Question

2003 Print Server (Que) fault tolerance

Asked by: ExpertPC

I have two 2003 Standard Servers in an AD domain, Server1 and Server2. Server1 has 30 printers configured. Server2 has the same configurations and printers. Currently users are utilizing only Server1 for printing.

I want the other server to be able to perfrom the printing in the event the Server1 goes offline. Can this be accomplished with native os utilities (no 3rd party stuff). I am not concerned about any active print jobs at the time of failure. Manaul switching is also fine. Setting up each client with all the printers from each server is not an option. It needs to be transparent to the users. A manaul 20 minute process is acceptable.

I tried creating multiple CNames and A records but that didn't work as when I tried browsing to the server from the alias name I got an error saying a duplicate name existed in the envirnment.

Any suggestions othe then NLB? Will NLB work?

Thanks

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Asked On
2006-01-17 at 14:23:27ID21700187
Tags

2003

Topic

Windows 2003 Server

Participating Experts
3
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500
Comments
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Answers

 

by: flood_landPosted on 2006-01-17 at 14:51:01ID: 15724268

You could probably get away with configuring network load balancing on the two servers.  You'd probably have to change the config on all your client machines to point to the NLB cluster though.


Here is some stuff on printing in 2003 but most of it wants you to set up a stateful cluster using 2k3 enterprise or datacenter though.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/technologies/print/default.mspx

 

by: ericinmiaPosted on 2006-01-17 at 15:27:46ID: 15724532

You could create a Cname and point it to the server you want the users to do the printing on.  In the event you need to change them over to the other server, change the cname to reflect that.. and all the clients seamlessly start printing to the other server.  It requires that the printers are installed and setup and named the same on both servers though.

I have done this before and it works fairly good.  It simply requires you to change the cname in the dns.  I'm sure you could write a script or program that would check the status of the server and change the dns on command.
-Eric

 

by: ExpertPCPosted on 2006-01-17 at 15:29:46ID: 15724542

Is there a way to do it other than with NLB or Clustering?

 

by: ExpertPCPosted on 2006-01-17 at 15:37:16ID: 15724581

As I stated in my question I have attempted to use both A Hosts and CNAMES. Both of them had problems when trying to connect. As an example:

Server1
Server2
PRINTSERVER <-- Cname/A one for each server, and alternatively, just one pointing to a single server. Both setups had the same problem:

When I try and type in the RUN command window \\PRINTSERVER, I get an error...

"You were not connected because a duplicate name exists on the network. Go to the System in Control Panel and change the computer name and try again."

This error occurs on all computers. I do not have anything funky or odd setup on my netwwork.

That is why I am asking for help here.

 

by: ericinmiaPosted on 2006-01-17 at 19:11:25ID: 15725599

Try reverse dns/netbios on "Printserver" to see why it states that there are dublicates.

That is the real issue here, without that it should work fine.  Or if you give up on that try making a NEW CName under something not used on the network yet. "PRINTCMD" or something similar.

server1 name="MYDC1"
server2 name="MYDC2"

CNAME = "PRINTCMD" -> "MYDC1"

Setup all the clients to print to "\\PRINTCMD\printers\Printername"

I know your frustrated, sorry...
-Eric

 

by: pburke2004Posted on 2006-01-17 at 22:05:44ID: 15726305

Unfortunately I have tried that and it's a no go

 

by: ericinmiaPosted on 2006-01-17 at 22:54:27ID: 15726477

The only thing i can think of is try this...

type this in run.. "\\servernamehere"
then find the name of the printer, or folder its in...
Most likely its sitting right in the root of the shared.

so if the printers name is "HPColorLaser"

then here would be the setup for the clients...

"\\servername\HPColorLaser"

I know your frustrated... as am I, since i just tested this and it does work.
-Eric

 

by: ericinmiaPosted on 2006-01-18 at 11:17:19ID: 15732052

OK here i found the problem...


http://support.microsoft.com/?id=281308

That support article contains the fix from microsoft.

The problem is that the servers services are not listening under this Cname alias.
So by applying this fix, the idea above will work

Sorry about that.
-Eric

 

by: ericinmiaPosted on 2006-01-18 at 11:19:44ID: 15732075

Windows Server 2003
To resolve this problem in Windows Server 2003, complete the following steps:

1. Create the CNAME record for the file server on the appropriate DNS server, if the CNAME record is not already present.

2. Apply the following registry change to the file server. To do so, follow these steps: a.  Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
     b.  Locate and click the following key in the registry:
                HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters
     c.  On the Edit menu, click Add Value, and then add the following registry value:
                Value name: DisableStrictNameChecking
                Data type: REG_DWORD
               Radix: Decimal
               Value: 1  
      d.  Quit Registry Editor.
 
3. Restart your computer.


Copied it to EE incase microsoft loses it...

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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