Moving Printers from Win2003 to Window2008

[penfold]

We currently have a server which is running far too much and we are trying to distribute some of the roles it's performing. One of these roles is the print server which is on Windows 2003 and I have setup new Windows 2008 server which is going to take over this role. I want to be able to test that when I transfer the printers over that they still work so I had thought that I would copy the existing printers onto the new server, test it with some sample users/printers and then go about moving user groups over bit by bit. In order to do this I need to have both servers running as a print server (existing one and test one).

 

I have seen that Windows 2008 you can migrate printers from another server through the Print Management tools, but does this move the existing printers or provide a copy of the printers on the new server?

 

Presumably if it creates a copy then all I need to do is go through the Printer migration and then update the scripts to point to the new server?

[Michael]

I have seen that Windows 2008 you can migrate printers from another server through the Print Management tools, but does this move the existing printers or provide a copy of the printers on the new server?

 

Presumably if it creates a copy then all I need to do is go through the Printer migration and then update the scripts to point to the new server?

 

It makes a copy and as you say, you can then update your script or GPO accordingly.

 

The only catch is you must make sure the 64Bit and 32Bit drivers are installed first, otherwise the migration will fail.

[penfold]

We have just updated all the drivers to include x64 (I think) on the existing server so presumably now I can run the migration and test the new server?

 

Failing that how do I check to see if all the drivers are present?

[Michael]

You can check the drivers are installed from 2008's Print Management.

 

Expand - Print Servers > SERVERNAME (local) > Drivers

 

In the list you should see Windows x64 and Windows NT x86 for each driver. Even if the import fails (for whatever reason) it is safe to re-run the import a second time.

[penfold]

Thanks, I'll get going on that today so I can start testing

[penfold]

I've managed to get back to this and have noticed there are not as many x64 drivers as I thought which means I've got a fair few to install. I've also realised that I wasn't thinking clearly and thought I could migrate the drivers with the printers. Am I now right in thinking that it is a 2 stage process of getting the drivers onto the new server then migrating the printers over? Or will the migration take the drivers over also?

 

Also as I need to install x64 drivers for some printers, should I do this on directly onto the new print server?

[timzim]

Yes. The driver/s will then be copied to each PC when you set up the printer on it.

[Michael]

As you're migrating printers, it's a good opportunity to update drivers, but you should do this on your new 2008 print server.

 

Then migrate the printers themselves and this will migrate ports and print queues too.

[penfold]

Thanks guys, now I've got the fun task of checking & updating all our printer drivers