Networking a Printer?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Whit
  • Start date Start date
W

Whit

Hi - I've got an ethernet running in a small business - 3 WXP computers
connected via a router that gives me Internet Access. I don't know a lot
about what I'm doing, but I followed the instructions and it's working fine.
Currently, my only printer is installed locally on one of the pc's and
shared with the others. I'd like to install a printer on the network that's
not located in the immediate vicinity of any of the pc's and make it
accessible to all of them. I've found a lot of resources for setting up the
network, but nothing that addresses a network printer. If anyone can offer
me suggestions on what I need and what I need to do, or if you can point me
toward a good online resource, I'd very much appreciate it.
Thanks,
Whit
 
You need a jet direct card in your printer or purchase an
external one. You will then be able to place the printer
anywhere you have an available etherent jack. The print
queue will still need to exist on one of the PC's.
 
I would suggest purchasing a networkable printer such as
the HP2200TN. This printer comes with a built in Network
Card and software that will assist you in configuring it
on your network.

I am assuming that your "router" is also assigning IP-
Addresses to your PC's. The default configuration that
the printer will have is to also pick up an IP-Address
from a DHCP server (in this case your router) but you
should determine which addresses the router issues and
choose one in the range and "statically" assign your
printer on those addresses so it does not change
dynamically from your router.

Once you have run the HP-printer software and assigned an
IP-Address it is simply a matter of going to each PC and
adding a printer (in this case a printer on the "LAN"),
specifying the address and voila all PC's will be able to
print. The software from HP actually makes the PC you run
it on a "Print Server" so you dont have to manually do the
work other than running the setup software.

P.S. Most Cable/DSL Routers in the SOHO environment issue
addresses on the private IP range of (192.168.0.1-
192.168.0.254) with the router being 192.168.0.1. Your
client PC's probably pick up the addresses of 192.168.0.2.
& 192.168.0.3 & so on. From a command prompt type
(ipconfig /all) or simply (ipconfig) and it will indicate
which address each client PC has. Choose the next one
such as 192.168.0.5 if it is not in use for
your "Printer's" address. If you dont want tp purchase
the printer I mentioned then you can also buy an External
Print server which you would directly connect to your
Printers parallel port and then connect the RJ-45
connection into your Router or Switch.

Good Luck.

Dale Wyman
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
 
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