Port number for USB

[Stab]

Hello.

Trying to share a printer (HP Deskjet) between two XP machines connected by
a Linksys router, one a laptop, one a desktop to which the printer is wired.
Printer is shared but both PCs can print only when the firewall is disabled.
(I'm using CA Personal Firewall.)

I found where to specify the port to open in the firewall settings, but the
printer is connected by USB and don't know what number that port is. All it
says in Properties is "USB001:Virtual printer port for USB." (Sent email to
CA's Support but have not heard anything in a couple of days.)

I read somewhere that port 9100 is it for USB and tried that in the firewall
settings, but no luck. I am not even sure if that's correct.

Would be much obliged if anyone can tell me how to discover what port number
the USB printer is using.

Mucho gracias.

 

[Christoph Lindemann]

Hi Stab,

The problem is probably the network connection between the 2 computers. So
the USB port has nothing to do with it (as it connects a computer to the
printer).
When you want to connect to a remote printer >shared from a Windows
computer<, then Windows uses the SMB protocol over the network. So you need
to open SMB ports 135-139 UDP/TCP, and NetBIOS port 445 UDP/TCP, for
communication between the 2 computers.

On the computers you need the following
1) Enable "File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks"
2) Open the firewall for ports 135-139 UDP and TCP, in and out.
3) Open the firewall for port 445 UDP and TCP, in and out
(Some firewalls may have a "Open Windows file and printer sharing" option,
which you could use instead)

IMPORTANT: Make sure these ports are closed in your router, or that you only
open these ports for computers on your local network!

You can also read the following knowledge base articles:
KB 298804: Internet firewalls can prevent browsing and file sharing
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/298804/
KB 318030: You cannot access shared files and folders or browse computers in
the workgroup with Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/318030/

 

[Stab]

Thank you, Christoph!

Hi Stab,

The problem is probably the network connection between the 2 computers. So
the USB port has nothing to do with it (as it connects a computer to the
printer).
When you want to connect to a remote printer >shared from a Windows
computer<, then Windows uses the SMB protocol over the network. So you
need to open SMB ports 135-139 UDP/TCP, and NetBIOS port 445 UDP/TCP, for
communication between the 2 computers.

On the computers you need the following
1) Enable "File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks"
2) Open the firewall for ports 135-139 UDP and TCP, in and out.
3) Open the firewall for port 445 UDP and TCP, in and out
(Some firewalls may have a "Open Windows file and printer sharing" option,
which you could use instead)

IMPORTANT: Make sure these ports are closed in your router, or that you
only open these ports for computers on your local network!

You can also read the following knowledge base articles:
KB 298804: Internet firewalls can prevent browsing and file sharing
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/298804/
KB 318030: You cannot access shared files and folders or browse computers
in the workgroup with Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/318030/