Slow printing after upgrade from NT4 Server to 2003

[Anders Blomkvist]

We have a 100FD network with a server running 2003 server and clients running 2000 or XP Pro. After upgrading the server from NT 4.0 to 2003 the print performance has dropped rapidly. We have an HP LaserJet 4000TN connected using a 10HD JetDirect port to the network and all clients print to this device through the server which is set up as printserver using PCL6 drivers.
What we have done (unsuccessfully) to try to increase speed so we get the specified 16 pages/minute or close to is:
Connected the printer directly to the servers LTP port (ECP,EPP)
Printed directly to the printer using Ms TCP/IP printing in the clients thus bypassing the server
Tried PCL5, PCL6 and PS drivers both on clients and server
Upgraded JetDirect firmware on the printer

It's still very slow - 4-5 pages/minute. All clients, the server and the printer is connected to the same switch (new NetGear installed few month ago).

Does anyone know if there are any configurable settings that can be tuned in Windows to speed up the printing?

[Rune J. Winje]

A good starting point is to isolate the application and network printing times.

Do this by connecting the printer locally and printing to a file. This gives the application printing time (incl driver).

Connect the printer locally and copy the file to the printer (e.g. copy printjob.prn lpt1 /b )
This gives the time the printer uses to print the job.

Next try via the network. Haven't tried this util, but it looks straightforward:
http://www.mv.com/ipusers/standards/ThisAndThat/CopyFileToPrinter.html

The above should give you some idea about where the most delay lies.


Cheers,
Rune

[Anders Blomkvist]

Thanks for the tip but the printer is used be the entire company so I cannot unplug it from the network and put it locally on the client. I've done some measurements and the problem doesn't seem to be related to the server. From a Windows 2000 client on the same network the performance is twice the XP client - 16ppm versus 8ppm. The W2K client is also almost twice as fast from start to first page print - appr. 15s versus 24s.
Both clients use the same network printer (same driver) over the same LAN, through the same switch. There are no errors in the switch and the only thing that differs between these two client is the OS.

[Rune J. Winje]

Seems tehere may be at least one fix slated for WinXP SP2
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811896

You might want to test the preview of XP SP2 on a client:
http://www.microsoft.com/sp2preview


Cheers,
Rune

[Scott Clark_3]

I just had a similar situation to this. Migrated from an NT4 domain to Server 2003. After making the 2003 server manage the printers, my LJ4000TNs slowed to a crawl when printing.

I discovered that the default for graphic setting was 1200x1200dpi mode. I dropped it down to 600x600 dpi, and all printing immediately sped back up to it's original speeds prior to migration.

Hope this helps.