DDU: Use the HP Driver Deployment Utility to preconfigure drivers, create network print queues and preserve WHQL

[#1]

Posted by: Brian R. Kneebone
Technology Consultant, Imaging and Printing Group  

A short time ago, Hewlett-Packard had released a utility called the "HP Driver Deployment Utility" (DDU) to the web.  Previously the DDU was circulated privately amongst HP's enterprise customers.  DDU was designed to be as agnostic as possible with most commercial LaserJet, Color LaserJet and Edgeline drivers including the HP Universal Print Driver.  Here are its major features:

1. Prepare drivers for non-interactive (and silent where possible) deployment for USB-connected devices through your desktop software management tool


2. Prepare drivers and print queue for non-interactive deployment (and silent where possible) for network-connected devices through your desktop software management tool.


3. Preconfigure drivers without breaking the Microsoft driver signature (also known as WHQL) where previous tools like the "HP Driver Pre-configuration Utility" would (also known as the "Driver Preconfiguration Editor" or DMC). 

I would encourage you to explore the benefits of this software by reading the "HP Driver Preconfiguration Support Guide" which covers pre-configuration of drivers using all of the tools above as well as using tools found on CD like the "Customization Utility".

Note that these methods may not be appropriate for all circumstances.  In some cases it may be wise to use the bundle created for administrators on the product support website.  For example, I often recommend customers use the "Network Express" (sometimes called "Corporate" or "Slim" or "Basic" drivers) where devices like HP LaserJet all-in-ones are used for print/scan.  And some of the lower-end ink products may not be compatible with the DMC and have their own deployment strategies using slim bundles prepared on the product support website available for download.

I'm certainly glad this tool has been posted.  It's proven quite useful for a number of my large corporate customers.  I hope you find it equally as useful.  Take care, B.

[#2]

dette skulle være lavet på densk, så kunne du læse det

[#3]

This is a wonderful tool. However, something I don't see in the documentation or anywhere else:

What if you have half a dozen printers, and you're using the same driver (e.g. either the universal driver or the printer specific driver).

Using these tools you can force settings on users, but what if you only want those settings enforced on one of the half dozen printers? Can such a thing be done?

[#4]

Hi Claus, I'm not an expert in languages in general, but I take the translation above to mean, "this should be done danish, so others could read it," and that's only if I've translated it correctly from the online sites and filled in the words correctly.  Thanks, I'll take this as a compliment and if anyone would care to translate any of these blog articles and post in your language of choice, I can ask one of my peers for review and posting if interested.  I'm sufficiently fluent in French and know how to pronounce words in Greek (slowly) and that's about it.  I know the HP Universal Print Driver (not DDU necessarily) is built with several languages wrapped around the user interface, but my experience beyond French and English is limited.  Take care, B.

[#5]

Thanks for the info.  The Driver works great!!!!!  Saced me alot of time.  

[#6]

Thanks Mal, I'm glad this post and the driver and tools were helpful for you.  The HP people who design these connectivity and driver solutions put a lot of really hard work into the tools.  I'm continuously amazed with the new innovations they keep designing into the products.