Moving printers between servers

[Guest]

I have a remote location and the print server is being replaced. I am trying to move printers to what will be the new print server. I right click on the source server name, then I select "copy printer to" and enter the target server name (I have also used the find key and navigated to the server name). When I select OK, I get an error from Hyena that says unable to add printer \\source server to \\destination server. The specified time is invalid. How do I get around this?

[Trammel]

Re: Moving printers between servers

Try this http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/detai...&displaylang=en

Prnadmin.dll: Printer Administration Objects

[Guest]

Re: Moving printers between servers

I already have the Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit Tools, but it is not clear to me how the dll file answers my question or how I can use Hyena to accomplish copying printers from one server to another.

[kstanush]

Re: Moving printers between servers

Hyena does not specify any time when adding printers, so this error is either a bug in Windows, or its referring to something internal.

If I have any unused time on our support contract, which expires soon, I'll see if I can get Microsoft to release some information on this, as this error has been reported by someone else recently.

[kstanush]

Re: Moving printers between servers

fyi, all Hyena does to copy a printer is read the printer information from the 'source' server using a single Windows API call, then simply issue the AddPrinter API with the same information to the 'destination' server. Its essentially two lines of code, so there isn't anything to debug.

A missing driver on the destination server can lead to an error, but that error is usually different. Hyena can't install the driver, so if you have 20 printers, all using the same driver, you have to first go through a standard printer installation (to install the driver), create any lpr ports manually, then you can copy the printer information over.

[Guest]

Re: Moving printers between servers

That is much more clear to me. I saw the feature in Hyena, but didn't understand that I would need to have the driver and port already installed.

[kstanush]

Re: Moving printers between servers

let me know if you install a printer (to install the driver) and port and if the error goes away.

You 'might' be able to add a printer and/or driver remotely in Hyena by right clicking on the main "Printers" object for a server, selecting Shell Functions->Add New Printer.

This can sometimes work depending on the os and printer involved. I think, however, that you might need the driver installed locally to do this, but again that depends on the driver.

[Trammel]

Re: Moving printers between servers

The word doc tells you how to use the dll to get the information your looking for. You can export your printer settings to a file then import them on another sytem. I never said Hyena could or couldn't do it, I thought it might give you some information that could be useful. Here is another link that talks about PrintMig.exe that is on the Windows 2003 cd and can help you migrate your printers. http://www.mcse.ms/message1687551.html


[This message has been edited by Trammel (edited 08-29-2005).]

[Guest]

Re: Moving printers between servers

Thanks for the tip. That gives me a few options to try.

[Trammel]

Re: Moving printers between servers

Microsoft Printer Migrator 3.1, it looks rather simple. Run it on the server and backup. Run it on the new server and restore? Is it that simple? Let us know.

The download for it.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000...t/download.asp


[This message has been edited by Trammel (edited 08-29-2005).]