Print Server Sizing/Best Practice

[Guest myoman]

Hello,

 

We are moving from Novell (NDPS) print servers and LPR printers to Windows

print servers. Since I haven't configured such an environment before, I have

begun researching my options and thought I would post here as well. I'm

familiar with how to configure a print server I but I want to make sure it's

appropriate for our larger environment.

 

AD running on Win2k but will soon be 2003 R2 or 2008.

1,300 users

1,100 xp machines

20 or so HP LaserJets on the network

Roughly 65 Xerox network multi-function printers that are managed by Xerox

Managed Services.

 

I just want to make sure that performance does not suffer and that

reliability and redundancy can be achieved. We probably don't need instant

fail-over but I would say it's acceptable if the users can't print for an

hour or two (mgmt. is getting this together soon.) Deployment is up to the

Workstation team/Xerox but I'll be working closely with them and would really

like to automate it as much as possible. GPO, Con2Prnt, rundll32, etc.....

 

I was thinking of using VM's on our SAN so we could utilize VMotion and HA.

Maybe even use some VM's and a physical box as well. I was hoping there was a

way to print to a group of servers or something like a cluster. I don't think

we will be able to create a true cluster as I've never done this before and

we would have to purchase additional hardware but it's not out of the

question.

 

I'll be researching this but I would appreciate any advice!

 

Thanks,

[Guest Phillip Windell]

Re: Print Server Sizing/Best Practice

 

Performance would not be my concern.

My concern would be putting all eggs in one basket.

You use a single server,..server goes down,..or you simply have to reboot it

due to Windows Updates or something,...and you just knocked out 85 printers

across the whole facility until the thing is back up.

 

 

--

Phillip Windell

http://www.wandtv.com

 

The views expressed, are my own and not those of my employer, or Microsoft,

or anyone else associated with me, including my cats.

-----------------------------------------------------

 

"myoman" <myoman@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:FD04975C-FE4D-4BFF-B7AF-9DE25B3A1D5B@microsoft.com...

> Hello,

>

> We are moving from Novell (NDPS) print servers and LPR printers to Windows

> print servers. Since I haven't configured such an environment before, I

> have

> begun researching my options and thought I would post here as well. I'm

> familiar with how to configure a print server I but I want to make sure

> it's

> appropriate for our larger environment.

>

> AD running on Win2k but will soon be 2003 R2 or 2008.

> 1,300 users

> 1,100 xp machines

> 20 or so HP LaserJets on the network

> Roughly 65 Xerox network multi-function printers that are managed by Xerox

> Managed Services.

>

> I just want to make sure that performance does not suffer and that

> reliability and redundancy can be achieved. We probably don't need instant

> fail-over but I would say it's acceptable if the users can't print for an

> hour or two (mgmt. is getting this together soon.) Deployment is up to the

> Workstation team/Xerox but I'll be working closely with them and would

> really

> like to automate it as much as possible. GPO, Con2Prnt, rundll32, etc.....

>

> I was thinking of using VM's on our SAN so we could utilize VMotion and

> HA.

> Maybe even use some VM's and a physical box as well. I was hoping there

> was a

> way to print to a group of servers or something like a cluster. I don't

> think

> we will be able to create a true cluster as I've never done this before

> and

> we would have to purchase additional hardware but it's not out of the

> question.

>

> I'll be researching this but I would appreciate any advice!

>

> Thanks,

>