64 Bit Print Server in a 32 bit virtual machine
Hello Experts!
My team and I have run into a quite common problem. One of our clients decided it would be a smart idea to go ahead and buy a bunch of 64 bit workstations, primarily for cad, we soon discovered that we could not install print drivers on the server, probably being that it is a 32 bit server, don't take my word for it, i'm not the primary guy on this job, but i can get all information needed if i don't provide enough. Anyways, for now we have a solution were we can install the print drivers locally, but it would save a lot more time and money if we could install print drivers on the server. Now this is were i got the idea of hosting a virtual 64 bit machine inside one of thier servers, they have 3, and we already have VMware set up on one for disaster recovery. In my mind we should be able to turn this 64 bit virtual machine into a print server, just a small server with the print drivers to send out. Right now in shop i've tested with Sun Virtual Box, and i can confirm i can load a 64 bit os onto a 32 bit os, but the problem is i have no 64 bit machines here to test my theory. I wanted to ask if my idea is logical and possible, and if so if i'd be going about it the right way, or any problems i might run into.
My team and I have run into a quite common problem. One of our clients decided it would be a smart idea to go ahead and buy a bunch of 64 bit workstations, primarily for cad, we soon discovered that we could not install print drivers on the server, probably being that it is a 32 bit server, don't take my word for it, i'm not the primary guy on this job, but i can get all information needed if i don't provide enough. Anyways, for now we have a solution were we can install the print drivers locally, but it would save a lot more time and money if we could install print drivers on the server. Now this is were i got the idea of hosting a virtual 64 bit machine inside one of thier servers, they have 3, and we already have VMware set up on one for disaster recovery. In my mind we should be able to turn this 64 bit virtual machine into a print server, just a small server with the print drivers to send out. Right now in shop i've tested with Sun Virtual Box, and i can confirm i can load a 64 bit os onto a 32 bit os, but the problem is i have no 64 bit machines here to test my theory. I wanted to ask if my idea is logical and possible, and if so if i'd be going about it the right way, or any problems i might run into.
ASKER
I believe that was what my coworker tried originally, he's on his way here to shop, so i can confirm, but i'm pretty sure it would not take the drivers. I'll keep you posted.
Sorry, it was the .inf driver descriptor in my first comment, not the .ini.
The other way round, if the 32-bit Windows Server is installed on a 64-bit capable processor (any processor made in the last 3 years at least), you can install a 64-bit Windows VM guest, install the shared printer with manually-installed 64-bit drivers, then share that printer again to the 64-bit workstations. But you'll have two different print servers, one for the 32-bit workstations and the other for the 64-bit ones (because if you want to use only the virtual server for both, you'll need to install the 32-bit drivers in the same way the 64-bit ones would be installed in the 32-bit system - you could have the same install problem there).
The other way round, if the 32-bit Windows Server is installed on a 64-bit capable processor (any processor made in the last 3 years at least), you can install a 64-bit Windows VM guest, install the shared printer with manually-installed 64-bit drivers, then share that printer again to the 64-bit workstations. But you'll have two different print servers, one for the 32-bit workstations and the other for the 64-bit ones (because if you want to use only the virtual server for both, you'll need to install the 32-bit drivers in the same way the 64-bit ones would be installed in the 32-bit system - you could have the same install problem there).
ASKER
miahi -
I've talked to my guy, he claims that most of the drivers he could find for the printers didn't contain .inf and thats were the main problem was. Do you know if there is anyway to pull the .inf from a workstation that has had the drivers installed locally, i'm assuming in theory i should be able to rip them off and send em over the the server and do as you suggested.
I've talked to my guy, he claims that most of the drivers he could find for the printers didn't contain .inf and thats were the main problem was. Do you know if there is anyway to pull the .inf from a workstation that has had the drivers installed locally, i'm assuming in theory i should be able to rip them off and send em over the the server and do as you suggested.
If the driver is an exe it contains all the files, and it should extract them when the driver is installed - to a temporary folder at least. Sometimes you can identify them in window's temporary folder.
I use Driver Magician for recovering drivers from live installs. It locates the inf driver and then searches all the drive for the files described in the inf.
http://www.drivermagician.com/
I use Driver Magician for recovering drivers from live installs. It locates the inf driver and then searches all the drive for the files described in the inf.
http://www.drivermagician.com/
ASKER
I'm tring to rip the drivers with that tool, and i don't see how. Any ideas?
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Nice, I wouldn't have thought of that... getting the driver directly from the share of the 64-bit computer.
I use this method for a Windows 2003 Server 32-bit with shared printers and Windows 7 64-bit clients.