1 Introduction

Microsoft Print Server enables you to share printers throughout your organization from a single location.

The Kemp LoadMaster is used to load balance the Microsoft Print Server workload. The LoadMaster offers advanced Layer 4 and Layer 7 server load balancing, SSL Acceleration and a multitude of other advanced Application Delivery Controller (ADC) features. The LoadMaster intelligently and efficiently distributes user traffic among the application servers so that users get the best experience possible. 

1.1 Document Purpose

This document provides the recommended LoadMaster settings used when load balancing the Microsoft Print Server workload. The Kemp Support Team is available to provide solutions for scenarios not explicitly defined. The Kemp support site can be found at: https://support.kemptechnologies.com

1.2 Intended Audience

This document is intended to be read by anyone who is interested in configuring the LoadMaster to optimize Microsoft Print Server.

2 Architecture

3 Configure the LoadMaster

The deployed Microsoft Print Server environment determines which of the following setups is used.

3.1 Transparency Overview

This service runs at Layer 4. All Layer 4 services are transparent. For transparency to work, the following rules/conditions must be met:

• The Real Server must have the LoadMaster as the default gateway
• The clients cannot be on the same subnet as the Real Server

For further details, refer to the Transparency Requirements section of the Transparency Feature Description on the Kemp Documentation Page.

3.2 Enable Check Persist Globally

It is recommended that you change the Always Check Persist option to Yes - Accept Changes. Use the following steps:

1. Go to System Configuration > Miscellaneous Options > L7 Configuration.

2. Click the Always Check Persist dropdown arrow and select Yes - Accept Changes.

4 Create a Microsoft Print Server Virtual Service

The following are the steps involved and the recommended settings to configure the Microsoft Print Server Virtual Service:

1. In the main menu of the LoadMaster WUI, go to Virtual Services > Add New.

2. Type a valid Virtual Address.

3. Type * as the Port.

4. Type a recognizable Service Name, such as Microsoft Print Server.

5. Click Add this Virtual Service.

6. Configure the settings as recommended in the following table:

Section	Option	Value
Basic Properties	Service Type	Generic
Standard Options	Force L4	Enabled
	Persistence Options	Source IP Address
	Timeout	1 Hour
	Scheduling Method	least connection
Real Servers	Real Server Check Method	TCP Connection Only
	Checked Port	135

7. Add the Real Servers:

a) Expand the Real Servers section.

b) Click Add New.

c) Enter the address of the relevant Real Server.

d) Complete the other fields as required.

e) Click Add this Real Server then click OK to the pop-up message.

f) Repeat the steps above to add more Real Servers as needed, based on your environment.

Last Updated Date

This document was last updated on 11 March 2022.