Microsoft is officially discontinuing support for the Line Printer Daemon (LPD) Protocol in Windows, a change that has been anticipated since the protocol was marked as deprecated in Windows Server 2012. This announcement serves as a reminder for IT administrators to prepare for the upcoming removal of the feature.
According to Microsoft, the removal of the LPD protocol means that clients that rely on it to print to servers—including those using Unix—will find themselves unable to connect or print once the feature is completely phased out.
For those affected, Microsoft is providing alternatives. Unix clients are advised to utilize the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP), while Windows clients can connect to printers shared by Unix systems using the Windows Standard Port Monitor. This alternative solution has been available since Windows 2000 and facilitates the connection of clients to network printers. Since the release of Windows Server 2003, it has served as a replacement for the Line Printer Remote Port Monitor.
Additionally, Microsoft is moving away from distributing printer drivers through Windows Update, focusing instead on class drivers for IPP. Henceforth, network and USB printers that comply with the Mopria standard can be used without the need for separate drivers or installers.
For further information on deprecated features in Windows, users can consult the official list of deprecated Windows features.