We have had this problem for a few months... we had server 2003 standard and were running 4 physical servers 1 domain controller, 1 SQL server and 2 terminal services servers for 60 RDP users thru VPN at remote locations. After having no success solving the printer issues and under multiple recommendations we purchased a new monster server and run the 4 as virtual servers all running server 2012 r2 standard, the physical server being used only as hyper-v host (per MS licensing)
We still have the same printer issue since deployment. I understand that server 2012 r2 offers some added power where printing is concerned so my question is how we can best utilize the print server role of server 2012 r2.
1. Run another virtual server for just the print server role... we have 10 locations and 18 printers.
2. Currently we have the printers installed on the Remote desktop session servers but do not have the print server role installed on any of the servers.
3. would the print server role add too much overhead on the domain controller if deployed on it.
Additional info: we have 192GB ram and 2-8core xeon physical processors offering 32 virtual processors. We also use solid state drives in a raid 10 config. Our 10 locations are busy retail locations and often print reports at the same times in am (opening) and pm (closing) as well as receipts throughout the day.
Finally and least popular with the owner is the high availability printing option that would require another high end physical server and an upgrade to all the workstations for windows 8.1 functionality.
Any help and advise would be appreciated. Thanks. ~Doc
Doc