Hi,

I'm in a university department, and our lab wants to connect a printer
to the network so others in the department can print to it. While this
is a tech job, getting the tech department to do it usually takes a long
time and we get charged for their labour.

I have seen print servers in the shops, eg, the Linksys 4-Port USB Print
Server for $69.99.

Would this work across the department's network? How difficult would it
be to set up?

I don't know much about networks, so wondering just how much is
involved. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Mark

From: "Mark" <nospam@nospam.com>

< snip >

|
| I don't know much about networks, so wondering just how much is
| involved. Any advice would be appreciated.
|
| Thanks,
|
| Mark

If this is a University then a HP JetDirect print server would be best. PCs just print to
the IP address.

You can configure the Print Server initially via DNCP and then statically set and address
via Telnet.

There is no reason why a University should be using a Router with a built-in Print Server as
the infrastructure is already in place. If it is a USB printer, get a JetDirect with USB.
If the printer uses a parallel port then get a JetDirect with a parallel port.

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm

David H. Lipman cried out

If it's an HP Laser Jet, typically it has a slot for a print server
to connect directly to the printer. What model is the printer?

Mark wrote:
is it an existing printer?

my experience is limited. but if it is an existing printer for a
computer on the network I would expect to simply set it to be shared on
the computer it is attached to.

if it is not currently connected to anything then you need some sort of
server to connect to. it sounds like a single printer, so adding a
device for ports would be redundant.


see what I mean?

From: "Rosco" <rosco111NOCAPS@charterNOCAPS.net>


| If it's an HP Laser Jet, typically it has a slot for a print server
| to connect directly to the printer. What model is the printer?

Yep, that would be an Internal JetDirect print Server.

There are other non-laser models that do so as well. This includes inkjets such as the HP
1100/1200 Business InkJet printer, HP 1170, etc.

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm

David H. Lipman wrote:
Sorry for the lack of details previously. The printer is a HP Laserjet
2200D. According to my information, while a built-in print server is an
option with these printers, this particular model doesn't have one.

I did also note that you can get the HP Jetdirect print server for $250,
but was wondering if the extra expense is justified or whether the print
server I mentioned is just as good and HP are simply marking up the price.

roy wrote:
Yes, it's an existing printer, which is why I wasn't asking for which
printer to buy. It is a HP Laserjet 2200D.

I don't know why the operating system is relevant, as I thought
different operating systems should all be able to access the same
network printer. Most of the computers have Windows XP, but OSX and
Linux functionality wouldn't hurt.

We do have it attached to a computer at the moment, but we don't want
the jobs to have to go through that computer. As I said, we need a print
server. I think I got at least that bit right.

From: "Mark" <nospam@nospam.com>


| Sorry for the lack of details previously. The printer is a HP Laserjet
| 2200D. According to my information, while a built-in print server is an
| option with these printers, this particular model doesn't have one.
|
| I did also note that you can get the HP Jetdirect print server for $250,
| but was wondering if the extra expense is justified or whether the print
| server I mentioned is just as good and HP are simply marking up the price.

No what you suggested isn't even close.

HP610n -- $139.00
http://www.memorysuppliers.com/hpje61j4prse.html

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm

Mark cried out

I have a laserjet 2300d with the JetDirect 610n interntal print
server. Works like a charm, very easy to configure. Eliminates the
need for a deticated pc to run the shared printer. Every computer in
the house can be off, I can get on my laptop wirelessly and still
print. Best part, no slowdowns, and with the proper firmware, it
will e-mail an admin (user set) any time an event occurs.... (paper
out, paper jam, low toner, toner out, etc..)

David H. Lipman wrote:
Thanks. We are going ahead and ordering the HP Jetdirect. Cheers, and
let's hope setup is as easy as claimed...

From: "Mark" <nospam@nospam.com>


| Thanks. We are going ahead and ordering the HP Jetdirect. Cheers, and
| let's hope setup is as easy as claimed...

Use DHCP and you'll get an intial address.

Telnet to the device and you can then setup the device statically (preferred).

Or you can http to the device as well.

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm