Printer Migration Automation

[beasleyd]

Hello!

I'm currently running a network with two NT 4.0 servers as the PDC and BDC. I have been diligently migrating files over to the soon to be solo Windows 2003 server. The PDC and BDC NT 4 servers will then be decommissioned.

While doing this I had a horrific realization.

All network printers that are currently being hosted by the PDC will have to be switched over to the Win2003 server for hosting. No problem, right?

What about the 60+ desktops... with each user requiring different printers? Is there any way to automate mapping network printers to every PC? Please tell me you know a way!

Desperately,
David

 

[SilviaS]

We used this util

http://www.softwareshelf.co.uk/products/display.asp?p=113

when we migrated our domain printers

 

[dennisbbb]

PrintMig is supposed to be a free tool by MS. Do a search on google.com

It basically copies down all drivers, registry, shares, and port information, then reload them on the new server. There can be some problems with ports recreation, which you can easily re-create manually without any hassle.

The network printer path on the client machines must be changed to reflect the server name change.

Example:

\\oldserver\MarketingLaserjet9000N
changes to
\\newserver\MarketingLaserjet9000N