Sharing a printer

[Tony Williams]

I'm a novice at networking! I have a number of laptops, a desktop and an
external hard drive connected to Netgear switch which is in turn connected
to a Linksys ADSL Router. I want to connect a printer to the network so that
all the machines can share it without any particular machine being switched
on, in other words I don't want to just use printer sharing on one machine.
What do I need to buy to connect the printer to the network?
Many thanks
Tony

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

I'm a novice at networking! I have a number of laptops, a desktop and an
external hard drive connected to Netgear switch which is in turn connected
to a Linksys ADSL Router. I want to connect a printer to the network so that
all the machines can share it without any particular machine being switched
on, in other words I don't want to just use printer sharing on one machine.
What do I need to buy to connect the printer to the network?
Many thanks
Tony

You need a print server, which has an Ethernet jack (for connecting to
the network) and a USB or parallel port (for connecting to the
printer).

Some printers have a built-in print server and can connect directly to
a network switch. Examples include the HP Color LaserJet 2600n and
Brother MFC-420CN.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[MC]

Hi Tony,

It all depends on what printer you are ussing. If it's say a deskjet or
a low end laser printer you would get yourself a network print server.
You set the printserver up with a IP address from your local network
and then connect it to your network. Now connect the printer to the
print server. Now you setup a LOCAL printer on your workstation and
when you choose the port it has to print to you create a Standard IP
port with the IP of the printserver and set the printer to print to
that port. Done.

If it's a higher end laser printer or such you can find out from your
local supplier if you can get an internal network card for the printer.
You then setup the printers network card in pretty much the same way
you would setup the print server. A word of warning though. Printer
network cards can be a quite expensive option so have a look at both
alternatives before you decide. One works just as well as the other.
It's all about costs.

Hope this helps.

MC.

 

[Tony Williams]

Thanks to you both that's given me some useful ideas.
Tony

 

[Guest]

You got some good suggestions on going for a "print server". But before you
purchase one, make sure it's compatable with your printer.

I almost picked one up at Staples", where had it on sale after rebated for
$4.99. I noticed a few people returning them at the service desk. I decided
to go home and go on the internet, and found it was not compatable with my
printer, though it was with many others.

 

[Tony Williams]

Thanks Frank good advice
Tony

You got some good suggestions on going for a "print server". But before
you
purchase one, make sure it's compatable with your printer.

I almost picked one up at Staples", where had it on sale after rebated for
$4.99. I noticed a few people returning them at the service desk. I
decided
to go home and go on the internet, and found it was not compatable with my
printer, though it was with many others.