Load balancing IPP print queues

To load balance IPP print queues, do the following:

  1. Open the Print Management console and create identical Follow-You queues on every DRE print server. The Follow-You queues on all DREs must have the same name (including share name), driver (name and version), permissions and configuration.
  2. Install the Internet Printing role on every DRE and verify that the print queues are visible via a web browser using the standard IPP URL – http://printservername/printers (e.g. http://win2012/printers).
  3. Create a simple batch file with a command to stop the EQ DRE service, and save the batch file to a local directory on each DRE.
  4. Go to Administrative Tools > Services and open the Print Spooler service and configure the Recovery options for the Print Spooler service to run the batch file upon failure.
  5. Open Task Manager and end the Print Spooler process (spoolsv.exe), and confirm that once the Print Spooler service has stopped, the EQ DRE service has also stopped. Repeat this process on each EQ DRE.
  6. On the NLB appliance, do the following: (consult your NLB appliance vendor for support):
    • Configure the Virtual Service IP Address (VIP) in the same subnet as the DRE server.
    • Set the Ports to 80. A listener port for 443 TCP must also be created if using IPP over SSL
    • Set the Protocol to TCP.
    • Set the Load balancing Forwarding Method to Direct Routing (i.e. layer 4/direct routing/direct server return/N-Path).
    • Ensure the Persistent checkbox is selected. Affinity/Persistence/Stickiness must be enabled.
    • Set the Check Port for server/service online to 2938.
  7. On the DNS server, create a hostname and corresponding “Host (A)” record to match the previously created VIP. This is the hostname/URL that end users connect to from their workstations to map to the Follow-You Queue (e.g. http://PrintIPP/printers/EQFY/.printer).
  8. On a client workstation, enable the Internet Printing Client.
  9. On the same client workstation, open a web browser and navigate to http://VIPName/printers where VIPName is the previously created hostname (e.g. http://printipp/printers). Verify that the print queues are visible.
  10. Click on the print queue link and select Connect, and then Yes when prompted to add the printer connection.
  11. Print a job to the newly added IPP print queue and verify that it processed successfully. The job is listed in the Equitrac Print Queue Viewer on the first DRE.
  12. On the DRE that was just printed through, stop the print spooler service, and verify that the EQDRE service also stops.
  13. On the client workstation, verify that the load balanced print queue is still online.
  14. Submit another print job and verify that it processed successfully. The job is listed in the Equitrac Print Queue Viewer on the second DRE.
    In order to verify which DRE the job is sent to, you may need to access the NLB appliance’s traffic logs.
  15. Start the print spooler service on the first DRE, and verify that the EQDRE service restarts.
  16. Log into a release device and verify both jobs are listed for release.