Print server

[irsprint84]

How much RAM is recommended for a print server

[timbo343]

Just as long as it runs the OS i suppose. How many printers are you serving?

[FN-GM]

It wont need allot really.

 

Seeing as you will be running Server 2008 R2 i would run a minimum of 2GB for the OS. I shouldn't think you need anymore for the printers.

[glennda]

Aslong as its just for printers what they have mentioned above. I have a 2003 box with 1gb ram that runs 140 printers

[FN-GM]

If you have print management software on i would stick another 1 GB in.

[mac_shinobi]

If you have print management software on i would stick another 1 GB in.

 

Just put 4gb in it , 2 for the OS and 2 spare which can either be used by OS or printers or whatever.

[FN-GM]

What's the point if you don't need it? 4gb is an overkill. You can always add more later

[glennda]

is it physical or virtual? and how many processors are you giving it? in my expericence the spooler service uses more cpu then ram especially when printing long runs of sims reports

 

although not great amount if virtual give a minimum of 2 processors

[mac_shinobi]

If you have print management software on i would stick another 1 GB in.

 

future proofing and who knows, they might want to use the server later on for an extra role or two, better to have it and not need it, then need it and not have it. would be interested to know how many cpu's this server has.

 

I thought more network admins were using more then one print server and load balancing them ( clustering them - whatever the correct term is ) so if one falls over it auto magically re directs to the backup print server without any tweaking or changes.

 

Is there a suggested amount of printers you are meant to have on one print server ie

 

60 per print server - or is this purely down to the specs of the server and also how much pressure it will put on the print spooler service ?

[FN-GM]

future proofing and who knows, they might want to use the server later on for an extra role or two, better to have it and not need it, then need it and not have it. would be interested to know how many cpu's this server has.

 

I disagree memory is an easy upgrade and can be sorted later down the line

[irsprint84]

I m virtualising it no print management

[mjs_mjs]

if you have the option of starting with 2GB and dual cores then if you need it you can kill the server add more and restart.

[glennda]

Yeah would agree with MJS_MJS on that. Start off with the basics and you can add more if needs be.

[mjs_mjs]

Yeah would agree with MJS_MJS on that. Start off with the basics and you can add more if needs be.

 

Especially as in 2008 you can see what the print spooler or any app is using resource wise. Task manager > Resource monitor (i think) and you can see the RAM CPU and NETWORK usage of the application. So it's easy to find out how much the app is using and increase if necessary.

[Arthur]

Although 2008 R2 doesn't have SuperFetch like Windows 7 has, won't more RAM be useful for caching stuff in memory? 2GB does seem a bit low.

[mjs_mjs]

Depends on it's use - our print server is 2* dual core xeon 2.8GHz, with 2GB of RAM. We have about 50 printers on it and pcounter. Spool folder sits on a 20GB partition and yes it has filled that previously. We are running win server 2003 sp2 tho, so it's a little less memory intensive than 2008R2.