How are print servers setup and configured?

Question

My questions: (a) How are print objects/devices ("printer") added to a print server? (b) How are drivers for each printer stored on the print server, AND associated with one or more printers (when a driver will work for different models)? (c) What changes are needed when a printer has been upgraded to a newer model but retains the same Host Name? (4) What is the impact, if any, when a printer is replaced with a newer model and is assigned the same host name and the same reserved IP?

Background: I'm new to an MSP that provides printers (MFP's) and their lifecycle support and maintenance to a large enterprise. I want to better understand the process so I can prevent problems when a printer is replaced (we're doing a number of them in the coming weeks and I suspect that those previous to me were just renaming the printers and reassigning IP's on-the-fly). I don't know (yet) how the printers are deployed, but I suspect that SID's come into play for new printers replacing old, and that reserved IP's must have their reservation updated for the MAC address of the new printer. Lastly, the newer models will need new print drivers uploaded to the print server. I also think they need to be associated somehow with the new or updated printer.

Much of this will be handled by other teams in the Enterprise IT structure but I need to know what's going on so I can submit the properly worded requests, and I want to learn, to understand the process.

Answer 1

Hello,

Thank you for posting in the Microsoft community forum.

Regarding your questions about the agreed server, the following answers are for your reference:

General steps to add a print device to a print server:

1. Search for and open the Print Management console.
2. Right-click Print Server and choose Add/Remove Server from the shortcut menu. Add a server that you want to manage.
3. Navigate to the server list on the left of the Print Management console and expand the server to which you want to add a printer.
4. Right-click Printers and choose Add Printer from the shortcut menu.
5. Follow the wizard instructions to select a network printer or a locally connected printer, and install the appropriate driver.
6. Enter the printer name and description, and complete the wizard steps to add the printer to the server.

When you store printer drivers on a print server and associate them with multiple printers, you can click "Print Server" and select "Drivers" in the Print Management console. Right-click and select Add Driver. After driver installation is complete, these drivers will be stored on the server. When you add or update a printer, you can select an installed driver, and associate it with multiple applicable printer models.

When a printer upgrades to a new model but retains the same host name, focus on keeping the network address consistent (same host name and IP address) and updating drivers and other printer Settings as needed.

When a printer is replaced with a new model and assigned the same host name and retains the same IP address, retaining the same host name and IP address will reduce the impact on network configuration and client Settings because devices connected to that printer will still be able to find it through the same address. Take care to check and update the printer driver. Ensure that the new printer configuration is consistent with that of the old device. For client computers, you may need to reconnect or refresh printer properties to ensure that new drivers and configurations are used.

I hope this helps.

Best regards

Jacen