Multi-site Print Cluster

I was hoping someone could provide some guidance on a project. I have
been asked to setup a print server solution for multiple sites. Sites
have a fiber connection so bandwidth is not an issue. Each site has
an HP EVA 8000 series SAN so I was considering setting this up as a
traditional failover cluster with one node located at each site. Then
I started reading about the potential pitfalls of setting up
geographically dispersed clusters with Windows 2003. I have reviewed
the "Creating and Configuring a Highly Available Print Server under
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Using a Server Cluster" document but it
doesn't really discuss setting this up for multiple sites.

Now I see that Server 2008 apparantly overcomes the networking and
shared storage problems for multi-site clusters? But can't seem to
find any detailed information on how to set these up.

Has anyone set this up and can you recommend it over using Server
2003? Is a cluster the way to go? Here is a summary of what I'd like
to accomplish:

1) At least 1 server at each site that would share all printers at
that site
2) If either server goes down, all users at both sites can still print
to their printers with minimal reconfiguration
3) If the link between the sites goes down, there is no disruption in
each sites ability to print to printers at that site

Thanks for any advice you can offer,

Tim
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: [SLE] cups/ printing problem
    ... > I'm using suse 9.1 here on our production server with samba running. ... I guess that it is the CUPS filtering system which gets somehow ... JPEG) to the print server (to a print queue via LPD ... Regarding the plain data transfer from the Windows client systems ...
    (SuSE)
  • Re: PRINT QUEUES DISAPPEAR AFTER QUORUM FAILOVER
    ... You need to work with an Admin at your site. ... MVP - Windows Server - Clustering ... active and which node is running the print server. ... brings Cluster 1 online as the active quorum but keeps print services ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.clustering)
  • Re: Your thoughts on a print cluster.
    ... one of the most critical components of a successful MSCS cluster. ... don't skimp on the storage and connectivity to said storage. ... MVP - Windows Server - Clustering ... >>I like Print Server Clusters, and with Windows Server 2003 it works great. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.clustering)
  • Re: Multi-site Print Cluster
    ... "single subnet" issue which drove many away from multi-site clustering. ... been asked to setup a print server solution for multiple sites. ... Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Using a Server Cluster" document but it ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.clustering)
  • Re: Network printer
    ... The method Lanwench gave you. ... :> There is no reason, IMHO, to add performance hits to your server to ... separate print server should be used anyway. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.general)