User Manual

Transfer Device Connector to New Hardware

Updated on

In this article, you will learn

  • which options are available for transferring the Device Connector to new hardware,
  • how to use a Transfer Package to transfer the existing PrintQueue GUIDs to the new installation, and
  • which adjustments are required after the transfer in the $PRODUCT_NAME_WORKFLOW application.

1. Introduction

If the workstation on which the Device Connector is installed is replaced with new hardware, the existing Device Connector installation must be transferred to the new hardware. Two options are available for the transfer:    

  • Transfer using the Transfer Package – the existing installation is transferred to the new hardware using the Transfer Package. The PrintQueue GUIDs are retained during the transfer. This option is recommended.
  • Manual transfer – the transfer is performed by copying the Device Connector data folder. This option is used if the migration function cannot be used, for example, if access is only available to the files on the old PC.

If a Transfer Package is created before the transfer, the existing PrintQueue GUIDs are transferred to the new installation. In this case, the Ergosoft Printer Types do not need to be reassigned in the $PRODUCT_NAME_WORKFLOW application. Without a Transfer Package, the print queues are created as new queues on the new hardware and receive new GUIDs. The assignments in the $PRODUCT_NAME_WORKFLOW application must then be restored manually.

2. Transfer of the Device Connector

Please note that, regardless of the transfer method selected, adjustments in the $PRODUCT_NAME_WORKFLOW application are required after the migration. These adjustments are described in Section 3. For a manual transfer, the reassignment described in Section 4 is also required.

2.1. Transfer Using the Transfer Package

The Device Connector Transfer Package is used to transfer an existing installation, including the print environments and their associated print queues, to new hardware. The PrintQueue GUIDs are retained during the transfer, so the Ergosoft Printer Types do not need to be reassigned in the $PRODUCT_NAME_WORKFLOW application. This option is recommended provided that the old workstation is still operational and accessible.

Create a Transfer Package

To create a Transfer Package, proceed as follows:

  1. Open the Device Connector ControlCenter. Switch to the Tools [1] tab.
  2. Open the Maintenance Tool [2] by clicking the corresponding icon.

Figure 1: The Tools tab of the Device Connector ControlCenter

  1. In the ErgoRip Program Maintenance dialog, select the Transfer Installation to the New Computer option [3].
  2. The Changes to Ergosoft RIP Settings dialog informs you that all dependent processes must be terminated. Click OK to continue.

Figure 2: The ErgoRip Program Maintenance dialog

  1. In the Installation Transfer Tools dialog, select the Phase 1: Prepare Transfer option [4].

Figure 3: The Installation Transfer Tools dialog

  1. In the Prepare Transfer dialog, specify the path [6] where the Transfer Package is to be saved.
  2. Finally, click Save Transfer Package [5].

Figure 4: The Prepare Transfer dialog

Create a Transfer Package Regularly

It is recommended to create a Transfer Package whenever changes are made to the printer configuration, for example when adding a new printer, modifying a print queue, or adding a new print environment. This ensures that an up-to-date package is always available when a transfer is required.

Import the Transfer Package

To import a Transfer Package on the new hardware, proceed as follows:

  1. Install the Device Connector on the new hardware. For instructions, refer to the Installing Device Connector article.
  2. Open the Device Connector ControlCenter. Switch to the Tools [1] tab (Figure 1).
  3. Open the Maintenance Tool [2] (Figure 1) by clicking the corresponding icon.
  4. In the ErgoRip Program Maintenance dialog, select the Transfer Installation to New Computer option [3] (Figure 2).
  5. The Changes to Ergosoft RIP Settings dialog informs you that all dependent processes must be terminated. Click OK to continue.
  6. In the Installation Transfer Tools dialog, select the Phase 2: Restore on New Computer option [7].

Figure 5: The Installation Transfer Tools dialog

  1. In the Restore Installation dialog, select the Import Queues and Assign Them to the New Computer entry [8]. This ensures that all PrintQueue GUIDs are retained.
  2. Select the path [9] where the Transfer Package was saved.
  3. Finally, click the Execute Transfer command [10] to complete the transfer.

Figure 6: The Restore Installation dialog

Manual Post-Transfer Adjustments

Manual adjustments may also be required when using the Transfer Wizard. This particularly applies to spool and output folders if the folder structure on the new hardware differs from the previous one, as well as to ports that use UNC paths. The system IDs of USB devices also inevitably change when the hardware is replaced.

2.2. Manual Transfer

If the Ergosoft migration function cannot be used, proceed as follows:

  1. Copy the entire Device Connector data folder from the old workstation to the new workstation. The data folder is located at: C:\Users\Public\Documents\EsRip\17.
  2. Install the Device Connector on the new hardware. During the installation, select the previously copied data folder as the user data folder.
  3. After completing the installation, start the JobComposer and assign the ports to the respective print queues.

Installing Device Connector in Detail

For a detailed description of how to install the Device Connector and activate the license, refer to the Installing Device Connector article.

Figure 7: The Device Connector Installation dialog with the selection of the user data folder

With a manual transfer, the print environments are retained, but the print queues are recreated on the new hardware. As a result, they receive new GUIDs, causing the assignments in the $PRODUCT_NAME_WORKFLOW application to be lost. The Ergosoft Printer Types must therefore be reassigned.

3. Make Adjustments in the $PRODUCT_NAME_WORKFLOW Application

After the migration, the existing configuration in the $PRODUCT_NAME_WORKFLOW application must be adjusted for the newly configured Device Connector. Proceed as follows:

  1. On the new Device Connector hardware, create a transfer folder in Windows Explorer to which the print data from the $PRODUCT_NAME_WORKFLOW application will be transferred. If multiple drives are available, it is recommended to create the folder on drive D.
  2. Then share the folder on the network.
  3. Please note that full access permissions must be configured for the transfer folder. The share can only be used correctly in the $PRODUCT_NAME_WORKFLOW application if sufficient access permissions are available.

Figure 8: The sharing settings of the transfer folder with Full Control permissions

  1. In the $PRODUCT_NAME_WORKFLOW application, go to Administration > Shares and update the existing Device Connector host.
  2. Enter the IP address of the new workstation. Also update the existing share if the share name has changed.
    Important: Make sure to modify the existing host and share rather than creating new ones.
  3. Then update the existing printer instance. Enter the following values:
    • Name – enter the name of the new Device Connector instance.
    • IP – enter the IP address of the new Device Connector instance.
    • Windows Path of Target Share – enter the local path of the transfer folder on the new hardware.
    • Host – select the previously updated host from the drop-down menu.
    • Destination – select the destination specified when configuring the share.

Adjust the Windows Path of Target Share

Please note that the Windows path of the target share must be updated so that the printer instance can be registered with the Device Connector again. The Windows path of the target share must match the settings of the Host and Destination options, as these define the local path on the host and the destination.

Figure 9: The Edit Printer Instance dialog

4. Reassign the Ergosoft Printer Type

Without a Transfer Package, the print queues are recreated on the new hardware and receive new GUIDs. As a result, the previously assigned Ergosoft Printer Type no longer exists, and the assignment to the printer in the $PRODUCT_NAME_WORKFLOW application must be restored.

Proceed as follows:

  1. Open the Administration > Printer menu item. This takes you to the Manage Printer overview.
  2. Open the details view of the printer for which the assignment needs to be restored.
  3. In the header bar, select the Remap Printer Type of Ergosoft Instance option [11].

Figure 10: The details view of a printer

  1. This opens the Remap Printer Type of Ergosoft Instance dialog.
  2. From the drop-down menu, select the Printer Type to be remapped.
  3. Finally, click Save.

When the Function is Available

Reassignment is only available for printers whose previously assigned Ergosoft Printer Type no longer exists. For all other printers, the function is not available for selection.

Article Update: $PRODUCT_NAME_WORKFLOW 2.3.0 – 10/2026

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Integrating Device Connector

Setting Up Device Connector 5

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