Thursday, August 1, 2013

Printer Server - Windows Server 2008

Before I joined my current employeer they setup their printers as follows:


  1. Assign a Static IP to device at the unit (though they are on their own VLAN and could have DHCP setup).
  2. Install to the Primary Domain Controller (PDC) then share out to all users
    • Some manual others via a old batch script (Correct no GPO here)
    • If system needs 64-bit drivers they can download from manufacture site.
So having many issues with this config I am setting up a Print Server on our Backup Domain Controller (BDC) also a 2k8 system (hoping to move up to 2k8r2 or even 2k12 next year).  Below are the processes/setups I completed.

Install Role via Server Manager (wanted to do via PowerShell but requires installation of Exchange Management appearently: http://bit.ly/15yqjQg)
  1. Login to desired server to install Print Server Role
  2. Launch Server Manager (if not done so automatically)
  3. Under Roles Summary click Add Roles
  4. Select Printer Services > Next > Next
  5. Select Roles to add > Next
    • Printer Server (selected)
      • Printer Server and Print Magament Snap-in
    • LPD Service
      • For Linux Printing using LPR
    • Internet Printing
      • Allow users to manage print jobs (Requires Web Server (IIS) role)
  6. Review > Install
  7. Review results (correct any error as needed)
Printer Setup
  1. To start I had to add our network printers to our BDC.  Mapping them to their IP and not using the shares from the PDC.  (Used all PCL5 32-bit drivers as server is 32 bit).
    • Print Management > Print Servers > [Server Name] > Printers > Right Click - Add Printer
    • For new printer complete the following:
      • Select "Add a TCP/IP or Web Services Printer ..." > Next
      • Enter IP Address > Next
      • Setup Sharing now or skip and do later > Next
      • Review Details > Next
      • I always recommend selecting "Print test page", if you wish to add more printers select that > Finish
    • To duplicate a printer (If you setup default print settings for BW and Color)
      • Select "Add a new printer using existing port: [Select TCP/IP port to be used]" > Next
      • Select Driver to use (we only change when we need to offer up PostScript to our marketing)
      • Once the printers were all added I then began the process of adding additional drivers.
  2. Next I made sure I had the x86, x64 of PCL5 and also select PostScript (PS) drivers for my printers.
    • Print Management > Print Servers > [Server Name] > Drivers  > Right Click - Add Driver
      • Next
      • Select all formats that you plan to add (typically I do both x64 and x86 for all printers) > Next
      • Either browse the list or click "Have Disk" (I recommend using have disk and downloading drivers from vendor) > Next
        • If multiple models select best fit.
      • Will repeat if you selected both x64 and x86 otherwise click "Finish"
And that is it.  Now you can manage drivers for all installed printers in on location.  At some point I will get GPO deployment configured and will post that up as well but for now I will have to update our existing batch file.

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