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print-cluster - syncing drivers
I have a two server print cluster. The driver folders on each do not contain the same drivers and I want them to sync correctly.
Here's a comparison of the driver folders:
primary 550 megs:
\\server_1\print$\fbea43ee
secondary 489 megs:
\\server_2\print$\fbea43ee
cluster print_driver location 545 megs:
\\cluster\r$\PrinterDriver
There is a significant difference in the files that are on the cluster and whatever server is active. e.g., the active print server is missing about 50 files that the cluster has AND, likewise, the cluster is missing a few dozen dll's and other driver files the active server has.
In a fail-over, isn't the active server supposed to copy the drivers from the cluster to its print$ share? Instead, I get a printer failure rate on 10% of the printers models (out of 120 models) because of differences.
Here's a comparison of the driver folders:
primary 550 megs:
\\server_1\print$\fbea43ee
secondary 489 megs:
\\server_2\print$\fbea43ee
cluster print_driver location 545 megs:
\\cluster\r$\PrinterDriver
There is a significant difference in the files that are on the cluster and whatever server is active. e.g., the active print server is missing about 50 files that the cluster has AND, likewise, the cluster is missing a few dozen dll's and other driver files the active server has.
In a fail-over, isn't the active server supposed to copy the drivers from the cluster to its print$ share? Instead, I get a printer failure rate on 10% of the printers models (out of 120 models) because of differences.
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Sorry that should read connect to each printe in turn ...
ASKER
Thanks. The cluster was already running, just one had different drivers than the other (Gah! Windows NT all over again)
Thanks for the points.... had forgotten about that Q.
Steve
Steve
I am also trying to setup a printer cluster in the next weeks and have already looked around a bit. Maybe Print Migrator can help you out here. This should work for all server versions (you didn't specify):
http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsServer2003/techinfo/overview/printmigrator3.1.mspx
Actually I will use it to get all printers and settings from my current print server to the cluster but I guess it should also work to get an exact copy of all printers, drivers and so on from one node to the second.
A few days ago I downloaded a file from MS "Creating highly available printers with Windows 2003 Server Cluster". This also proofed very helpful:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/techinfo/overview/availableprinter.mspx
Good luck,
Daniel