Windows 2003 Print Server migration to Windows 2008R2
Hi,
We are going to be migrating a Windows 2003 Print server to a new server which will be Windows 2008R2.
Overall we are planning to do the following:
The w2k3 print server is called print01 then new w2k8 server is currently called print01tmp. We are planning to migrate the printers and then renamed the server to print01 once the current w2k3 print01 is turned off. The wk28 will have the same name and IP.
We want to migrate the printers using the MS printer migration tool to bring the printers and their configuration from the w2k3 to the w2k8 server.
(from server print01 to print01tmp)
We have the following question:
1.) Printers are not being mapped via GPO or script. The user printer have been manually mapped to their computers. If we proceed with the migration as speficied, would the printers that user have mapped on their workstations work with the new server? The clients are all running Windows XPSP3.
We are going to be migrating a Windows 2003 Print server to a new server which will be Windows 2008R2.
Overall we are planning to do the following:
The w2k3 print server is called print01 then new w2k8 server is currently called print01tmp. We are planning to migrate the printers and then renamed the server to print01 once the current w2k3 print01 is turned off. The wk28 will have the same name and IP.
We want to migrate the printers using the MS printer migration tool to bring the printers and their configuration from the w2k3 to the w2k8 server.
(from server print01 to print01tmp)
We have the following question:
1.) Printers are not being mapped via GPO or script. The user printer have been manually mapped to their computers. If we proceed with the migration as speficied, would the printers that user have mapped on their workstations work with the new server? The clients are all running Windows XPSP3.
Stelian Stan
The users should NOT notice any difference. The only problem I could see if you don't have a 64 bit driver for one of the printer for example. Other than that you should be fine.
This document may help:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd379488%28WS.10%29.aspx
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd379488%28WS.10%29.aspx
ASKER
The current server is 32bit the new one 64 bit. Should I be doing anything with the drivers?
When I did our migration i preferred to install the new server (with a different name) install all the printers (32 and 64 bit drivers) with the same names like on the old server. When everything was done I just change the name and ip address of the old server, removed from the domain and used the same name and ip address for the new one.
Doing this I was able to install the latest drivers for all my printers.
Is working fine the way you want to do it but, you should install x64-based drivers on the source server (your print01tmp server) before creating the backup file. Just follow that document from above.
Doing this I was able to install the latest drivers for all my printers.
Is working fine the way you want to do it but, you should install x64-based drivers on the source server (your print01tmp server) before creating the backup file. Just follow that document from above.
ASKER
I don't have a preference specially now that I now I have to install x86 and x64 drivers in order for this work.
All my clients are x86 windows xp sp3 so I am assuming that if i decide to configure the print qeues on the w2k8R2 server I will need to configure the x86 drivers for Windows XP and configure the queue.
So basically the end result will be the print queue with x86 for Windows XP and the x64 that gets installed by default if the drivers for the printer already exist on the W2k8R2.
Does that make sense?
All my clients are x86 windows xp sp3 so I am assuming that if i decide to configure the print qeues on the w2k8R2 server I will need to configure the x86 drivers for Windows XP and configure the queue.
So basically the end result will be the print queue with x86 for Windows XP and the x64 that gets installed by default if the drivers for the printer already exist on the W2k8R2.
Does that make sense?
It make sense. I think the easiest migration for you would be to install the x64 bit drivers on the actual print server and follow Microsoft documentation (use the link above) or if you fell like it you can do it from scratch (the same way we did it). In the end depends which one do you prefer.
ASKER
Were your clients-computers 32 or 64 bit? The 64 bit drivers are not a problem but I am having difficulties configuring the 32bit drivers.
I have 32 and 64 bit Windows 7 clients.
ASKER
I understand that if you have 32bit clients you will have to install 32bit drivers over the Win2k8R2 print server? How did you get installed the 32 bit drivers on the server side?
Extract the contents for the 32-bit drivers rather than install. In the properties of the printer under the sharing tab click the additional drivers button and browse to your 32-bit (x86) driver.
ASKER
I am struggling getting the 32bit drivers from the vendor site. I have migrated the printers from the 32bit server to 64bit server and the drivers are showing up in the drivers node, however on the w2k8R2 when I go to sharing tab/ additional drivers button / browse / click on 32-bit I can't select any of them.
You need to have the same version of drivers (32 and 64 bit). If you have for example version 1.1 of 32 bit driver and version 1.2 of 64 bit driver is not going to work.
Did you extract the content of the drivers on a different folder before trying to install them?
Did you extract the content of the drivers on a different folder before trying to install them?
ASKER
Yes I did. I have also migrated the printer from the x86 Windows 2003 server and I have all the drivers. See attached.
The problem is that when I try to add the additional driver it ask for a path for the driver and it doesn't know where to go to get the driver. I have tried configuring the same printer on Windows 2008 x86 and everything works fine.
Any ideas?
The problem is that when I try to add the additional driver it ask for a path for the driver and it doesn't know where to go to get the driver. I have tried configuring the same printer on Windows 2008 x86 and everything works fine.
Any ideas?
So if you browse for the x86 drivers you get any kind of errors?
ASKER
Yes, the driver does not exist on the path, etc...the drivers were migrated from the x86 windows 2003 server but when you check the x86 box the system ask for a path because it doesn't have the driver...
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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