Do MS print servers use DNS?

[Cooky]

We need to shut one of our Windows 2003 domain controllers down for software upgrade. Our first issue is that the server is our print server.

My plan was to change the DNS record so that all the print, RADIUS, and other requests will point to our secondary DC.

Is this gonna work?? Or is the server name embedded in a way that DNS has no effect??

 

[RebateMonger]

The following is an (educated) opinion only. I haven't done what you are trying to do.

A lot of the services you mention are embedded in Active Directory. That means that there are entries (on all of your Domain Controllers) that point to specific resources, with specific GUIDs. I suspect that simply repointing the DNS records to a new PC NIC (which is what happens when you change a DNS record) is NOT going to work for all the services you mention.

Also, there will be long-term consequences if the removed server holds additional Active Directory FSMO roles and you don't transfer them to another server. If you are only doing a short-term shutdown, it's probably not a big deal.

 

[EatSpam]

This might work, although many workstations will have the old IP address cached somehow.

Why not schedule the upgrades for evening and have some scheduled downtime?

 

[RebateMonger]

I guess you can change the DNS record, yank the network cable on your server for a few minutes, and see what happens. Please let us know what you find out. Thanks.

 

[Rilex]

You need to add a static WINS entry and then use the OptionalNames registry key (do a Google search, you'll find the instructions) for additional NetBIOS names. After that, restart the Server service and you should be set (oh, along with change your DNS records, of course).

Without using OptionalNames your (new) print server will refuse to respond to requests from the old server name.

Search for Print Migrator from Microsoft, handy tool to migrate printers from one server to another, or for quick restores of the entire spooler.

 

[Cooky]

Thanks for the input guys.

I already used the Print Migrator to duplicate all the printers on our DC's just in case one day the main one goes down.
That OptionalNames and WINS stuff sounds too much a hassle...all we want is to shut down the DC for maybe 30 minutes.

We'll probably do it on a weekend or evening; it's the holidays season so nobody wants to stay late or work overtime.