Networking a printer

  • Thread starter Thread starter Blair
  • Start date Start date
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Blair

I am about to setup my 2 PCs with Wanadoo Livebox which gives me a faster
Broadband connection with the ability of running 2 PCs independently.One is
connected by wireless and the other by Ethernet cable
At present one of the PCs is connected to my printer via a USB connector
What is the cheapest method to allow access to the printer by both PCs?
Blair
 
Blair said:
I am about to setup my 2 PCs with Wanadoo Livebox which gives me a faster
Broadband connection with the ability of running 2 PCs independently.One
is
connected by wireless and the other by Ethernet cable
At present one of the PCs is connected to my printer via a USB connector
What is the cheapest method to allow access to the printer by both PCs?
Blair
Click to expand...

Depends on the printer and the software. Are you running Win XP, Unix or ???
That makes it simple. If it is a standard printer it just has to be hooked
to the computer and the other can use it. (both computers must be on)

Other printers are network friendly and can be plugged into a hub and be
accessed by the network.

You don't give enough information for a better answer. What PC has the
printer? What printer?
 
Broadband connection with the ability of running 2 PCs
independently.One is
connected by wireless and the other by Ethernet cable
At present one of the PCs is connected to my printer via a
USB connector
What is the cheapest method to allow access to the printer
by both PCs?
Click to expand...

[start] {settings} {printers and faxes}
Rightclick on the printer you wish to share {sharing...}

(Printer Properties)
( ) Do not share the printer
(*) Share the printer
Share Name ["whatever-you-like"]
[OK]
-----------------

It may or may not be "as" simple as all that... but the cheapest way is
to share the printer under windows... presuming you are running
windows. You may be running a firewall, or you might be given ip
addresses from your ISP that are simply not on the same subnet. But
since both PCs are already on a network, you already have the stuff.

A good way to check is the following commands (quotes denote what to
type, don't type them)

[start]{run}"cmd"
c:\whatever> "ipconfig"

----

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : whatever.com
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : x.x.x.y
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : whatever
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : whatever
---

If x.x.x.y = something like 192.168.0.something on both PCs your good
to go, or basicly any sequence of numbers where only the y value is
different.
-----

On the PC you wish to use the printer use this command

[start]{run}"file://x.x.x.y"

Where x.x.x.y = the address shown on the PC that has the printer. You
may also browse the network (my network places > entire network) but
i'm told that "XP home" is tweeky in that regard and i'd rather give
instructions that work on anything win98 and above. You should be able
to see the host system in an file explorer window, and the printer
"whatever" you named it, and you should be able to install it...
provided that you don't have pesky firewall software in the way.
 
Hi Blair

As others have noted, the easiest path is to share out the USB-connected
computer on the network. Only negative: the computer it is connected to
has to be turned on.

If you want to print no matter which computers are turned on, you can
attach a wired or wireless print server device to the network. Then
connect the printer to that device. Linksys and D-Link both make devices
to do this that I've used for clients and had satisfactory results. Cost is
roughly $50 to $100, depending on which device you get, plus time andor
money to get it installed.

-- stan
 
Edwin Pawlowski said:
Depends on the printer and the software. Are you running Win XP, Unix or ???
That makes it simple. If it is a standard printer it just has to be hooked
to the computer and the other can use it. (both computers must be on)

Other printers are network friendly and can be plugged into a hub and be
accessed by the network.

You don't give enough information for a better answer. What PC has the
printer? What printer?
Click to expand...
I will be running XP on both PCs
The printer is Epson Stylus COLOR 880
The Livebox supplied by Wanadoo is a modem and phone device which has a
spare Ethernet connection.
I wondered if I could use that Ethernet connection for the printer?
Otherwise the network should include the printer with the proviso that both
PCs are turned on
Blair
 
zakezuke said:
Broadband connection with the ability of running 2 PCs
independently.One is
connected by wireless and the other by Ethernet cable
At present one of the PCs is connected to my printer via a
USB connector
What is the cheapest method to allow access to the printer
by both PCs?
Click to expand...

[start] {settings} {printers and faxes}
Rightclick on the printer you wish to share {sharing...}

(Printer Properties)
( ) Do not share the printer
(*) Share the printer
Share Name ["whatever-you-like"]
[OK]
-----------------

It may or may not be "as" simple as all that... but the cheapest way is
to share the printer under windows... presuming you are running
windows. You may be running a firewall, or you might be given ip
addresses from your ISP that are simply not on the same subnet. But
since both PCs are already on a network, you already have the stuff.

A good way to check is the following commands (quotes denote what to
type, don't type them)

[start]{run}"cmd"
c:\whatever> "ipconfig"

----

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : whatever.com
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : x.x.x.y
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : whatever
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : whatever
---

If x.x.x.y = something like 192.168.0.something on both PCs your good
to go, or basicly any sequence of numbers where only the y value is
different.
-----

On the PC you wish to use the printer use this command

[start]{run}"file://x.x.x.y"

Where x.x.x.y = the address shown on the PC that has the printer. You
may also browse the network (my network places > entire network) but
i'm told that "XP home" is tweeky in that regard and i'd rather give
instructions that work on anything win98 and above. You should be able
to see the host system in an file explorer window, and the printer
"whatever" you named it, and you should be able to install it...
provided that you don't have pesky firewall software in the way.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your help. Once I Install the Livebox I will carry out the checks
you listed
Blair
 
Stanley Krute said:
Hi Blair

As others have noted, the easiest path is to share out the USB-connected
computer on the network. Only negative: the computer it is connected to
has to be turned on.

If you want to print no matter which computers are turned on, you can
attach a wired or wireless print server device to the network. Then
connect the printer to that device. Linksys and D-Link both make devices
to do this that I've used for clients and had satisfactory results. Cost is
roughly $50 to $100, depending on which device you get, plus time andor
money to get it installed.

-- stan
Click to expand...
Thanks for your reply
The Livebox has a spare Ethernet connection. Is this any good for connecting
the printer?
Blair
 
Thanks for your help. Once I Install the Livebox I will carry out the checks
you listed
Click to expand...

I should add that XP has some oddball wizard I can't access as i've
already run it... selecting "shut the hell up". But I believe you will
encounter this step while following my walkthough.

Also in another responce you asked about the spare ethernet connection
being good for the printer. I don't have any details about "Livebox",
I can only guess as to it's technical details, so the best responces I
can offer are odds are, should, and ask technical support to be sure.
Near as i'm aware the Epson Stylus COLOR 880 does not have an ethernet
connection onboard, so unless you employ some form of print server you
would not be hooking up the Epson to the LiveBox. However if your
printer "did" have such a connection it shouldn't be a problem.
However I think you mean something to the effect of can you jack the PC
into the livebox and share the printer... where this should not be
required. From my understaniding Livebox is a sorta combo service of
internet (modem), home networking (wifi hub/router), and phone (VoIP).
It's not an issue sharing a printer from one pc attached to a
hub/switch/router which I assume that's what the livebox is, and
another pc attached to the same device over wireless ethernet AKA wifi.


Presuming that the livebox is your standard issue router with nat to
share an IP address... not an issue.

An old rule of thumb was PC is attached to the planet, other PC is also
attached to the same planet... your shared printer is shared with the
plaent. This was before firewalls were standard fair and before ISPs
thought it was a good idea to disable file and printer sharing between
the customers and planet earth. But with this thingie they provide,
you have a network, each PC can see the planet, each pc can see
eachother. Unless there is some weirdness they installed... and unless
your firewall gives you trouble, you are golden.
 
zakezuke said:
I should add that XP has some oddball wizard I can't access as i've
already run it... selecting "shut the hell up". But I believe you will
encounter this step while following my walkthough.

Also in another responce you asked about the spare ethernet connection
being good for the printer. I don't have any details about "Livebox",
I can only guess as to it's technical details, so the best responces I
can offer are odds are, should, and ask technical support to be sure.
Near as i'm aware the Epson Stylus COLOR 880 does not have an ethernet
connection onboard, so unless you employ some form of print server you
would not be hooking up the Epson to the LiveBox. However if your
printer "did" have such a connection it shouldn't be a problem.
However I think you mean something to the effect of can you jack the PC
into the livebox and share the printer... where this should not be
required. From my understaniding Livebox is a sorta combo service of
internet (modem), home networking (wifi hub/router), and phone (VoIP).
It's not an issue sharing a printer from one pc attached to a
hub/switch/router which I assume that's what the livebox is, and
another pc attached to the same device over wireless ethernet AKA wifi.


Presuming that the livebox is your standard issue router with nat to
share an IP address... not an issue.

An old rule of thumb was PC is attached to the planet, other PC is also
attached to the same planet... your shared printer is shared with the
plaent. This was before firewalls were standard fair and before ISPs
thought it was a good idea to disable file and printer sharing between
the customers and planet earth. But with this thingie they provide,
you have a network, each PC can see the planet, each pc can see
eachother. Unless there is some weirdness they installed... and unless
your firewall gives you trouble, you are golden.
Click to expand...
Thanks again for your very full explanation. It is much appreciated.
Before I have the Livebox live I am having to replace my old desktop which
ran 98 with a new PC running XP as the Livebox does not support 98
I was about to replace it anyway but this has brought it forward
Will let you know how I get on
Blair
 
Before I have the Livebox live I am having to replace my old desktop which
ran 98 with a new PC running XP as the Livebox does not support 98
Click to expand...

Does not support 98? The people or the box?

Odds are... so long as your machine has ethernet, it'll work. Usually
when "they" say we don't support win98 it means we won't touch old
machine cause they are so dang slow our support personal will be out in
the field for days rather than hours. The keystrokes would be very
much the same on a win98 machine, though you'd need the win98 driver...
oh and you have to dig through your network properties. Sharing a
printer "from" a win98 box would require a few different keystrokes.

The only way it wouldn't is if they were doing something totally weird,
and weird tends to cost more money.
 
Before I have the Livebox live I am having to replace my old desktop which
ran 98 with a new PC running XP as the Livebox does not support 98
Click to expand...

Does not support 98? The people or the box?

Odds are... so long as your machine has ethernet, it'll work. Usually
when "they" say we don't support win98 it means we won't touch old
machine cause they are so dang slow our support personal will be out in
the field for days rather than hours. The keystrokes would be very
much the same on a win98 machine, though you'd need the win98 driver...
oh and you have to dig through your network properties. Sharing a
printer "from" a win98 box would require a few different keystrokes.

The only way it wouldn't is if they were doing something totally weird,
and weird tends to cost more money.
 
zakezuke said:
Does not support 98? The people or the box?

Odds are... so long as your machine has ethernet, it'll work. Usually
when "they" say we don't support win98 it means we won't touch old
machine cause they are so dang slow our support personal will be out in
the field for days rather than hours. The keystrokes would be very
much the same on a win98 machine, though you'd need the win98 driver...
oh and you have to dig through your network properties. Sharing a
printer "from" a win98 box would require a few different keystrokes.

The only way it wouldn't is if they were doing something totally weird,
and weird tends to cost more money.
Click to expand...

I checked on Wanadoo web site and they list 98SE as acceptable but when I
phoned their "technical help line" I got the message that 98SE would not
work with Livebox.
I am not impressed with Wanadoo help
However I still get the fault report which says I must remove all firewalls.
I have done that but of course this is a fault which probably has nothing to
do with a firewall
Blair
 
I checked on Wanadoo web site and they list 98SE as acceptable but when I
phoned their "technical help line" I got the message that 98SE would not
work with Livebox.
Click to expand...

They likely mean they won't support win98se, as in they won't take the
time to help win98se users.

I have done that but of course this is a fault which probably has nothing to
do with a firewall
Click to expand...

Windows has a built in firewall. Often times it's enabled when it well
shouldn't be. Sometimes mcafees leaves crap behind, or norton for that
matter.

try to ping the remote machine
<start>[run]"cmd"
c:\whatever>"ping x.x.x.y"
where x.x.x.x = the address of the pc with the printer from the remote
machine, or visa versa.

-----
C:\Documents and Settings\zakezuke>ping 192.168.0.1

Pinging 192.168.0.1 with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=127
Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=127
Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=127
Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=127

Ping statistics for 192.168.0.1:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 1ms, Average = 0ms
 
zakezuke said:
I checked on Wanadoo web site and they list 98SE as acceptable but when I
phoned their "technical help line" I got the message that 98SE would not
work with Livebox.
Click to expand...

They likely mean they won't support win98se, as in they won't take the
time to help win98se users.

I have done that but of course this is a fault which probably has nothing to
do with a firewall
Click to expand...

Windows has a built in firewall. Often times it's enabled when it well
shouldn't be. Sometimes mcafees leaves crap behind, or norton for that
matter.

try to ping the remote machine
<start>[run]"cmd"
c:\whatever>"ping x.x.x.y"
where x.x.x.x = the address of the pc with the printer from the remote
machine, or visa versa.

-----
C:\Documents and Settings\zakezuke>ping 192.168.0.1

Pinging 192.168.0.1 with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=127
Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=127
Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=127
Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=127

Ping statistics for 192.168.0.1:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 1ms, Average = 0ms
Click to expand...

I checked the firewall setting on Windows and disconnected it.
The point is I have at present no connection between my PCs.
That is what the software is attwmpting to do. So I can't ping at present
Blair
 
I checked the firewall setting on Windows and disconnected it.
The point is I have at present no connection between my PCs.
That is what the software is attwmpting to do. So I can't ping at present
Blair
Click to expand...

You way wish to check out

http://forums.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/forum_topics.asp?FID=22&PN=1

While there are a ton of people here who know about the particulars of
printers, networking, and basic troubleshooting, I don't think there is
anyone here who knows about this "livebox" device. I presumed it was
your run of the mill wifi router with VoIP phone service but I see
references to "livebox software" without a clear explanation as to what
this software is. The following site sugests "livebox" is just what I
think it is, a standard run of the mill wifirouter, adsl modem, and
VoIP support.

http://zxon.notnet.co.uk/wanadoo/3rdparty.html

I don't honestly know if for example your win98se box has the wireless
or wired network adapter, but if it's the wireless it doesn't have
native WiFI support and you are dependent on the maker of your WiFi
adapter for software. This roughly means someone like my self can't
describe the keystrokes because if I owned a D-link it would be totally
different from Netgear for example. Wired network is more standarized,
and XP is also standardized.

But needless to say I don't have a clear grasp of where the problem is,
and those who actually have experence with this "Livebox" are likely to
be far more helpful.
 
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