3. Power on the virtual machine.
  4. Verify Internet connectivity in the virtual machine.
  5. In the virtual machine, install any required printer software and drivers as if it was a physical computer. Use the installation disc provided with the printer, or obtain the latest software from the manufacturer's website.
For more information about networked printers, see Print from Windows XP/Vista over an Apple Airport Base station network connection (1004938).

Connecting to a printer using Apple's Bonjour Protocol

For information about using Apple's Bonjour Protocol to set-up a printer, see Sharing a printer with a Windows virtual machine using Apple Bonjour (1003814).

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Actions
  • KB Article: 1013997
  • Updated: Oct 27, 2009
  • Products:
    VMware Fusion
  • Product Versions:
    VMware Fusion 2.x
    VMware Fusion 3.x