Network Administrators

Many of our clients have performed server upgrades to replace aging 32 bit hardware with 64 bit hardware.  Many have taken advantage of virtualization, allowing you to efficiently run multiple virtual servers on one piece of hardware.  One of the VMware virtualization benefits is the ability to run a 64 bit guest OS.  When it comes to a new 64 bit print server, you may need to support print sharing for a mix of 32 and 64 bit workstations in your environment.  To properly share a printer for both architectures, both 32 and 64 bit drivers must be installed on the server OS.  Windows Server 2008 R2 includes a large selection of printer drivers included with the OS, however, only 64 bit drivers are included.  When you try and add 32 bit (x86) driver, you will find no drivers are available on the system.  This means you have to find 32 bit drivers from the printer's installation CD, the vendor's website or a 3rd party.  The best advice is start at the vendor's website for most up to date drivers.

To add to the challenge, many older printers don't offer 64 bit drivers.  Microsoft has done a good job supporting older printers with it's own native 64 bit drivers with the OS itself and through Windows Update.  This is very helpful and can save you from having to purchase a new printer.  However, you also need to add a 32 bit version to support any 32 bit clients, and this is where the next challenge lies.  In order to share a printer with both 32 bit and 64 bit drivers, the driver names must match.  If they don't, Windows may reject the driver from being installed.

For example, you need 32 and 64 bit drivers for a HP Laserjet 4200, but HP only has 32 bit drivers available on their website.  Windows 2008 R2 has a native 64 bit driver for the printer and it installs as "HP Laserjet 4200 PCL6".  You download the 32 bit driver from HP's website, and the driver you download is called "HP Laserjet 4200 PCL 6" (added space between PCL and 6).  When you attempt to install it rejects the driver since the name does not match the 64 bit driver.  This is very common and SkyByte Consulting has seen this countless times.

In this situation you have some options.  You can try obtaining 32 bit native drivers off a Windows Server 2008 32 bit disk, or through Windows Update.  If neither help, what I have found to work the best is find a Windows Vista or Windows 7 32 bit machine joined to the same network with administrative rights.  Both OS's will come with their own 32 bit native drivers that should match the name as the 64 bit native drivers on the 2008 Server.  In order to add these drivers, you need administrative rights to connect to the print server.

1.  On a Windows Vista or 7 32 bit machine, open Print Management in the Administrative Tools.
2.  Right click on Print Servers and choose Add/Remove Print Servers...
3.  Add the host name of the 64 bit print server.  If successful it will appear below.
4.  Expand the hostname and click on drivers.  You will see all the 64 bit drivers installed to the system.
5.  Now add the 32 bit native drivers found on the native 32 bit OS.  They will automatically install to the 64 bit print server.

Verify the drivers installed onto the 2008 R2 server in the Print Management console.  You should now be able to share printers with both 32 and 64 bit drivers ready for your clients.