You can only access the printers from inside the department. This includes the "compsci" wireless, but does not include the UofT wireless. If you are outside the department, connect to the VPN to print.
You are welcome to ask me to configure your laptop for printing for you.
You can find the printers at the end of the MScAC space, in the north-west corner.
For any operating system other than Microsoft Windows, it's easy once
you're inside the department (either plugged in to a red network cable,
connected to compsci wireless, or using the VPN).
Add a printer of type "LPR" or "LPD" (on the Macintosh, select the category
"IP" to see the "LPD" choice), with host name lpd.cs.toronto.edu, and use queue
name lw-hydro1 or lw-hydro2 or lw-ba4239 as appropriate.
Then you normally get to choose a local name for the printer, which is
probably best the same as the printer queue name (e.g. lw-hydro1), and there
may be a "location" or other field which is optional and doesn't really help
and might as well be left blank.
lw-hydro1 is an HP LaserJet Enterprise m506, lw-hydro2 is an HP LaserJet 4350, and lw-ba4239 is an HP LaserJet 4250. Printing to them with a generic PostScript printer driver will probably work, but using a driver for the exact model or close to it will sometimes produce better results.
If printing doesn't work, remember to check that you're connected to the VPN if necessary. And as always, feel free to ask me for help, at any point in the process.
For Microsoft Windows, first you have to activate the LPR software, and then you have to configure the printer in a sometimes-surprising way. You're welcome to ask me to do all this for you if you like.
First, to activate the LPR software, go to the
control panel item "Turn Windows Features On or Off" (under "Program
Features", which is under "Programs").
Click the plus sign to the left of "Print and Document Services", and
turn on "LPR Port Monitor" (careful not to turn on LPD, which is a print
server, which you don't want running).
Then press 'OK' and wait a surprisingly-long amount of time.
Then go to "add a printer" (I think in the "Devices and Printers" control panel item), but do not select "network printer". (And if it wants to try to find a printer automatically on the network; press "skip" or similar -- it's not going to be able to find it automatically.) Rather, you need to select "local printer". Then "new port", and make it a port of type LPR, and ok. Then it asks you for the hostname and printer name. The hostname is lpd.cs.toronto.edu, and the printer name is lw-hydro1 or lw-hydro2 or lw-ba4239 as appropriate. After you type the hostname and printer name and press 'ok', it looks like you're back at the previous screen, but don't try to press 'ok' again, just wait, and you'll get to the next screen eventually.
In "install the printer driver", press the "Windows Update" button to get a full printer list. Now you get to take your third coffee break in this exciting process.
Select the appropriate printer driver -- lw-hydro1 is an HP LaserJet Enterprise m506; lw-hydro2 is an HP LaserJet 4350; and lw-ba4239 is an HP LaserJet 4250. We currently recommend the "PCL5" or "PCL" printer driver version. Note that "HP LaserJet" comes after all the "HP Color" and "HP DeskJet" entries -- it's all in alphabetical order by the entire string.
After you 'ok' this, it will ask you for a name for the printer. It will default to the model name of the printer, which is a stupid choice under the circumstances. I suggest using the same name as the departmental printer name, e.g. lw-hydro1, but in any case, change it to something useful.
After you 'ok' this, you have a printer. There might be one further thing to do, though. If the printer isn't configured as being capable of printing double-sided, then you won't get an option to print double-sided when you go to print. I think that these days, the printer actually will be configured as being capable of printing double-sided by default. But if it isn't, go to Printers and right-click on the printer in question, select "printer properties", then the "device settings" tab, then click on "Duplex Unit" under "installable options", and change it to be "installed".
You can, of course, repeat all this for another departmental printer if desired. You don't have to redo the activation of the LPR software; you can just start with "add a printer".
If it doesn't work, remember to check that you're connected to the VPN if necessary. And as always, feel free to ask me for help, at any point in the process.