2003 migration - How to migrate print server from 2003 server to 2008/2008 R2/2012

During these days a lot of company are working hard to migrate 2003 server due to end of Microsoft support.

 Here is relative procedure to be done on new server to migrate and import print server queue.
1. Install the Print Management Role on 2008 or 2012 server
2. Execute mmc --> Print server snapin then add your 2003 Print server.
3. Right Click on the old server and Select Export Printers to a file...
4. Click on Next and enter a file name.
5. Click on next and allow the export to finish.
6. Right Click on the new 2008 server and select Import printers from file...
7. Browse to the required file and select it.
8. Click on next and allow the import to happen.

 2

  Prereqs
- Install x64 drivers for each printer on the 2003 server. Windows Server 2008 R2 requires a native 64 bit driver. If the 64 bit driver is missing the Printer Migration Wizard will fail (For that printer).

 From Microsoft article:

 https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc722360.aspx#BKMK_winui

To migrate print servers by using Print Management

  1. Open Print Management.
  2. In left pane, click Print Servers, right-click the print server that contains the printer queues that you want to export, and then click Export printers to a file. This starts the Printer Migration Wizard.
  3. On the Select the file location page, specify the location to save the printer settings, and then click Next to save the printers.
  4. Right-click the destination computer on which you want to import the printers, and then click Import printers from a file. This launches the Printer Migration Wizard.
  5. On the Select the file location page, specify the location of the printer settings file, and then click Next.
  6. On the Select import options page, specify the following import options:
    • Import mode. Specifies what to do if a specific print queue already exists on the destination computer.
    • List in the directory. Specifies whether to publish the imported print queues in the Active Directory Domain Services.
    • Convert LPR Ports to Standard Port Monitors. Specifies whether to convert Line Printer Remote (LPR) printer ports in the printer settings file to the faster Standard Port Monitor when importing printers.
  7. Click Next to import the printers.

To migrate print servers by using a command prompt

  1. To open a Command Prompt window, click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.
  2. Type:
    CD %WINDIR%\System32\Spool\Tools Printbrm -s \\ -b -f .printerExport
  3. Type:
    Printbrm -s \\ -r -f .printerExport

Additional considerations

  • The Printer Migration Wizard and Printbrm.exe can import custom forms and color profiles to the local computer only, and they do not support printer settings that are exported using the Print Migrator tool.
  • You can use the Task Scheduler feature of Windows to schedule the Printbrm.exe tool to regularly export or import printers. You can use this feature to supplement system backups.

Microsoft Print Migrator 3.1

[Update 2015-10]

 interesting article more detailed:

 http://sourcedaddy.com/windows-7/migrate-print-servers-using-print-management.html
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