How to answer the bound to Print Manager question in the iPrint Duplication script

  • Document ID:7008242
  • Creation Date:30-Mar-2011
  • Modified Date:26-Apr-2012
    • Micro Focus Products:
      iPrint

Environment

Novell iPrint for Linux

Situation

The final question presented in the iPrint Duplication script is either:

Please enter the DNS or IP for the new host address.
This will be the address which is bound to the new Print Manager. See KB 7008242 for an explanation of how to answer this question and understand the implications of the answer.
Example: iPrint.myCompany.com:
or
The source address bound to the Print Manager on <serverDNS>is <transferrableDNS>
This address appears to be a transferable DNS name.
Would you like to keep the same host address for the new Print Manager?
See KB 7008242 for an explanation of how to answer this question and understand the implications of the answer.

This TID explains how to answer the question posed by the script, explains the implications of the answer, and explains how to proceed after the script has completed its operations.

Resolution

What is meant by 'address bound to the Print Manager'?
 
TID 7008502 lists links to YouTube videos which demonstrate address binding to the Print Manager, among other concepts pertaining to the iPrint Duplication Script.   The following information is also pertinent.
 
The last line of the /etc/opt/novell/iprint/conf/ipsmd.conf is the PSMHostAddress line. The address which follows is the address to which the print manager will bind. This is also the address which the iPrint printers installed to workstations will be configured to communicate.
 
For example, when looking at the iPrint printer in the Microsoft Printers and Devices or Printers and Faxes Window, the name will look like this:
PrinterAgentName on ipp://someservername.company.com
or
PrinterAgentName on ipp://172.15.68.15

If the ShortInstallName feature is implemented from the /var/opt/novell/iprint/htdocs/iprint.ini, the name will look like this:
PrinterAgentName on <administrator defined name>
To determine which address that ShortInstallName represents, look at the PSMHostAddress value in the ipsmd.conf .
How to answer the address bound to Print Manager question:
The answer to this question depends on the current configuration of the source server and how you want to configure the iPrint printers installed to workstations to point to the new server. Below lists some common scenarios to choose. Find the scenario most appropriate to your situation and follow the suggested steps.
 
Scenario 1a: Migrate/Move iPrint, no user disruption, transferable address:
 
View the PSMHostAddress value on the source server (/etc/opt/novell/iprint/conf/ipsmd.conf ). Is that value (address) transferable? Meaning, is that address a name which is not tied to the source server and can be applied to the target server?

Ideally, the source server's Print Manager was bound to a CNAME record. This means the PSMHostAddress name resolves to the address of the source server, but the name is not the server's DNS name. Instead, it is a name created specifically for that print manager.

If this transferable name binding configuration exists, the answer to the "Please enter the DNS or IP for the new host address " question will be the transferable DNS name. After iPrint Duplication script is complete, follow these steps:
  1. Test the results of the duplication script (see the Additional Information section of this TID)
  2. If the tests pass, modify DNS so the transferable name resolves to the new server's IP address.

End users will print to the new server without any changes to the iPrint printers installed to workstations.

Scenario 1b: Migrate/Move iPrint, auto-reinstall iPrint printers to workstations using DNS configuration

This scenario exists because the PSMHostAddress value on the source server is tied to the server (DNS name of the server, or IP address of the server). That name cannot be transferred to the new server. Because of this setup, iPrint printers must be re-installed to the workstation so the printers will be configured to communicate to a transferable address. In this scenario, you will change the Print Manager's DNS configuration to cause the iPrint printers to re-install on each workstation. Novell recommends this auto re-install of iPrint printers to workstations occur prior to running the iPrint Duplication script. The steps are:
  1. Stop the execution of the iPrint Duplication script by doing a ctrl + c
  2. Choose a DNS name to be tied to the source Print Manager. Use this name for the next step.
  3. Create an alias record (also known as a CNAME record) with that chosen name and configure it to resolve to the source server's IP address.
    • Ensure workstations can ping that new name. Ensure that address resolves to the source server's IP address.
  4. Update the source server's /etc/hosts file to reflect the new DNS entry.
  5. Optional step if you don't want users to be prompted to click OK when iPrint printers are re-installed.
    • Change the InformUserOfUpdate value from 1 to 0. (bottom option within /var/opt/novell/iprint/htdocs/iprint.ini )
      • Restart Apache (rcapache2 restart )
  6. Modify the address following the PSMHostAddress to show the new DNS name.
    • /etc/opt/novell/iprint/conf/ipsmd.conf
  7. Restart the Print Manager (rcnovell-ipsmd restart )
    • This step will cause all of the iPrint printers installed to workstations to be auto removed and auto re-installed.
  8. Go to iManager -> iPrint -> Manage Print Manager -> click the iPrint Certificate Manager link.
    • Check the box for "Allow the hostname <chosenTransferrableName.company.com> to be used with this certificate." and click OK
Wait days or weeks to ensure each workstation has had a chance to detect the configuration change. The change is detected by workstations when the Windows Print Spooler attempts to get the status of an install iPrint printer or when a print job is submitted. As the change is detected, the iPrint printers will be auto removed from the workstation and auto re-installed with the new configuration.
 
After the above steps are completed, read and follow what is listed for Scenario 1a.
 
Scenario 2: Migrate/Move iPrint, Printer Agent Redirection, non-transferable address
Like Scenario 1b, this scenario exists because the PSMHostAddress value on the source server is tied to the server (DNS name of the server, or IP address of the server). That name cannot be transferred to the new server. Because of this setup, iPrint printers must be re-installed to the workstation to be configured to communicate to a different address. However, in this scenario, you will use iPrint's Printer Agent Redirection feature to automate the uninstall and re-install of iPrint printers installed to workstations.
 
If you choose this scenario, the answer to the "Please enter the DNS or IP for the new host address " question will be whatever address you want the new print manager to be bound. Novell recommends you use an alias DNS name (also known as a CNAME record) because it allows for greater flexibility if you ever choose to move the Print Manager again. However, it could also be the IP address or DNS name of the destination server. For steps to setup/configure a CNAME record for a Print Manager, see steps 2 through 8 of Scenario 1b.
 
After the iPrint Duplication script is complete, test the results. See the Additional Information section of this TID.
 
If the above tests pass, then configure Printer Agent Redirection.
  1. Optional step if you don't want users to be prompted to click OK to an iPrint printer re-install.
    • On the source iPrint server, change the InformUserOfUpdate value from 1 to 0. (bottom option within /var/opt/novell/iprint/htdocs/iprint.ini )
      • Restart Apache (rcapache2 restart )
  2. iPrint -> Manage Print Manager (choose the source Print Manager) -> Printer Agent Redirection
  3. For each printer agent, browse to the equivalent iPrint printer on the target server.
    • The "equivalent printer" will be in the new context chosen during the execution of the iPrint Duplication script.
    • Configure as many printers you want to redirect. You can configure all, or some.
  4. Wait.
    • As workstations attempt to print or when the Microsoft Print Spooler attempts to get status of the installed iPrint printer, the iPrint printers installed to the workstation will be auto removed and auto re-installed with the new address configuration.
Scenario 3: Backup iPrint server.
Some administrators want a backup server which holds all the same iPrint configuration in the event the source server goes down, or the source iPrint configuration hits a problem. This iPrintSyncSetup script automates the replication of the iPrint configuration from one server to another. This scenario requires that the source Print Manager be bound to a transferable name. View the PSMHostAddress value on the source server (/etc/opt/novell/iprint/conf/ipsmd.conf ). Is that value (address) transferable? Meaning, is that address a name which is not tied to the source server and can be applied to the target server? If yes, the answer to the "Please enter the DNS or IP for the new host address " question will be the transferrable DNS name. If no, follow steps 2 through 8 within Scenario 1b listed above.

Additional Information

After the script completes, test the results of the script by executing these steps:
  1. Are the printers listed on the /ipp page, and do they install to test workstations?
  2. Do the printers show a status of IDLE within the PsmStatus page?
    • https://<IPorDNSofTargetServer>/psmstatus
      • Note 1:  When prompted to login, enter an eDirectory admin name and enter only the CN.  For example, admin.  Not admin.company.
      • Note 2:  Some printers will show as Error Printing, but that may be normal (printer turned off, out of paper, toner, etc)
  3. Can the Linux iPrint objects be managed via iManager?