print server recommendations

[Gerry Voras]

Sorry of this is a repost... my original attempt at posting this hasn't
shown up on the servers I monitor this week.

I'm looking for some recommendations on how to build an optimal print
server. I have a win2k adctive directory environment -- at the moment, only
1 domain controller with file storage, a handful of member servers doing
web,mail, and database, and a 15 user office.

Now, under normal circumstances for an office this size, I would build a
win2k Pro or NT4 workstation and let it be the print server. However, this
is a real estate office that puts heavy work into its printers -- Xerox
Phaser colorstick printer, a couple of HP 4's, an HP 6, a fax/print combo,
and a copier/printer combo. All printers have maxed out on onboard memory,
the network itself is being upgraded and optimized, but I think spool times
are still going to be unacceptably long if I leave print services where they
are (on the secretary's workstation) or move them to the DC or one of the
member servers.

I have the MCP's for Pro and Server, and have gone through the regular
discussions about setting up print servers for normal load offices, but this
isn't quite a typical situation. I have some discretion for building the
hardware, so I'd like some recommendations. Also, software config advice
would be appreciated (delay printing until all pages are in the spool, print
when page 1 is in the spool, print directly to printer, etc)

TIA.,..

 

[Jason Hall [MSFT]]

--------------------
From: "Gerry Voras" <[email protected]>
Subject: print server recommendations
Date: Thu, 6 May 2004 13:27:30 -0600

Sorry of this is a repost... my original attempt at posting this hasn't
shown up on the servers I monitor this week.

I'm looking for some recommendations on how to build an optimal print
server. I have a win2k adctive directory environment -- at the moment, only
1 domain controller with file storage, a handful of member servers doing
web,mail, and database, and a 15 user office.

Now, under normal circumstances for an office this size, I would build a
win2k Pro or NT4 workstation and let it be the print server. However, this
is a real estate office that puts heavy work into its printers -- Xerox
Phaser colorstick printer, a couple of HP 4's, an HP 6, a fax/print combo,
and a copier/printer combo. All printers have maxed out on onboard memory,
the network itself is being upgraded and optimized, but I think spool times
are still going to be unacceptably long if I leave print services where they
are (on the secretary's workstation) or move them to the DC or one of the
member servers.

I have the MCP's for Pro and Server, and have gone through the regular
discussions about setting up print servers for normal load offices, but this
isn't quite a typical situation. I have some discretion for building the
hardware, so I'd like some recommendations. Also, software config advice
would be appreciated (delay printing until all pages are in the spool, print
when page 1 is in the spool, print directly to printer, etc)

TIA.,..
-----------------------

I am sure that you've heard this before, but the server that you build for
printing depends entirely on your particular environment.
From reading your posting, this is my initial thinking:
"All printers have maxed out on onboard memory,
the network itself is being upgraded and optimized, but I think spool times
are still going to be unacceptably long if I leave print services where they
are (on the secretary's workstation) or move them to the DC or one of the
member servers."
- If the print services are currently running on the secretary's
workstation and experiencing sub-par performance, then the best way to find
out what you need is to run a detailed Performance Monitor log that will
show you what kind of resources the Print Spooler is utilizing. Then, you
can build a system that will be able to handle this (with some room for
growth, of course).
- For a great document on print server considerations, check out this:
www.microsoft.com/windows2000/docs/PrintScalability.doc

A couple of print server tips:
- Maximize performance for file sharing option should be set on dedicated
print servers. This setting configures the server to dedicate as many
resources as possible to file and print server services.
- To maximize spooler performance, move the spooler to a separate physical
drive (or array of drives) if possible.
- The "Enable advanced printing features" option will allow the print
server to handle processing of the print job, clearing the checkbox will
offload this workload to the workstation.
- Of course, there are a ton of little tricks and explanations of settings,
I just named a couple for you : )

I hope that I've been helpful...

--
~~ JASON HALL ~~
~ Performance Support Specialist,
~ Microsoft Enterprise Platforms Support
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originated.

 

[Gerry Voras]

Thanks for the info. I'll announce what I decide on shortly.