Migrate printers from 2000->2003. Print migrator or manual?

[KasperKK]

Hi group

I have an assignment of moving 85 printers from a WIN2000 server to a 2003 server. I have looked into the Printmigrator utility from Microsoft. I have some issues, and I don’t seem to be able to find answers in the documentation/newsgroups/forums. Probably because there is some basic concept I don’t get

1. When doing the backup, with the migrator tool, it seems that all settings, printer drivers etc. are copied. But don’t we have an issue with kernel mode versus user mode in drivers for 2000/2003. I have the impression that all printer drivers in 2003 MUST run in user mode, whereas the 2000 drivers could run in kernel mode. Hence I have an issue when restoring the backup on the 2003 server.. Please advice if I am wrong on this…Any workarounds?

2. All printers are listed in the AD (2000), when I remove the printers from the 2000 server, will they be removed from the AD as well? – This leads to the next question:

2. After migrating, either manual or with the tool, how do I get the client PC’s updated?
Since the new server have a different name, the \\server\printername will not work anymore. All printers are configured with IP addresses, and they remain the same – will this be enough for the clients to reconnect/update automatically? (All clients running XPPRO-SP2)

Best regards

Kasper

 

[Davetoo]

The migration tool works perfect from 2000-2003, I did it not to long ago. When you remove them from the 2000 server they'll be removed from AD, but when you add them to the 2003 server they'll show back up.

As for the clients you'll either have to run a login script to point them to the new printers, or do them manually.

I'm Certifiable, not cert-ified.
It just means my answers are from experience, not a book.
The poster formerly known as lander215

 

[KasperKK]

Hi Davetoo

Great news! And no driver issues?

So actually, when I'm doing the backup - thus not removing the printers - and then restoring on the new server - the printers will show up in the AD in two versions?
Like this:
\\oldserver\printer and \\newserver\printer

I'll work on the client update issue, we have some tools running here, to provide SW updates, this might do the job.

Thanks again

Kasper

 

[Davetoo]

That's right, the printers will show up twice until you remove them from the old server and retire it.

I'm Certifiable, not cert-ified.
It just means my answers are from experience, not a book.
The poster formerly known as lander215