IPP Network Print Protocol

[Geoff Lane]

I am a wee bit baffled re Print Servers.

A friend has just bought a Belkin Wireless G print server; they have
currently one XP machine and one Vista.

The server data sheet states it needs Windows 2000 or XP, a partial
reply from Belkin say that Vista is not yet supported for this model.

Viewing the installation instructions suggest that the server gets
assigned an IP address; I was under the impression that printing to an
IP address was Operating System independent.

I realise that each computer needs the printer drivers but is there
something else that needs installing?

Geoff Lane

 

[smlunatick]

I am a wee bit baffled re Print Servers.

A friend has just bought a Belkin Wireless G print server; they have
currently one XP machine and one Vista.

The server data sheet states it needs Windows 2000 or XP, a partial
reply from Belkin say that Vista is not yet supported for this model.

Viewing the installation instructions suggest that the server gets
assigned an IP address; I was under the impression that printing to an
IP address was Operating System independent.

I realise that each computer needs the printer drivers but is there
something else that needs installing?

Geoff Lane

To print to network printers, you need to set up a 'Standard TCP/IP
port" and set up an exception in the firewall software(s) (SP2
firewall or other.)

 

[Warren Block]

I am a wee bit baffled re Print Servers.

A friend has just bought a Belkin Wireless G print server; they have
currently one XP machine and one Vista.

The server data sheet states it needs Windows 2000 or XP, a partial
reply from Belkin say that Vista is not yet supported for this model.

"Not supported" doesn't necessarily mean "won't work."

Viewing the installation instructions suggest that the server gets
assigned an IP address; I was under the impression that printing to an
IP address was Operating System independent.

There are some standard network printing protocols, like lpr/lpd or port
9100. But if the vendor provides their own drivers, they could use any
protocol they like, even a proprietary one.

If the Belkin print server supports a standard protocol, then it becomes
a matter of getting Vista to send print jobs with that protocol.

 

[Geoff Lane]

There are some standard network printing protocols, like lpr/lpd or port
9100. But if the vendor provides their own drivers, they could use any
protocol they like, even a proprietary one.

If the Belkin print server supports a standard protocol, then it becomes
a matter of getting Vista to send print jobs with that protocol.

That's what I suspected, although it is a multifunction printer server
the printer is a standard printer.

The Belkin does support IPP and lpr/lpd so it should work OK.

Geoff Lane