Windows 2000 IPP Distributed Printing

Microsoft Windows 2000 introduced native support for the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) version 1.0, allowing organizations to manage and distribute print jobs across local intranets and the wider Internet. By integrating IPP directly with Internet Information Services (IIS) and the Windows print spooler, Windows 2000 enables clients to discover printers, send print jobs, and manage queues using standard web protocols.

Core Architecture and IIS Integration

Windows 2000 delivers IPP functionality through an ISAPI (Internet Server Application Programming Interface) extension embedded in IIS. When a client sends a print request to a Windows 2000 print server, the workflow operates as follows:

  1. Endpoint Resolution: Print queues are assigned a URL format, typically http://<server_name>/printers/<share_name>/.printer.
  2. ISAPI Handling: Incoming HTTP requests targeted at the .printer extension are intercepted by msw3prt.dll, the Windows print ISAPI extension.
  3. Spooler Communication: The ISAPI extension translates the IPP payload into standard Remote Procedure Calls (RPC) and forwards them to the local Windows 2000 Print Spooler service (spoolsv.exe).
  4. Output Generation: The spooler processes the print data and sends it directly to the designated physical or network-attached printer.

Client Connection and Web Point and Print

Clients running Windows 2000 can connect to an IPP printer using the standard Add Printer Wizard by selecting the option to connect to an Internet or intranet printer and providing the printer's URL.

Windows 2000 also supports Web Point and Print. When a user connects to an IPP printer for the first time via a web browser or the Add Printer Wizard, the server automatically supplies the necessary printer drivers. The client downloads and installs these drivers locally using a cabinet (.cab) file architecture, removing the need for manual driver installation on client workstations.

Queue Management via Web Interface

Windows 2000 automatically generates an HTML management interface for every shared printer hosted by IIS. Accessible through any web browser, this interface allows users and administrators to:

  • View current print queue status and incoming jobs.
  • Check printer availability, paper levels, and error states.
  • Pause, resume, and cancel individual jobs or entire queues (subject to user permissions).
  • View printer properties such as model, location, and supported features.

Security and Firewall Traversal

A primary advantage of IPP in Windows 2000 is its use of standard Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) via TCP port 80, or Secure HTTP (HTTPS) via TCP port 443. This design eliminates the need to open traditional Windows networking ports (such as SMB ports 139 and 445 or dynamic RPC ports) across corporate firewalls and routers.

Security is managed directly through IIS configuration:

  • Authentication: Administrators can configure Anonymous access, Basic authentication, or Integrated Windows Authentication (NTLM/Kerberos) to control who can send jobs or manage queues.
  • Encryption: By binding an SSL/TLS certificate to the IIS printing site, all print data—including sensitive documents transmitted over public networks—is encrypted between the client and the print server.
  • Access Control: Standard Windows NTFS and printer permissions apply, ensuring that IPP users only possess the rights granted by their Windows user accounts.