Import Printers From Old Servers To New One

[FN-GM]

Hey guys

 

I am currently building a new print server and I am ready to add the printers around the school. But there is 40 ish and it’s going to take ages to move them over to the new server. Is there a quick way to move them all over without installing each individual one please? It’s running Windows Server 2003 by the way.

 

Thank you

 

Z

[SYNACK]

You are after the Print Migration Tools from MS http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsServer2003/techinfo/overview/printmigrator3.1.mspx

 

Make sure that you don't have any kernel mode printer drivers on the old server or the backup will not restore properly. I think they show up a mode 1 in the export log. Just update all of the drivers before hand as it transfers these to the new server at the same time.

 

If you are moving file shares as well this may help http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/upgrading/nt4/tooldocs/msfsc.mspx

[FN-GM]

Cheers i will give that a dabble.

 

Z

[Michael]

I've never used the Print Migration Tools, however I agree as mentioned above that it's a good opportunity to update drivers.

 

On the subject of printers though, be aware of HP printer drivers. I setup a new HP printer the other day, tried pushing it out to clients using 2003 Server R2 and had nothing but problems!

 

In the end I isolated it to the HP driver creating a custom HP TCP/IP port. I manually created a standard TCP/IP port, moved the printer to that and the problems disappeared. Thanks a lot HP, idiots...

[FN-GM]

Well all our printers but one are HP so I think I am going to upgrade the drivers this time. I already had a few problems with drivers.

 

Z

[SYNACK]

Yes well spotted Michael, you'll want to swap them to IP ports as the migration tool can't bring across all of the extra spooler and port management crap that hp uses. They work just fine on the standard ports and it is one less thing to break with a future hp update.

[john]

I vote for the Print Migration Toolkit, its great I used it on mine, it takes EVERYTHING, drivers, settings, shares, preferences, name, location etc everything you could want, puts it in a cab file, run the tool on the new server, point at the cab file you just made and voilla, it even re-shared them all automatically for you. Easy as eating pie.

[FN-GM]

The Print Migration Toolkit worked a treat thanks guys. You saved me so much time & hassle.

 

Z