iPrint Migration TransferID Recommendation

  • 7004109
  • 05-Aug-2009
  • 11-Nov-2013

Environment

Novell iPrint for Linux
Novell iPrint for NetWare

Situation

There are two migration methods available in the OES 2 SP1 Migration Tool (miggui):  Transfer ID and Consolidate

The Transfer ID migration method is used when the source server's identity (IP Address, name, certificates, etc) will be transferred to the target server.  After the ID is transferred, the source server must be retired.  With iPrint migrations, the Transfer ID method is a high risk migration because there is one chance to have the migration succeed.  If transferring the source server's ID to the target server is desired, a more safe way to perform the migration is to first migrate the iPrint service using the Consolidate method, then follow that migration with the Transfer ID method.

Resolution

Steps to perform a low risk iPrint Consolidate migration followed by the Transfer ID migration of the server:
Prerequisite: The target server must have been installed using the YaST2 pre-migration pattern in preparation for the ID of the source server to be transferred to the destination server.
 
Premigration iPrint Configuration (Target Server)
  • Create Driver Store
    • After creating the Driver Store, go to the /etc/opt/novell/iprint/conf/idsd.conf and modify the DSServer1 value to a reliable replica holding server (not the migration server).  Change the IDSHostAddress value to the IP address (temporary IP Address) of the migration server.
    • Restart the Driver Store (rcnovell-idsd restart )
  • Create Print Manager
    • After creating the Print Manager, go to the /etc/opt/novell/iprint/conf/ipsmd.conf and modify the DSServer1 value to a reliable replica holding server (not the migration server).  Change the PSMHostAddress value to the IP address (temporary IP Address) of the migration server.
    • Restart the Print Manager (rcnovell-ipsmd restart )
  • iPrint Apache Configuration
    • Change the AuthLDAPDNURL in the /etc/opt/novell/iprint/httpd/conf/iprint_ssl.conf to a reliable LDAP server (not the migration server).  Restart Apache (rcapache2 restart )
  • Test iPrint prior to the migration
    • Using iManager, view the Print Manager and Driver Store.  Click on a few options to verify you don't encounter errors.
    • Test iprntman authentication
        • OES2 syntax
          • iprntman psm -l -u admin 
          • note: use the CN of the user (no context) to authenticate. 
        • OES11 syntax
          • iprntman psm -l -u cn=admin,o=novell
          • note: use the full context of the user (with commas) to authenticate.
 
Perform the iPrint Consolidate Migration
 
Test the results of the iPrint Consolidate Migration
  • Verify that the Linux Print Manager successfully received newly created Printer Agents.
      • install a few printers
    • https://[LinuxIP]/psmstatus
      • view the list of printers
    • Run reports to verify all the information migrated
      • Verify that all the printer agents have the expected values.
      • Stop the Print Manager before doing the Transfer ID
        #rcnovell-ipsmd stop
Perform the Transfer ID Migration
Do not include iPrint in this migration step.

Post Transfer ID Migration

  • After the Transfer ID migration, update the following files -
    • /etc/opt/novell/iprint/conf/ipsmd.conf
      • Change the PSMHostAddress value to the source server's IP or DNS (preferably a CNAME was used)
        • Be sure to use whatever address was used when you loaded with the /dnsname or /ipaddress switch
        • If you are unsure, view the name by which the iPrint printers are installed to the workstations.
      • Change the DSServer1 value to a reliable eDir server address
    • /etc/opt/novell/iprint/conf/idsd.conf
      • Change the IDSHostAddress value to the source server's IP or DNS (which is now the target server's IP or DNS).
      • Change the DSServer1 value to a reliable eDir server address
    • /etc/hosts
      • Ensure entries are correct for the new identity
    • /etc/opt/novell/iprint/httpd/conf/iprint_ssl.conf
      • Update the AuthLDAPDNURL "ldaps://[address..]".  Any reliable LDAP server is a valid choice. 
    • /etc/opt/novell/iprint/httpd/conf/iprint_g.conf
      • Update the address after the ServerName entry.  Be sure to choose the new identity IP address.
  • Restart services
    • rcapache2 restart
    • rcnovell-idsd restart
    • rcnovell-ipsmd restart
  • Test iPrint

Additional Information

The iPrint Migration does not migrate the NetWare printer objects to the Linux Print Manager, it makes duplicate copies of the objects to the Linux Print Manager.  Therefore, after a Consolidate migration of iPrint is complete, users continue to print to the source server regardless of the results of the migration.  However, if a Transfer ID migration is used in conjunction with the migration of the iPrint service, the NetWare server must be shut down after the migration is complete, regardless of the success or failure of the iPrint migration.  Therefore, "consolidating" the iPrint service prior to transferring the ID of the source to the target server is preferable.

If the iPrint Consolidation method failed, troubleshooting the failure can be done without interrupting end user printing because the NetWare (source) server is still intact and iPrint printers continue to print to the server.