Need Print Server Advice

[Jenna]

I set up a Windows 2000 Professional computer in our office as a print
server. I was unaware at the time that this would only allow 10 users to
print, then not let anyone else (I know, I didn't do my research).
Here's my question...we need a print server. I'd like to use a separate
computer as I have with this name, simply because we have printers set up to
resolve to that system name. But all this computer basically does is print
serving. Are there any alternatives that I have aside from spending $1000
for another server O/S just to serve prints? Any other software, devices?
I suppose I could serve prints from our file server (which runs Windows 2003
server), but there would be so much work involved in resolving our printers
to that other system name.
Thanks very much for any suggestions!

 

[Colin Nash [MVP]]

The only thing I can think of is using Linux with SMB to serve up Windows
print shares.

If you want a Windows server, you gotta pay for it =)

 

[Guest]

Why not use a printbox, they are quite nice. Check out
www.edimax.com or any ethernet manufactuers...

 

[Jenna]

I thought about something like this, but we have six printers on the
network, in three different locations. My understanding with those print
servers is that they must be connected to the printer itself, necessitating
six print servers (or three if they provide two ports per print server). Or
am I understanding that wrong. Is there a hardware print server that can
manage multiple printers on the network simply by being connected into the
network?

 

[Jenna]

I thought that might be the case. I'm open to using Linux for this purpose,
but I'm not very familiar with it. Does it show up on the network just as a
Windows computer would, so that I could keep the same server/printer share
names? If not, I might just move the printer shares to one of our other
servers, as it would be less work than setting up Linux and then fixing all
the stations paths.
Can you recommend a good website for more information on it and what is the
cost involved, if any?

 

[Guest]

My experience is that you administer these servers though
a admin console, easy and simple.

/nik

 

[Jenna]

Thank you, I will look into this as an option...it seems a shame to use a
powerful server software for only that purpose if something like this can
serve our purpose.

 

[JohnNews]

Jenna:

Luckily in your environment you only have 6 printers. In a larger network
environment with say 100 printers you would definitely need a dedicated
production/primary print server. You would also need a dedicated
secondary/backup print server in a larger network.

Most people are NOT aware how critical their print environment really is.
If they were aware they would pay much more attention to their printer
environment. I will stop now for fear of being unable to stop myself once I
get started on this my favorite subject.



Thanks,
John.

 

[Larry]

Canon has a printserver (embedded windows OS)for 2k that
acts just like a regular server, but only supports print.