Printer Queue Settings Mysteriously Reverting Back to Default Settings on 2008 R2 print servers
We have 4 Windows Server 2008 R2 print servers, all of which has the same printer queues installed on them that are utilized by a 3rd party printing program that does a round-robin load balancing scheme.
All printers are a combination of HP and Xerox all running some variation of the HP UPD and the Xerox UPD. Some use the PCL 5 and some use the PCL 6 version determined by age of printer and need.
There are typically two printer queues for each physical printer.
Example:
LOCATION_ROOM
LOCATION_ROOM_TRAY2
The regular queue is ok being left with default setting,
The _TRAY2 queues are set to print to "labels" or "pre-printed" paper type or a specific tray.
From time to time, these _TRAY2 queues will revert back to a factory default state and lose the setting to print to a specific paper type or tray. Sometimes it happens to the _TRAY2 queue on all 4 servers, sometimes just 1 server, etc. No rhyme or reason.
Disabled Bi-directional options on both the HP and Xerox UPDs per another article on the internet that said bi-directional could cause the printer to send back settings to the driver and cause this issue. Even with this option off, we continue to see printer _TRAY2 queue settings revert back to factory default and lose their specific paper and tray settings. We have ruled out the possibility that users or other technicians are the ones making these changes so we suspect it is some interaction between the servers, printer drivers and printers themselves causing the issue.
Any insight would be greatly appreciated.