Printer keeps going 'Offline', needs Print Spooler restarting constantly

[localzuk]

I've got a printer (Rex Rotary DSc38u) which continually enters 'Offline' as its status on our print server. I can't see anything specific which could be causing it, there are no errors on the printer, or on the print server. I can ping it etc...

The only way to fix it is to restart the print spooler.

Anyone got any ideas?

I've got PaperCut 11 on there too, on the latest version.

[plexer]

What o/s is your print server running?

Ben

[localzuk]

Oh, didn't put that in - thought it'd be plain from the forum I put it in. Server 2003 R2.

[FN-GM]

I have found this with HP printers on Server 2008. When moved onto a Server 2008 R2 print server the problem went away.

I assume you have tried different drivers?

[plexer]

Ah ok sorry hadn't noticed the forum title I just read your post.

Had you been running 2008 R2 then you could have used print driver isolation to prevent the problem with one printer from impacting the others.

What driver version are you running pcl5/6?

Ben

[localzuk]

Its running the NRG DSc38u RPCS driver. I shall try switching it to their PCL5 Mini-Driver.

[localzuk]

Ok, now switched to the PCL5 driver and exactly the same issue.

[sted]

try disabling snmp on that printer ive found that can solve issues with some printers (read HP)

[localzuk]

try disabling snmp on that printer ive found that can solve issues with some printers (read HP)

Interesting! That seems to have solved it.

[mac_shinobi]

Interesting! That seems to have solved it.

Yes there was an ms kb that indicates the update ( think R2 ) updated SNMP and between the server and the printer, the printer can't communicate its status correctly so the server just shows as offline, by disabling it, obviously stops it trying to retrieve the printers status and shows as ready.

Think thats the basic gist of it.

The print queue status is displayed as &#34Offline&#34 on a Windows Server 2003-based print server if SNMP is enabled and if the printer devices do not respond to SNMP commands

work around

To work around this problem, disable SNMP on the printer port. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Printers and Faxes.
2. Right-click the printer, and then click Properties.
3. Click the Ports tab.
4. Click Configure Port.
5. Click to clear the SNMP Status Enabled check box, click OK, and then click Close.