Windows 2003 Print Servers

[JohnNews]

Folks:


Just wondering in anyone has had the following experiences.


I want to replace my two windows 2000 print servers with two windows 2003
print servers.
I think that there are some additional features/benefits to be gained by
using the win 2003 print server rather than the current win 2000 print
server.

All the other elements (servers & workstations) of my network are either
windows NT or 2000.
Just wondering if anyone has had this type of experience and if they
experienced any (integration) problem that they would like to share.



Thanks,
John.

 

[Bruce Sanderson]

In general, Windows 2003 should be a good print server.

I would not be surprised if you had some difficulties with printer drivers
during such a transition. Many of the Windows 2000 drivers use the "Version
2" printer driver model and are the same for NT and 2000. Windows 2003
drivers are generally the "Version 3" driver model (and are compatible with
Windows XP), which won't work on Windows NT clients.

What this means is that you will need to install "compatible" Windows NT
printer drivers as "Additional Drivers" and may need to replace the printer
drivers on Windows 2000 clients.

HP have a good article about the issues with mixed OS environments - see
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericDocument?lc=en&cc=us&docname=bpl13043.

For information about cleaning up printer drivers see
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/CleanPrinterDrivers.htm.