Printer Browse Thread May Cause Extensive Network Traffic

When you share a printer in Windows NT, the spooler creates a thread that broadcasts a message on all of the print server's installed protocols to all Windows NT print servers, informing the print servers of the new print share. Each of these print servers adds the new print share name to its local printer browse list. In addition, each print server rebroadcasts the list of its local printers to all print servers every 10 minutes. Although this design ensures that all Windows NT print servers have current browse lists, it can also causes extensive network traffic.

The procedure below explains how to disable the printer browse thread. Disabling the thread reduces network traffic, but also keeps the print servers from knowing about new print shares.

To disable the printer browse thread, modify the Registry.

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, system-wide problems that may require you to reinstall Windows NT to correct them. Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use this tool at your own risk.

1. Start Registry Editor (REGEDT32.EXE).
2. From the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE subtree, go to the following subkey:
   

         \SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print
   
   						

3. From the Edit menu, select Add Value.
4. Add the following to disable the printer browse thread:
   

      Value Name: DisableServerThread
      Data Type:  REG_DWORD
      String:     1
   
   						

5. Choose OK and quit Registry Editor.
6. Shutdown and restart Windows NT.