Network Print Protocols

[Geoff Lane]

Ive got a Hewlett Packard all in one printer C5280, it is connected to a
Linux machine and is available to other XP machines via a network, all
features appear to work fine via the network, including surprisingly,
the ink status.

I would like to purchase a print server and would like the printers
facilities to be fully available to all machines.

Now I know some of the print servers have operating system specific
drivers but I would prefer the system whereby the printer gets an IP
address.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Geoff Lane

 

[Warren Block]

Ive got a Hewlett Packard all in one printer C5280, it is connected to a
Linux machine and is available to other XP machines via a network, all
features appear to work fine via the network, including surprisingly,
the ink status.

I would like to purchase a print server and would like the printers
facilities to be fully available to all machines.

Now I know some of the print servers have operating system specific
drivers but I would prefer the system whereby the printer gets an IP
address.

What are you trying to accomplish? Maybe not having to have the Linux
machine on to provide network printing?

For standalone print servers, HP's JetDirects are the standard. They're
expensive; overpriced, IMO. Even at that, you may find they don't quite
do everything an lpd server is supposed to do. Your ink status might
not work any more.

An alternative is to use a small Linux/BSD machine as a print server.
There may be a small CD- or floppy-based package just for that.

 

[Geoff Lane]

What are you trying to accomplish? Maybe not having to have the Linux
machine on to provide network printing?

To have the printer in one room available to a couple of laptops in any
room, and yes, not have the Linux machine on to use the printer.

For standalone print servers, HP's JetDirects are the standard. They're
expensive; overpriced, IMO. Even at that, you may find they don't quite
do everything an lpd server is supposed to do. Your ink status might
not work any more.

Surprisingly the ink status does work at the moment but the host Linux
machine appears to have the correct drivers with all functions working
from the Linux box and my XP laptop (Not the scanning but I would expect
to have to be by the scanner anyway).

An alternative is to use a small Linux/BSD machine as a print server.
There may be a small CD- or floppy-based package just for that.

Yes, I had thought of that but I am reluctant to have a machine on just
for that, I have never been in to computers on 24/7, this is nothing to
do with 'save the planet', I have just always turned computers off.

Geoff Lane

 

[John B]

I'm not familiar with your HP printer. Is that a USB-connected item?

I like Trendnet devices.
I have found useful print servers at the retail site known as newegg.com

 

[Geoff Lane]

I'm not familiar with your HP printer. Is that a USB-connected item?

I like Trendnet devices.
I have found useful print servers at the retail site known as newegg.com

Saw your reply in the other thread.

There are plenty of print servers about but some offer extra protocols
over others and I naturally want to retain my printer's printer
functions via the network.

I had a Belkin Print Server once, didn't support Linux so was no good to me.

Naturally the scanner functions logically need to be used via the
attached computer, I can't see a need to scan remotely.

Geoff Lane