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Windows Print Server Aliases – what is that and why would you even need to think about it?

For File-Servers, you can set up DFS structures and have a single point of entry as from the perspective of the client. It’s a simple named path and works rather flawless if set up right and monitored e.g. with PRTG. But what about your print server? Is it a defined hostname and the printers sit on this host? What happens when you want to upgrade the host to a new windows version or theoretically even do some special DNS routing (that’s very advanced and has hurdles, I will not address this in this posting).

Well – you can sure set up an ALIAS name in your DNS, but soon you will discover you can’t connect to the printers on this server. This is because you are missing some registry tweaks. At this point I also want to make you aware, I saw Windows updates removing those keys, so keep this article handy to reconstruct the registry in case of any issues.

You will need a total of three registry keys added, as follows:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\DnsOnWire=dword:00000001

1	HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\DnsOnWire=dword:00000001

This first key will enable DNSOnWire for the Print-Server itself. This is needed to make the print-server aware that you might use DNS ALIAS / CNAME entries to access him. More can be found e.g. here: Windows couldn’t connect to the printer – Windows Server | Microsoft Docs

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters\DisableStrictNameChecking=dword:00000001

1	HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters\DisableStrictNameChecking=dword:00000001

This key, DisableStrictNameChecking, we need to configure the SMB server / LANManServer – he needs to be aware as well that we will use CNAMES to access the shares on the server. You can find some more information at the following link: Can’t access SMB file server – Windows Server | Microsoft Docs

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters\OptionalNames=reg_sz:YourCNAMEEntry

1	HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters\OptionalNames=reg_sz:YourCNAMEEntry

And last but not least, the OptionalNames – this is the one key that’s most hidden but still so important. You can also make it REG_MULTI_SZ key. But it works with a simple REG_SZ key and the short CNAME alias that you have specified, you don’t even need use the FQDN.

There are many ways on how to accomplish this one last key, it changed throughout the Windows versions, it was possibly even renamed. Worst I saw on a Windows 2016 server was it vanished after a update session and reboot. So be prepared for that. A simple recreation and reboot fixed the issues.

Also, make sure you reboot after those changes, otherwise it won’t work.

Print servers need to backed up. This is because of two main reasons. One is that users heavily depend on printers and a not properly working print server will cause imediate helpdesk tickets and unhappy users. The other one is that installing a new driver, might it be a new version, a new model or even an additional manufacturer, can cause other print drivers to act up or even stop working – many administrators know and fear that.

Windows server actually allows you to backup the current print drivers, installed printers and their configuration. You can use this to migrate your printers or to back them up. Of course, you can simply depend on e.g. VMware snapshots, storage level snapshots or other backups of your server. But you also could just export the whole print server configuration while using the scripts below. Those will actually call the Windows API to back up the printers and store it all in a file that you can keep centrally. You don’t just rely on snapshots or a full server backup for e.g. your SQL databases as well, do you?

The script uses a .CMD file that will execute the actual backup and send a email report, while using the SMTPSEND program from Michael Kocum (https://www.dataenter.com/download.asp) for this since I already ad it flying around – you could replace the mail send option with another prepared SMTPSEND client, a VBS script or just remove it completely. Additionally there is a .VBS script that will do a clean up of the target backup files depending on the age of the files in the specified directory.

All the parameters are explained and set in the top part of the .CMD file – I therefor will not explain them here again – you should not need to modify the scripts by default – but feel free to do so. Of course, you should create a scheduled task and execute the .CMD periodically. This can save you time and headache in case you have a malfunctioning print server system. The restore can be easily done through the Print Management MMC that Windows provides you, cause the actual backup files are createed using the same Windows APIs. Your end users will be happy that their printers got back to work in no time, hopefully.

@ECHO OFF
SETLOCAL
REM Printer Backup Script
REM This script creates a Printer Backup on a Windows 2008 or newer Server System
REM (might work as well on Windows Vista or newer)
REM The Script uses Standard Windows Procedures to create a Standard Windows Printer Backup File
REM The Backup will include Printer Settings and Drivers
REM Use "Print Management" to restore the backup 
REM 
REM WARNING
REM -------
REM The Script will automatically search and delete all Files older than intAge in the destination Folder!
REM Always set a destination Folder just for the System you are going to Backup.
REM SubFolders will be ignored.
REM 
REM CONFIG Values
REM -------------
REM strPrintServer = string value / PrintServer to backup - localhost or hostname
REM intAge = integer value / max Age in Days for the Backup Files, the script will automatically delete older Backup Files
REM strPath = string value / SMB or UNC Path to the Backup-Folder, the executing User needs Read/Write access to this path
REM strMailServer = string value / SMTP Server
REM intMailServerPort = integer value / SMTP Server Port
REM strMailFrom = string value / from address, must be able to send Mail over the SMTP
REM strMailTo = string value / mail recipient
REM strMailSuject = string value / mail subject line


REM CONFIG Values
REM =============================================================================================
SET strPrintServer=server.domain.local
SET intAge=3
SET strPath=\\server.domain.local\backup$\Printer\SERVER
SET strMailServer=smtp.picoholdings.com
SET intMailServerPort=25
SET strMailFrom=admin@admin.local
SET strMailTo=admin@admin.local
SET strMailSubject=Printer Backup - SERVERNAME
REM =============================================================================================
REM End CONFIG Values

REM Script-System-Variables, do not change from here on!
SET ScriptLog=%~dp0\Printer_Backup_Log.txt

DEL %ScriptLog% 
ECHO Script-Log Start Date/Time: %Date% / Time: %Time% >> %ScriptLog%
ECHO Script-Parameter: >> %ScriptLog%
ECHO =========================================================================== >> %ScriptLog%
ECHO strPrintServer: %strPrintServer% >> %ScriptLog%
ECHO intAge: %intAge% >> %ScriptLog%
ECHO strPath: %strPath% >> %ScriptLog%
ECHO strMailServer: %strMailServer% >> %ScriptLog%
ECHO intMailServerPort: %intMailServerPort% >> %ScriptLog%
ECHO strMailFrom: %strMailFrom% >> %ScriptLog%
ECHO strMailTo: %strMailTo% >> %ScriptLog%
ECHO strMailSubject: %strMailSubject% >> %ScriptLog%
ECHO =========================================================================== >> %ScriptLog%

ECHO Get date in format YYYY-MM-DD (assumes the locale is the United States) >> %ScriptLog%
FOR /F "tokens=1,2,3,4 delims=/ " %%A IN ('Date /T') DO SET NowDate=%%D%%C%%B>> %ScriptLog%
FOR /F "tokens=1,2 delims=: " %%A IN ('Time /T') DO SET NowDate=%NowDate%_%%A%%B>> %ScriptLog%
ECHO =========================================================================== >> %ScriptLog%

ECHO Starting Printer Backup: >> %ScriptLog% 
%windir%\System32\Spool\Tools\PrintBRM.EXE -B -S %strPrintServer% -F %strPath%\%NowDate%_%strPrintServer%.bak >>"%ScriptLog%"
ECHO =========================================================================== >> %ScriptLog%

ECHO Backup CleanUp >> %ScriptLog%
CSCRIPT %~dp0\Printer_Backup_CleanUp.vbs %intAge% "%strPath%" >> %ScriptLog%
ECHO Backup CleanUp finished >>%ScriptLog%
ECHO =========================================================================== >> %ScriptLog%
ECHO Current Files in Backup Path: >>%ScriptLog%
DIR %strPath% >>%ScriptLog%
ECHO =========================================================================== >> %ScriptLog%

ECHO Script-Log End Date/Time: %Date% / Time: %Time% >> %ScriptLog%
ECHO Sending Info Mail >> %ScriptLog%
%~dp0\SMTPSEND.EXE -f%strMailFrom% -t%strMailTo% -h%strMailServer% -p%intMailServerPort% -s%strMailSubject% -i%ScriptLog% >> %ScriptLog%
ECHO =========================================================================== >> %ScriptLog%

ENDLOCAL

@ECHO OFF

SETLOCAL

REM Printer Backup Script

REM This script creates a Printer Backup on a Windows 2008 or newer Server System

REM (might work as well on Windows Vista or newer)

REM The Script uses Standard Windows Procedures to create a Standard Windows Printer Backup File

REM The Backup will include Printer Settings and Drivers

REM Use "Print Management" to restore the backup

REM

REM WARNING

REM -------

REM The Script will automatically search and delete all Files older than intAge in the destination Folder!

REM Always set a destination Folder just for the System you are going to Backup.

REM SubFolders will be ignored.

REM

REM CONFIG Values

REM -------------

REM strPrintServer = string value / PrintServer to backup - localhost or hostname

REM intAge = integer value / max Age in Days for the Backup Files, the script will automatically delete older Backup Files

REM strPath = string value / SMB or UNC Path to the Backup-Folder, the executing User needs Read/Write access to this path

REM strMailServer = string value / SMTP Server

REM intMailServerPort = integer value / SMTP Server Port

REM strMailFrom = string value / from address, must be able to send Mail over the SMTP

REM strMailTo = string value / mail recipient

REM strMailSuject = string value / mail subject line

REM CONFIG Values

REM =============================================================================================

SET strPrintServer=server.domain.local

SET intAge=3

SET strPath=\\server.domain.local\backup$\Printer\SERVER

SET strMailServer=smtp.picoholdings.com

SET intMailServerPort=25

SET strMailFrom=admin@admin.local

SET strMailTo=admin@admin.local

SET strMailSubject=Printer Backup - SERVERNAME

REM =============================================================================================

REM End CONFIG Values

REM Script-System-Variables, do not change from here on!

SET ScriptLog=%~dp0\Printer_Backup_Log.txt

DEL %ScriptLog%

ECHO Script-Log Start Date/Time: %Date% / Time: %Time% >> %ScriptLog%

ECHO Script-Parameter: >> %ScriptLog%

ECHO =========================================================================== >> %ScriptLog%

ECHO strPrintServer: %strPrintServer% >> %ScriptLog%

ECHO intAge: %intAge% >> %ScriptLog%

ECHO strPath: %strPath% >> %ScriptLog%

ECHO strMailServer: %strMailServer% >> %ScriptLog%

ECHO intMailServerPort: %intMailServerPort% >> %ScriptLog%

ECHO strMailFrom: %strMailFrom% >> %ScriptLog%

ECHO strMailTo: %strMailTo% >> %ScriptLog%

ECHO strMailSubject: %strMailSubject% >> %ScriptLog%

ECHO =========================================================================== >> %ScriptLog%

ECHO Get date in format YYYY-MM-DD (assumes the locale is the United States) >> %ScriptLog%

FOR /F "tokens=1,2,3,4 delims=/ " %%A IN ('Date /T') DO SET NowDate=%%D%%C%%B>> %ScriptLog%

FOR /F "tokens=1,2 delims=: " %%A IN ('Time /T') DO SET NowDate=%NowDate%_%%A%%B>> %ScriptLog%

ECHO =========================================================================== >> %ScriptLog%

ECHO Starting Printer Backup: >> %ScriptLog%

%windir%\System32\Spool\Tools\PrintBRM.EXE -B -S %strPrintServer% -F %strPath%\%NowDate%_%strPrintServer%.bak >>"%ScriptLog%"

ECHO =========================================================================== >> %ScriptLog%

ECHO Backup CleanUp >> %ScriptLog%

CSCRIPT %~dp0\Printer_Backup_CleanUp.vbs %intAge% "%strPath%" >> %ScriptLog%

ECHO Backup CleanUp finished >>%ScriptLog%

ECHO =========================================================================== >> %ScriptLog%

ECHO Current Files in Backup Path: >>%ScriptLog%

DIR %strPath% >>%ScriptLog%

ECHO =========================================================================== >> %ScriptLog%

ECHO Script-Log End Date/Time: %Date% / Time: %Time% >> %ScriptLog%

ECHO Sending Info Mail >> %ScriptLog%

%~dp0\SMTPSEND.EXE -f%strMailFrom% -t%strMailTo% -h%strMailServer% -p%intMailServerPort% -s%strMailSubject% -i%ScriptLog% >> %ScriptLog%

ECHO =========================================================================== >> %ScriptLog%

ENDLOCAL

Set objArgs = WScript.Arguments

If objArgs.Count > 0 Then

Dim strPath
Dim intAge

intAge = objArgs(0)
strPath = objArgs(1)

Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set objFolder = objFSO.GetFolder(strPath)

For Each objFile in objFolder.Files
If DateDiff("d", objFile.DateLastModified, Now()) > Cint(intAge) Then
On Error Resume Next
objFile.Delete
On Error Goto 0
End If
Next

End If

Set objArgs = WScript.Arguments

If objArgs.Count > 0 Then

Dim strPath

Dim intAge

intAge = objArgs(0)

strPath = objArgs(1)

Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

Set objFolder = objFSO.GetFolder(strPath)

For Each objFile in objFolder.Files

If DateDiff("d", objFile.DateLastModified, Now()) > Cint(intAge) Then

On Error Resume Next

objFile.Delete

On Error Goto 0

End If

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