HP JetDirect 170X - OfficeJet G85

[Hans Pesata]

Hi !

I installed a small LAN with 3 computers running WINDOWS 2000.
Our OfficeJet G85 was connected to 1 computer and therefore was the
printer-server.

I bought a JetDirect 170X hardware-printer-server to get rid of the fact,
that 1 computer has to
be a printer-server and also because the HP-printer-software didnt work with
Norton Antivirus 2003.
I also thougth that it would be much simpler if there no longer is a PC as
printer-server required.

But installing the JetDirect 170X showed me, that again 1 PC is needed to be
a printer-server ?!
This is wired and doesnt make sense to me.

Is there a possibility to use the JetDiret 170X hardware-printer-server
WITHOUT the need
to have a dedicated PC-printer-server ?

any help with this would be greatly appreciated,
thanx in advance!

best regards,
Hans Pesata

 

[AC]

Is there a possibility to use the JetDiret 170X hardware-printer-server
WITHOUT the need
to have a dedicated PC-printer-server ?

yes no problem, when you know how....
The PC/s need to have the printer software (installed) on each PC. I
have a small network, and do this PC by PC. The installation usually
expects a printer on the parallel port - let it think that at first, and
then avoid getting a test page printed out (say no).

With the printer software on the PC, and the network running and
connected, including print server (jetdirect 170x) with printer
connected and on, you will need a TCP/IP port with your printer driver
software pointed to it. in Windows 98 this would be

Start|Settings|Printers|(printername)|Properties|Details tab|(Print to
the following port)=TCP/IP as appropriate|

I use a JetDirect 170x for a Brother printer (HL-1230), and since I am
not expert at network magic I used the CD which came with the JetDirect
170x, and I guess this is what created the appropriate port and set up
the path.
As it happens, I see the appropriate port I use is labelled as:
{HL-1230series (HP Standard TCP/IP Port)}

It was an entirely similar process for a value price printserver of
another make - PrintSir, which I use for another printer on the same
network.

I was interested to see that the Printsir install CD process only found
the Printsir printserver, not the Jetdirect, and vice versa, so I
concluded that the setup software is likely to be product specific.
There is probably a way of doing it all manually, knowing ID or IP
addresses etc of the products etc too.

 

[Hans Pesata]

Hi !

thanx for your reply!

yes no problem, when you know how....
The PC/s need to have the printer software (installed) on each PC. I
have a small network, and do this PC by PC. The installation usually
expects a printer on the parallel port - let it think that at first, and
then avoid getting a test page printed out (say no).
With the printer software on the PC, and the network running and
connected, including print server (jetdirect 170x) with printer
connected and on, you will need a TCP/IP port with your printer driver
software pointed to it. in Windows 98 this would be
Start|Settings|Printers|(printername)|Properties|Details tab|(Print to
the following port)=TCP/IP as appropriate|
I use a JetDirect 170x for a Brother printer (HL-1230), and since I am
not expert at network magic I used the CD which came with the JetDirect
170x, and I guess this is what created the appropriate port and set up the path.
As it happens, I see the appropriate port I use is labelled as:
{HL-1230series (HP Standard TCP/IP Port)}

which install-option of the JetDirect-CD did you use ?
when I installed it, it just offered the possibility to install the PC it is
installed to
as a printerserver. it also let me set the IP-addresss of the JetDirect.

I cant install the printer-software on every PC, because it doesnt work
with Norton Antivirus 2003 which we are using.

any further suggestions ?

thanx in advance!

best regards,
Hans Pesata

 

[AC]

I use a JetDirect 170x for a Brother printer (HL-1230), and since I am
not expert at network magic I used the CD which came with the JetDirect
170x, and I guess this is what created the appropriate port and set up the path.
As it happens, I see the appropriate port I use is labelled as:
{HL-1230series (HP Standard TCP/IP Port)}

which install-option of the JetDirect-CD did you use ? when I installed
it, it just offered the possibility to install the PC it is installed to
as a printerserver. it also let me set the IP-addresss of the JetDirect.[/QUOTE]

First you should install the printer software on the PC. set up as if
the printer is on LPT1 parallel port, choose not to do a test print.

Then (I forget if it is essential to again re start PC etc) use the
jetdirect CD.

Since you can see the Jetdirect IP address (Good!) it means it is
preparing to set your PC up to be able to use the Jet Direct printserver
(with printer hung onto it) from your PC. It is *not* offering to use
your PC *as* a printserver!

The JetDerect Printserver and printer combination, identified by the IP
address (the IP address is owned by the Jetdirect) is your printing
resource, and stands alone on the network, available to any other (PC)
which happens to connect to the network, even though your PC (mentioned
above) happens to be turned off.

The final stage of the JetDirect setup process is to (from the IP
visibility) 'set up the printer path' which probably means creating the
TCP/IP port and arranging in your PC that the printer information and
drivers etc are available for normal access. This stage can be a bit
slow, so be patient, should be less than a few minutes though, and
faster with modern PCs.

You can later confirm this by looking at the equivalent of
Settings|Printers etc, and chose to do a test print of some sort.

I cant install the printer-software on every PC, because it doesnt work
with Norton Antivirus 2003 which we are using.

I am using this too, and a G95 (very similar the G85). all that happens
is that (probably) the icon in the system tray (bottom Right hand side
of screen) indicates not connected (properly), but if you use the
printer as a 'printer', and also probably as a fax (if it has phone
line?) it will work ok.

(I use a G95 connected 'locally' to another PC, not a JetDirect, so from
its own PC, all the fancy scan functions are available, however the G95
can be used by other PCs on the network via the microsoft printer
sharing facility, including things like double sided printing - it has
the gismo)

The general approach seems to be fairly common even if you use another
brand of printserver.

 

[Warren Block]

how do I install this "TCP/IP standard printer" you mentioned ?
how do I connect this port to theJetDirect ?

After you have installed the printer driver, go to the tab with the
Ports settings for that printer. Choose Add Port, and select
"Standard TCP/IP Printer" (or close to that).

You'll be asked to enter the IP address of the JetDirect.

After that, it's done. When data is sent by the printer driver to that
"port", it is really sent over the network to the JetDirect.

This should work fine for the printer. For other functions of a
multifunction unit... I don't know. Depends on your software, probably.

funny, I will be flying to the USA in october and I will be visiting Rapid
City too

Everybody comes through here at least once in their life.

 

[Hans Pesata]

Hi AC!

First you should install the printer software on the PC. set up as if
the printer is on LPT1 parallel port, choose not to do a test print.
Then (I forget if it is essential to again re start PC etc) use the jetdirect CD.
Since you can see the Jetdirect IP address (Good!) it means it is
preparing to set your PC up to be able to use the Jet Direct printserver
(with printer hung onto it) from your PC. It is *not* offering to use
your PC *as* a printserver!
The JetDerect Printserver and printer combination, identified by the IP
address (the IP address is owned by the Jetdirect) is your printing
resource, and stands alone on the network, available to any other (PC)
which happens to connect to the network, even though your PC (mentioned
above) happens to be turned off.
The final stage of the JetDirect setup process is to (from the IP
visibility) 'set up the printer path' which probably means creating the
TCP/IP port and arranging in your PC that the printer information and
drivers etc are available for normal access. This stage can be a bit
slow, so be patient, should be less than a few minutes though, and
faster with modern PCs.
You can later confirm this by looking at the equivalent of
Settings|Printers etc, and chose to do a test print of some sort.
I am using this too, and a G95 (very similar the G85). all that happens
is that (probably) the icon in the system tray (bottom Right hand side
of screen) indicates not connected (properly), but if you use the
printer as a 'printer', and also probably as a fax (if it has phone
line?) it will work ok.
(I use a G95 connected 'locally' to another PC, not a JetDirect, so from
its own PC, all the fancy scan functions are available, however the G95
can be used by other PCs on the network via the microsoft printer
sharing facility, including things like double sided printing - it has
the gismo)

with Norton Antivirus 2003 I had the problem, that one of the HP-programs
began to loop and eat up
the processor and I couldnt do anything again.

so I decided to buy the JetDirect to get rid of that HP-software-problem.

thanx for your help!

best regards,
Hans Pesata