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Deleting users from PaperCut

PaperCut's user list is a "mirror" of the underlying server or domain user list. Any new users added to the domain will appear in PaperCut (either on next user/group sync or on first-print). Any users deleted off the domain will be removed when Synchronize Now is selected if the Delete users that do not exist in the selected source option is selected.

It is common in an academic environment to have to delete user accounts on mass at the end the academic year. The recommended procedure is:

1. Delete the inactive user accounts from your domain and server. Large organizations will often automate this process via scripts and lists of student enrollments.
2. During a period of low system activity, perform a backup of the system. With PaperCut NG, this can be performed via the Options->Backup area as documented in detail here. Deleting user accounts is a destructive operation so it's always a good idea to take a backup beforehand!
3. Perform a user synchronization with the Delete users that do not exist in the selected source option selected.
PaperCut NG and ChargeBack: Navigate to Options->User/Group Sync, check on the option Delete users that do not exist in the selected source, then press Synchronize Now.
PaperCut Quota: Navigate to Options, and press the TuneUp button. When prompted, say Yes to deleting old users.
4. Take some time now to confirm that all is as expected.

Note: Deleting a user will not delete the user's print history data. All historical log data will remain.

How do I delete users automatically overnight?

The delete users option is not "remembered" and hence will not occur when the sync occurs overnight. The only way to delete users is to do so manually via the Options page by ticking the deleted option then doing a manual sync. This is so we can give you the warning to backup first... long story.... we've had a few customers over the years accidentally delete their users by not thinking. Hence this option is always off by default.

If pruning old users overnight is important, then it is possible to do this via the command-line tool server-command.exe. e.g. Run a batch file from Windows Task Scheduler like: 

  cd C:\Program Files\PaperCut NG\server\bin\win
  server-command.exe perform-user-and-group-sync-advanced TRUE TRUE

We recommend running this command during a period of low system activity such as 4:00am.

keywords: removing users, delete, user accounts, active directory, cleanup, bulk user deletion

Categories: Users

Page last modified on August 10, 2011, at 09:42 PM

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