Print Server

[GRitchie]

Thought this was the best thread to post in.

 

Here's our dilemma:

We have a 32bit Windows 7 network with a 32 bit print server on server 2003.

 

We are wanting to upgrade our print server as we are having issues with it, ideally to 2008R2 which is 64 bit.

 

 

Can we install the 32 bit drivers for printers on the 64 bit server or will this cause issues? (I've heard there have been multiple problems with this in the past).

 

 

Or would we have to upgrade the entire network to 64 bit?

etc. etc.

 

Any ideas?

[synaesthesia]

Shouldn't be a problem at all.

[APMerry]

You can install 32bit and 64bit drivers on a 64bit server.

[jamesb]

I've never had a problem so long as both sets of drivers were installed side-by-side, but apparently some have.

 

There's an article that highlights the problems, and goes through how to install both driver versions, here: Mixing 32 bit and 64 bit Print Server Architectures

[Davit2005]

I have been using 2008 R2 for print servers for years and never had a problem installing 32bit drivers.

 

You may need to upload the drivers via a 32bit client however remotely via Print Management but not really a problem.

 

Saying that, I have had some interesting issues with Kyocera printers and photocopiers

Edited October 16, 2014 by Davit2005

[win]

Go into the properties of the printer and ensure both 64 + 32 drivers are installed. However, if you're building a new print server you may as well go for 2012r2 to future proof it.

[GRitchie]

Go into the properties of the printer and ensure both 64 + 32 drivers are installed. However, if you're building a new print server you may as well go for 2012r2 to future proof it.

We've been informed by one of our support companies that 2012 isn't good for print servers apparently!

Also, I don't even know if we have the driver discs for all printers any more, most are Kyocera printers should they be easy enough to get again?

[3s-gtech]

I have a 2008 R1 print server and a 2012 R2 one (working as a slave in Papercut), both work well, both loaded with 32 and 64 bit drivers. Not sure where your support company got that info from, but doesn't tally with my experience.

[win]

We've been informed by one of our support companies that 2012 isn't good for print servers apparently!

 

Ask them about 2012 R2 which is an improvement over 2012. I'm about to replace my 2008 prt svr with a 2012 r2 one. If 3s-gtech has it working with papercut then that's another reason to push ahead with the new OS.

[SHimmer45]

i did the exact thing a few years ago, had a couple of issues with some drivers but once updated had no problems