printer sharing options?

[Guest]

I have two windows xp computers, each with one RJ-45 port. I have a DSL line
with a router. I want to share a usb printer with the two computers and have
both computers connected to the internet. I don't see how to do this without
another RJ-45 port. Any ideas?

 

[Ron Lowe]

I have two windows xp computers, each with one RJ-45 port. I have a DSL
line
with a router. I want to share a usb printer with the two computers and
have
both computers connected to the internet. I don't see how to do this
without
another RJ-45 port. Any ideas?

I don't understand how you think you need another RJ45 port for a USB
printer?

Anyways, here are your options:

1) Shared printer.
Plug the USB printer into PC1 USB port, set it up, and share it.
PC2 prints via the share on PC1. ( Set up a Network Printer. )

This requires that PC1 is always-on in order for PC2 to print.

2) USB Print Server.
Buy a USB print server, eg:
http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=0&pid=165
Plug this into the router, along with the 2 PCs.
Configure the PCs to print to the PrintServer.

This has the advantage of each PC being independent.

 

[Guest]

I don't understand how you think you need another RJ45 port for a USB
printer?

Anyways, here are your options:

1) Shared printer.
Plug the USB printer into PC1 USB port, set it up, and share it.
PC2 prints via the share on PC1. ( Set up a Network Printer. )

This requires that PC1 is always-on in order for PC2 to print.

2) USB Print Server.
Buy a USB print server, eg:
http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=0&pid=165
Plug this into the router, along with the 2 PCs.
Configure the PCs to print to the PrintServer.

This has the advantage of each PC being independent.



--
Best Regards,
Ron Lowe
MS-MVP Windows Networking

Thank You Ron for your suggestions. I am following option #1 because my computers are always on anyway. I am going through the setup network wizard and I get to the screen for file and pinter sharing and choose "Turn On". I get a warning that this will allow my files and printer to be exposed to the internet. Continue?

I realize the risk of an always on DSL line and a computer that is always
on. That is why I have a router and firewall. My question is "Does
continuing with this file and printer sharing somehow make my system more
exposed or vulnerable to attack." It seems that that is what this message is
telling me. If the risk is not increased ie. it does not make it easier for
someone to get into my system then I am willing to proceed. If I am exposing
my system to greater risk then maybe I should be looking at other
alternatives.
Thanks for your advise.
Dan

 

[Ron Lowe]

Thank You Ron for your suggestions. I am following option #1 because my

I realize the risk of an always on DSL line and a computer that is always
on. That is why I have a router and firewall. My question is "Does
continuing with this file and printer sharing somehow make my system more
exposed or vulnerable to attack." It seems that that is what this message
is
telling me. If the risk is not increased ie. it does not make it easier
for
someone to get into my system then I am willing to proceed. If I am
exposing
my system to greater risk then maybe I should be looking at other
alternatives.
Thanks for your advise.
Dan

Perhaps you are taking a wrong turning in the wizard.

Tell the wizard you are using a Residential Gateway.
That's what it calls a router.

It's safe to enable file and print sharing behind a router.

If the machines have SP2 on them, you should also enable the
Windows Firewall, but enable the File and Print sharing exception too.

 

[Guest]

Perhaps you are taking a wrong turning in the wizard.

Tell the wizard you are using a Residential Gateway.
That's what it calls a router.

It's safe to enable file and print sharing behind a router.

If the machines have SP2 on them, you should also enable the
Windows Firewall, but enable the File and Print sharing exception too.

--
Best Regards,
Ron Lowe
MS-MVP Windows Networking

I chose the option that says

"This computer connects to the internet directly or through a network hub.
Other computers on my network also connect to the internet directly or
through a network hub."
This option is found by choosing "other" in the first screen.
The diagram of this set up seemed to be a perfect match for my setup so long
as my Linksys router is a "network hub".
One PC is Win XP sp2 the other is the older sp1. Both have Norton Firewall
and antivirus.
Do you still advise changing to the option of a residential gateway?
Thanks.
Dan

 

[Ron Lowe]

I chose the option that says
"This computer connects to the internet directly or through a network hub.
Other computers on my network also connect to the internet directly or
through a network hub."
Do you still advise changing to the option of a residential gateway?

I know you did

Yes, change it.
It's not a hub, it's a router or 'Residential Gateway'.
These look the same, but are fundamentally different.

( The wizard is trying to capture an unusual and potentially
unsafe configuration, which is not your configuration )

The router provides protection from un-solicited inbound connections due to
the way they work. They run something called NAT. A hub provides no such
defence.

I'd continue to run a software firewall and AV too, but be sure to configure
the software firewall to allow file and print sharing on the local LAN.