Wireless Workstation as Print Server

[Richard John]

Is anyne aware of problems using a Wireless desktop as a Print Server? The
Laser Printer is a Brother 2040 and is attached to a PIII desktop, running
Windows ME. Printer works fine from the print server itself. Just having
trouble seeing the printer from a remote workstation when trying to set it
for printing. The "remote" WS is actually directly connected to the Router.

Richard John
Melbourne, Australia
rjbpond at bigpond.net.au

 

[kony]

Is anyne aware of problems using a Wireless desktop as a Print Server?

Does this system have otherwise good connectivity, you get
good signal strength for the wifi and no dropouts or other
issues from the router (like lockups)? How about the other
systems, are they too wireless and if so, are their
connections reliable?

The
Laser Printer is a Brother 2040 and is attached to a PIII desktop, running
Windows ME. Printer works fine from the print server itself.

I presume you have printer sharing enabled in network
properties and wherever that "share this printer" (or
however it's worded in WinME) checkbox is checked? I'd
presume that setting is in the printer properties, but not
certain of it .... fairly sure it's there in WinME
*somewhere*.

Just having
trouble seeing the printer from a remote workstation when trying to set it
for printing. The "remote" WS is actually directly connected to the Router.

Can the remote workstations see any other resources shared
from this print server system? If there is nothing else
shared, try sharing something else to see if that (other
thing) is seen.

 

[Richard John]

Thanks for taking the trouble to reply.

Does this system have otherwise good connectivity,

Yes. Was able to connect a Wireless Notebook to the Wi-Fi n/w.. no probs.
Even hooked into the Oz Open Tennis online

you get good signal strength for the wifi and no dropouts or other
issues from the router (like lockups)?

The laptop terminal software reported strength as "excellent"

How about the other
systems, are they too wireless and if so, are their
connections reliable?

Yes. One wireless desktop, which is the one with the printer connected via
USB (printer does have a parallel port as well. Maybe Wi-Fi systems don't
like USB printers .. )

I presume you have printer sharing enabled in network
properties and wherever that "share this printer" (or
however it's worded in WinME) checkbox is checked? I'd
presume that setting is in the printer properties, but not
certain of it .... fairly sure it's there in WinME
*somewhere*.

Yep, Print and File sharing are turned on. Can't remember (not at friends
place right now) if there is a Printer sharing option in Printer properties.

Router.


Can the remote workstations see any other resources shared
from this print server system?

Yes. Able to share files as well as the Internet connection.

Maybe I'll try a couple of other options:

a./ Change to a parallel connection

or

b./ Connect the printer to a "wired" workstation, and make that the print
server

This has worked for me before in other environments and the only thing
different I can see is wired / wireless ie. I've had a wired
workstation/print server working fine.

Thanks again and will keep ya informed about the results

Richard
Melbourne Oz

 

[kony]

Yep, Print and File sharing are turned on. Can't remember (not at friends
place right now) if there is a Printer sharing option in Printer properties.

That setting is critical towards getting it working. If you
go into printers in Control Panel and right click on the
printer it may be in that context menu as "sharing" (Or
maybe not there, my memory of the subtle differences on
WinME is poor).

Yes. Able to share files as well as the Internet connection.

Maybe I'll try a couple of other options:

a./ Change to a parallel connection

or

b./ Connect the printer to a "wired" workstation, and make that the print
server

I suggest that you not change anything else until you have
found and tried that sharing option mentioned above, and
then rebooted the system. Of course you will then have to
search for (or specify the network name for) this printer on
the other systems, and if you hadn't, also install an
appropriate print driver in some cases (but it should see
the printer already).

This has worked for me before in other environments and the only thing
different I can see is wired / wireless ie. I've had a wired
workstation/print server working fine.

There should be no difference getting it to work wirelessly,
providing the wireless connection is still healthy/working.