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Problem

You want to add the print server role on a Windows Server 2003 server.

Solution

Using a graphical user interface

Using a command-line interface

To add the Print Server role from the command-line, first create an unattend.txt> file containing the following:

	[Networking]

	[NetServices]
	MS_Server = params.MS_Server

	[Components]
	PMCSnap = On

Once you’ve saved the file, use the following syntax to install the Print Server role:

	> sysocmgr /i:c:\windows\inf\sysoc.inf /u:c:\unattend.txt

Using VBScript

	' This code creates an unattended installation file,
	' and then installs the Print Server Role
	' ------ SCRIPT CONFIGURATION -----
	strFile = "c:\unattend.txt"
	constForWriting = 2
	strComputer = "<ServerName>" ' use "." for the local computer
	' ------ END CONFIGURATION --------

	set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
	set objFile = objFSO.OpenTextFile(strFile, constForWriting, True)
	objFile.WriteLine("[Networking]")
	objFile.WriteLine("[NetServices]")
	objFile.WriteLine("MS_Server = params.MS_Server
	objFile.WriteLine("[Components]")
	objFile.WriteLine("PMCSnap = ON")
	objFile.Close

	set objWshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
	intRC = objWshShell.Run("sysocmgr /i:%windir%\inf\sysoc.inf /u:" & _
	                        strFile, 0, TRUE)
	if intRC <> 0 then
	   WScript.Echo "Error returned from sysocmgr command: " & intRC
	else
	   WScript.Echo "Print Server role installed"
	end if

Discussion

The Print Manager role is not installed by default in Windows Server 2003 R2; you need to add the role manually using Add/Remove programs or the Configure Your Server wizard. This role has been greatly improved in R2 by including the Print Management Console MMC snap-in, which provides a unified view of installed drivers and forms, printer ports, and the ability to deploy printers using Group Policy.