Help this dummy understand print servers
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Posted by gecko on January 4, 2008, 7:40 pm
Please log in for more thread options on my small LAN which consists of two machines each with XP PRO SP2, router'ed together via a D-Link router. It will only print from the machine to which it is hard-wired (USB). So, I need an external print server to make it available at will to the both machines. My router has spare CAT5 ports, but no USB. How would a print server connect into my LAN? I can understand how a print server would connect to my printer via USB, but then what do I connect the server to in order to link it into my LAN? I have googled seeking an answer to this, but I don't see it. This may seem like a dumb question, and maybe it is - but I seek an answer. And, for that matter, what brand server would fit my needs best and cheapest? In someone's opinion anyway. Thanks Gecko | |||||||||||||
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Posted by John McGaw on January 4, 2008, 9:17 pm
Please log in for more thread options Printer -> print server -> hub/switch. The latter item might be included
in the router or might be separate. Each computer on the LAN is then
"educated" about the presence of the network printer and they all live happily ever after. This assumes a single-function printer which does not include multi-function printer/copier/scanner/fax/answering machine type devices which are almost never fully usable on a LAN. Sometimes the easiest way to add LAN functionality to a printer is to obtain the manufacturer's adapter but not every maker or model has provided for them so there are "universal" print servers available from every LAN equipment maker. -- John McGaw [Knoxville, TN, USA] http://johnmcgaw.com | |||||||||||||
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Posted by Joel on January 4, 2008, 9:31 pm
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> I have a Konica Minolta Pagepro 1350W laser printer that is not usable
> on my small LAN which consists of two machines each with XP PRO SP2, > router'ed together via a D-Link router. It will only print from the > machine to which it is hard-wired (USB). So, I need an external print > server to make it available at will to the both machines. My router > has spare CAT5 ports, but no USB. > > How would a print server connect into my LAN? I can understand how a > print server would connect to my printer via USB, but then what do I > connect the server to in order to link it into my LAN? I have googled > seeking an answer to this, but I don't see it. > > This may seem like a dumb question, and maybe it is - but I seek an > answer. And, for that matter, what brand server would fit my needs > best and cheapest? In someone's opinion anyway. > > Thanks > > Gecko I am not an experted on LAN especially network printer which I just happened to get one few weeks ago .. and here is the whole story. - I was using wired network until few months ago I went to wireless (yes, I bought a wireless router 2-3 years ago but never installed and now can't even find it <bg>) and everything works out quite well. Even I have been
using network for many years but don't have much or any experience beisdes
getting all computers running. So I spent few months reading as much about wireless as I can then bought one, installed and that's it. Right now I have 3 desktop, 3 notebooks, and 1 network printer (2 regular printers). - About the network printer (this is what you want to know). 1. I *connect* the LAN printer to the router (network) 2. Install the DRIVER to all desktops and norebooks .. that's it! since everything works fine so I don't have anything else to say <bg>. My grand-daughter is off from college and she can print from her
notebook from her room ... this this sometime gives me a shock because her
room is upstairs and my desktop is downstairs .. then suddently the printer behind me starts printing all by itself <bg>
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Posted by gecko on January 5, 2008, 5:37 am
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> I am not an experted on LAN especially network printer which I just
>happened to get one few weeks ago .. and here is the whole story. > >- I was using wired network until few months ago I went to wireless (yes, I >bought a wireless router 2-3 years ago but never installed and now can't >even find it <bg>) and everything works out quite well. Even I have been >using network for many years but don't have much or any experience beisdes >getting all computers running. So I spent few months reading as much about >wireless as I can then bought one, installed and that's it. > > Right now I have 3 desktop, 3 notebooks, and 1 network printer (2 regular >printers). > >- About the network printer (this is what you want to know). > > 1. I *connect* the LAN printer to the router (network) And, since my D-Link router lacks any printer connections (ala USB), then I guess I have to buy a 'switch' of some sort. I suppose a 'switch' will have USB ports for printers and CAT5 ports to connect it to the router, and thereby my LAN? Gecko >
> 2. Install the DRIVER to all desktops and norebooks This doesn't surprise me. >
>.. that's it! since everything works fine so I don't have anything else to >say <bg>. My grand-daughter is off from college and she can print from her >notebook from her room ... this this sometime gives me a shock because her >room is upstairs and my desktop is downstairs .. then suddently the printer >behind me starts printing all by itself <bg> | |||||||||||||
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Posted by John McGaw on January 5, 2008, 9:12 am
Please log in for more thread options gecko wrote:
>
> >> I am not an experted on LAN especially network printer which I just
>> happened to get one few weeks ago .. and here is the whole story. >> >> - I was using wired network until few months ago I went to wireless (yes, I >> bought a wireless router 2-3 years ago but never installed and now can't >> even find it <bg>) and everything works out quite well. Even I have been >> using network for many years but don't have much or any experience beisdes >> getting all computers running. So I spent few months reading as much about >> wireless as I can then bought one, installed and that's it. >> >> Right now I have 3 desktop, 3 notebooks, and 1 network printer (2 regular >> printers). >> >> - About the network printer (this is what you want to know). >> >> 1. I *connect* the LAN printer to the router (network) >
> And, since my D-Link router lacks any printer connections (ala USB), > then I guess I have to buy a 'switch' of some sort. I suppose a > 'switch' will have USB ports for printers and CAT5 ports to connect it > to the router, and thereby my LAN? > > Gecko >> 2. Install the DRIVER to all desktops and norebooks
>
> This doesn't surprise me. > >> .. that's it! since everything works fine so I don't have anything else to
>> say <bg>. My grand-daughter is off from college and she can print from her >> notebook from her room ... this this sometime gives me a shock because her >> room is upstairs and my desktop is downstairs .. then suddently the printer >> behind me starts printing all by itself <bg> Which D-Link router do you have? Most consumer-oriented "routers" sold today are actually a combination of a router and a hub or switch. The router function is there solely to connect the LAN to the internet (or, more rarely, to some other network) and isn't even necessary for setting up a LAN. If you have more than one computer networked it is almost invariably true that you have a switch/hub somewhere. Does your D-Link have RJ-45 network connections on it other than the one for the modem or is it a truly wireless item? You really need to share this sort of information if you want someone to give you an accurate answer -- otherwise the best that you will ever get is a totally blind guess. Take a look at these D-Link items: Wired print server: http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/usb_devices_view.html Wireless print server: http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=0&pid=482 This assumes that you really like D-Link for some reason. Other makers have functionally similar items which may be cheaper/better/simpler. -- John McGaw [Knoxville, TN, USA] http://johnmcgaw.com | |||||||||||||
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> on my small LAN which consists of two machines each with XP PRO SP2,
> router'ed together via a D-Link router. It will only print from the
> machine to which it is hard-wired (USB). So, I need an external print
> server to make it available at will to the both machines. My router
> has spare CAT5 ports, but no USB.
>
> How would a print server connect into my LAN? I can understand how a
> print server would connect to my printer via USB, but then what do I
> connect the server to in order to link it into my LAN? I have googled
> seeking an answer to this, but I don't see it.
>
> This may seem like a dumb question, and maybe it is - but I seek an
> answer. And, for that matter, what brand server would fit my needs
> best and cheapest? In someone's opinion anyway.
>
> Thanks
>
> Gecko
>
>
>