Printer Server Question

[Vlad16]

I'm doing some consulting work (accounting) for a client with a server running NT4.0. They are looking to add another printer or two to their small network and asked me if I could hook them up. I'm not much of a networker but figured that I could get some experience by hooking these printers up.

I noticed that they are running one printer server right now, a HP 170X, that is running into their switcher.

Where they want to install the printers is on the other side of the office, and there are two CAT5 lines in the area (one is currently being used by a labtop and the other they plan on hooking into a future computer)

My question is, with this scenario, would it logical to install a hub running off one of these lines, and then installing a printer server from that hub? Ideally, I would like to hook both printers off of one printer server so I guess I would need a printer server with 2 parallel connections.

Are there any printer server/hub combinations out there that would solve these issues.

I appreciate any help or a point in the right direction. Thanks.

Vlad

[Allanv]

yes if you put a hub on the cat5 outlet on the other side of the office and used a printer that could be directly connected to a hub / network without a print server then there isnt a problem. a printer with a built in NIC card would be the one

on the other note i have used a couple of times the d-link print server it has 2 parralel and one serial connection it then connects to a hub using cat5 cable easy to use and setup well once setup thats it basicly ...

hope this helps

if you need more info just ask

here is the link to the newer d-link print server

http://www.dlink.com/products/print/dp303/

[Vlad16]

Thanks Allanv

I think I may have found a solution.

http://www.necxdirect.com/hai/prod_page.html?key=0000152720&nonce=guest_cesp

It's a print server with 2 parallel ports and has 4 switch ports.

One problem is that one printer is a parallel and the other is a USB. I have been looking for a USB to Parallel adapter but have yet to find one. Anyone know where to find one of these? Thanks.

Vlad

[AlwaysUp]

I may be wrong but I don't think there IS such an animal as a parallel to USB adapter.

[DFastLane]

I have a couple of the D-Link print servers at work - they've been good. They use IPX protocol for setup and administration, but support the others for printing

If you hook a hub to one of those CAT5 lines, then remember you'll have to use an uplink port on one end of the connection.

I'd rather have a hub and two separate print servers, that way if something should go down, then it's easier to replace just one component. Kinda like an integrated mainboard - if one part goes, it's all bad...