Swapping Printers
Probably a dumb question but in the office they want to switch 2 printers in 2 different locations. I can't just simply swap them can I? They each have names which people are used to printing to, and I believe static IP's. And we have a print server. What are some of the steps that need to be done? Thanks.
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ASKER
But does the printer name stay with the printer? For example, if the people in the front have their default printer as "Printer A," and now "Printer B" is moved in its place, and they don't change the default printer in Windows... if they print like they always do will it go to Printer A or B?
You might not have to change the printer name for each user and still have it print where it should IF you give us the right information.
I cannot offer a reliable solution if there is only vague, unambiguous information offered.
Please give more information and then I will be able to answer your question concisely without covering every possible scenario. Thanks
I cannot offer a reliable solution if there is only vague, unambiguous information offered.
Please give more information and then I will be able to answer your question concisely without covering every possible scenario. Thanks
ASKER
rnicolaus what information are you asking for?
The printer name is allocated on the server, not on the printer, so it will stay with the printer.
ASKER
hdhondt so I would then need to point their new default printer to the one that got moved by them if I'm understanding you correctly.
I'm not sure just what you want to achieve. Unless you do something else, the users' printer assignments will stay the same, so printing to Printer A will print to that printer, regardless of where it is located.
Hence, if Printer A was the default but now you want default jobs to go to Printer B, then you have to change the default printer.
If you want the new printer to have the name of the old one, then you'll need to change names on the server, and update the users' drivers to reflect the change.
Hence, if Printer A was the default but now you want default jobs to go to Printer B, then you have to change the default printer.
If you want the new printer to have the name of the old one, then you'll need to change names on the server, and update the users' drivers to reflect the change.
ASKER
I now want the default jobs to go to Printer B. So I would have to set the new default printer on the users machines, and update the drivers on each machine, correct?
Yes, you have to since I now assume they are different printers.
The IP addresses don't matter then since you are going to touch each workstation. Just remove them from the print server and reinstall them as new so the old names don't cause confusion.
The IP addresses don't matter then since you are going to touch each workstation. Just remove them from the print server and reinstall them as new so the old names don't cause confusion.
If Printer B is already installed on the clients, you only need to change the default printer, you do not need to touch the drivers.
And, as per my first comment, the IP addresses do not need to be changed as long as you're not moving to different subnets.
And, as per my first comment, the IP addresses do not need to be changed as long as you're not moving to different subnets.
ASKER
I haven't actually completed this operation yet which is why the question is still open. Once it's completed (probably sometime this week) I will resolve this question.
If they are different models, and/or the print server communicates with them via a different protocol, then there will be far more steps.
Please provide us with more information: i.e. Printer makes/models, IP addresses of each, information about print server and/or network/server.