2003 print server, Explorer refreshes printers too often?

[Mike M]

I've seen this issue on each Windows 2003 print server in our environment...

When browsing for printers at \\print-server the window refreshes itself
every 15 or 20 seconds. Problem is, during the refresh, the window freezes
until all printers are re-enumerated. On a server with 700+ printers, it
takes a FAST hand to scroll down and find the printer one wants to install.

Anyone ever seen this?


TIA

 

[Alan Morris [MSFT]]

Yes, the client spooler is in polling mode.

There are several things that can cause this but most likely the client has
a firewall turned on and the File and Print sharing ports are not enabled.

Enable the File and Printer exception in the firewall. Close the remote
window to the print server. Stop the client spooler service, start the
client spooler service, then reopen the remote folder.

--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[Mike M]

Alan,

Thank you for your quick reply!

No firewalls are enabled on the print servers, however by turning off the
firewall on the XP client, this nagging issue is gone.

File & Printer sharing is in the exception list for that XP client in
question. Why would the client's firewall get in the way of this?
<scratching head>


Thank you again,
Mike

 

[Alan Morris [MSFT]]

Does the client File and Print exception pertain to the local subnet or all
subnets?

I recall a bug in SP1 where there was an issue when all subnets were open
but the spooler could still fall back to polling mode, but with a quick
check, I did not find the specifics. Enable the exception for all subnets,
close the remote window, stop start client spooler, open the remote
printers folder. You will need to restart the spooler since once the
spooler gets into a communication mode it stays in that mode to that server
until a restart.
--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Alan,

Thank you for your quick reply!

No firewalls are enabled on the print servers, however by turning off the
firewall on the XP client, this nagging issue is gone.

File & Printer sharing is in the exception list for that XP client in
question. Why would the client's firewall get in the way of this?
<scratching head>


Thank you again,
Mike

Yes, the client spooler is in polling mode.

There are several things that can cause this but most likely the client
has a firewall turned on and the File and Print sharing ports are not
enabled.

Enable the File and Printer exception in the firewall. Close the remote
window to the print server. Stop the client spooler service, start the
client spooler service, then reopen the remote folder.

--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto