Deploying a Printer using Windows Server 2008 R2 Print Management on Windows Server 2003 Active Directory

When deploying a printer using the Windows Server 2008 R2 “Print Management” application on a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory, you may encounter an error that can be resolved by updating the schema on the Active Directory. In this blog post, we will explore the steps to update the schema and successfully deploy a printer using Group Policy.

Background

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The Print Management feature in Windows Server 2008 R2 allows administrators to centrally manage print servers, printers, and print jobs across an organization. This feature is particularly useful for large organizations with multiple printers and print servers, as it enables administrators to deploy and manage printers more efficiently.

However, when trying to deploy a printer using the Print Management application on a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory, you may encounter the following error message:

“The specified domain either does not exist or does not have the correct DNS domain name for this forest.”

This error occurs because the Active Directory schema of Windows Server 2003 is not compatible with the Print Management feature of Windows Server 2008 R2. To resolve this issue, you need to update the schema on the Active Directory.

Updating the Schema

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To update the schema on the Active Directory, follow these steps:

1. Log into the Active Directory GC server using an account with appropriate permissions.

2. Insert the Windows Server 2008 R2 disk into the drive.

3. Open a command prompt and type the following command to start the schema update process:

“`

dcdiag /update /target: forest /force

“`

This command will start the schema update process, which may take some time to complete. Once the process is finished, you can verify that the schema has been updated by checking the domain controller’s event logs for any errors or warnings related to the schema update.

After updating the schema, try the “Deploy with Group Policy” window again and it should work successfully.

Conclusion

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In conclusion, deploying a printer using the Windows Server 2008 R2 Print Management application on a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory can be challenging due to compatibility issues between the two operating systems. However, by updating the schema on the Active Directory, you can resolve these issues and successfully deploy a printer using Group Policy.

We hope this blog post has provided you with the information you need to deploy a printer using Windows Server 2008 R2 Print Management on a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory. Remember that updating the schema is a crucial step in resolving the compatibility issues between the two operating systems.