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Printer pool not working

I am trying to configure (as I have in the past) a printer pool on a win2k3 server in a domain, all clients are xpsp3.
I create the printer object on the 2k3 server with a single standard IP port to my HP4250.  I check the Enable printer pool option and then select the second IP address of the second HP4250 and click apply.  The printjobs always come out one printer.  IF that physical printer goes off line, the pool fails and does not roll over to the other printer in the pool.  Both printers work independantly if i set them up as individual printers so i know they both work.....  help...
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You probably did all this but I'm just making sure:
-Are the printers using the same driver? Pooling won't work unless it is same model and driver.

-Was the port for the second printer created before or after the other one? It may not matter, but the print jobs are routed in the order the ports were created, hence the question.

-Is the print queue on the server? The printer itself doesn't need to be physically attached to the server but the queue does need to be present. The queue and printer must also be shared.
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JoePiazza

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Both ports are created on the server \\server\printer share name and as \\ip_address  
I tried using the ports both as a shared printer and by IP address.
Both printers are identical models with identical drive being used.  
The print queue is on the server and is \\server_name\HS-MC-P with enable print pooling selected and both IP address ports selected..
Should I delete both ports and reconfigure them?
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Hi I have the same setup, two printers working ok independantly, but not "as expected" in a pool.
I think that Microsoft's idea of a "pool" is different than what you'd expect or what is sensible.
It was a while ago, I last looked into this, but one printer will always be preferred - it would be better if it balanced the load, but I don't think it does.
As for one being off, again, I don't think it copes well with this either, which is daft.
The only time it load balances, is when both printers are on and printing, then we get prints on both printers.
Although I will reserve the right to be wrong ...  !
A small quotation I found ...

"If you want to ensure that documents are first sent to the faster printers, add the faster printers to the pool first and the slower printers last. Print jobs are routed in the order in which you create the ports. "

http://forums13.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?admit=109447627+1235145815058+28353475&threadId=977332