Configuring Real-time Print Logs in Windows Server 2008 R2 Tutorial

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Introduction

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In today's increasingly connected world, keeping tabs on your organization's print resources is more important than ever before. With the rise of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies and mobile workforces, managing printer usage has become a daunting task for IT administrators everywhere.

Fortunately, Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 comes equipped with an array of powerful tools designed specifically to address these challenges head-on – none more so than its real-time print logs feature. In this tutorial, we'll take you through the step-by-step process of setting up and utilizing these game-changing capabilities within your own organization.

Prerequisites

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Before diving into the meat of things, make sure that:

1. Your server is running Windows Server 2008 R2 (codename 'Windows Server 2008 R2' or WS2012) with all necessary updates applied.

2. The Print Services Client v3.4 package has been installed on client computers.

Step-by-Step Instructions

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### Step 1: Enable Real-time Print Logging

1. Open the Print Management console by typing `printmanagement.msc` in the Start menu search bar and pressing Enter.

2. In the left-hand sidebar, expand your server's name under All Servers, then right-click on a printer you'd like to configure.

### Step Properties

3. Click on Properties...

### General Tab

4. Scroll down until you see 'Printers' section and checkmark the box beside Save print queue information in event log.

5. Choose an appropriate Event Log type (e.g., Application) from the dropdown menu below it.

### Advanced Tab > Security Tab

6. In the resulting dialog, click on Edit...` next to `Add`.

### Add Users or Groups Dialog Box

7. Select the desired users or groups that should have access to these logs.

8. Click OK twice when finished configuring permissions.

Step 2: Configure Log Output

Once you've enabled real-time print logging for your selected printers, it's time to configure where and in what format this valuable data will be stored:

1. Return back to the Print Management console by pressing Alt+Esc or closing any open windows.

2. In the left-hand sidebar under 'Actions', click on All Printers`.

### Right-click > Properties

3. Click on a printer whose logs you'd like to configure.

### Advanced Tab > Log Settings

4. Underneath 'Log settings' section, select an existing log file path or enter a new one using the browse button next to it.

5. Choose your preferred log format from the dropdown menu below (e.g., Microsoft Excel CSV).

Step 3: Analyze and Chart Printer Usage

With real-time print logs now actively being generated on your server, let's take a closer look at how you can leverage this rich data for deeper insights into printer usage within your organization:

1. Open Microsoft Office Excel by double-clicking its icon in the Start menu or typing `excel.exe` directly.

2. In the 'Open' dialog box that appears, navigate to where you specified earlier as your log file location (e.g., C:\PrintLogs).

3. Select one of these CSV files and click OK.

### Basic Pivot Table Analysis

1. With your data now imported into a new Excel sheet, select all columns except for the first three (Date/Time, ComputerName0, JobID) by holding Shift + Left-clicking on each column header.

2. Go to 'Data' > 'PivotTable and OLAP Settings'.

3. In the ensuing dialog box:

- Choose a location outside of your source data range where you'd like the pivot table to appear (e5 is suggested).

- Click OK.

### Creating Charts

1. Select any cell within your newly created Pivot Table.

2. Go to 'Insert' > 'Sparklines'.

3. In the resulting dialog box:

- Choose a desired chart type from the dropdown menu at the top (bar, column, line etc.) depending on what insights you're trying to convey.

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In conclusion, by following these simple steps outlined above – enabling real-time print logging through Print Management console settings combined with basic data analysis techniques using Microsoft Excel – organizations can gain valuable insights into printer usage patterns within their networks. This information not only helps IT administrators identify potential bottlenecks but also allows them to make informed decisions about future hardware purchases or resource allocation needs based on actual user behavior rather than guesswork alone.

By following these simple steps, you'll be well-equipped with the tools necessary for effective print resource management in your organization's modern work environment.

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