Help me decide what to use for sharing my hp932c

[edrod13]

Guys,

I have shared my Hp9832c for quite some time through a small two pc network. Over time it has become a hassle to leave my main pc on just so that the other pc can have access to the printer. I was wondering if I could just buy a USB hub and hook the printer to the hub and both pc's to the hub as well. Would this work or do you guys have any other suggestions for sharing the printer. Thanks

Edrod13

[glc]

You can't do that, but you can buy both USB and parallel print servers which you plug the printer into and then plug it into your hub/switch/router.

[edrod13]

Hmm.... I don't have at this time a hub/router or switch. I am still on dial up and hopefully soon plan on getting DSL. Would it be wise to go out and get a router with a print server just to share the printer. Would it be better just to buy a cheap 4 port hub and use the USB print server with it. Thanks

Edrod13

[Redo40]

If your planning on getting DSL, I would go for the router with print server. I think Hal has a SMC that he recommends.


SMC Barricade, Router, Model SMC7004ABR Retail The Barricade is an ideal all-in-one networking solution for home and small business users.
Specifications:
Ports:Four 10Base-T/100BaseTX RJ-45 ports (auto-MDIX/MDI)
One 10Base-T/100BaseTX Broadband WAN port
One DB-9 port for PSTN/ISDN connection
One DB-25 printer port
Internet Sharing Methods Static IP, Dynamic IP, PPPoE, Dial-up networking
Protocols TCP/IP, PPTP, IPSec (VPN) Model#: SMC7004ABR Special Free FedEx Saver Shipping
- Product Link -See It! (image count 4 ) -Price Alert (N82E16833129001) Return to Service
(avg rating out of 4 voters)
(3)
$78.00 Newegg

[Mac Medic]

USB Print server huh. I need 1 of those. Where would I get somthing like that GLC?.

[morriswindgate]

That SMC Router/Print Server is a great one, very easy to set up.

[Confused]

Originally posted by edrod13
Hmm.... I don't have at this time a hub/router or switch. I am still on dial up and hopefully soon plan on getting DSL. Would it be wise to go out and get a router with a print server just to share the printer. Would it be better just to buy a cheap 4 port hub and use the USB print server with it. Thanks

Edrod13

You need a router if going DSL as you will only need the one provided IP address. If you try to use a hub or switch each PC will need a seperate IP address from your provider which is usually additional expense.

Personally I would go with a router with printer port.
Chas

[Redo40]

Originally posted by oem_guy_2002
USB Print server huh. I need 1 of those. Where would I get somthing like that GLC?.

USB Print Server (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?submit=manufactory&catalog=29&manufactory=1479&DEPA=1&sortby=14&order=1)

[edrod13]

Update:

Last night I picked up a NETGEAR FR114P Router w/ Firewall and Print Server at CompUsa for $99. Since I don't have high speed internet I just wanted this for file sharing and sharing of the printer through the print server port. I initially had both of my pc's networked together so I just installed a patch cable on both pc's turned on the router and I was file sharing without any problems.

Installing the print server has been a little more troublesome but I haven't spent much time on it since I have been occupied with other things. Last night I put in the manufacture CD and installed the PRINT SERVER DRIVER on one pc. I ran the utility and it wouldn't recognize the printer because I did not have TCP/IP bound to the adapter since I was using NETBUI to file share. Anyways I installed TCP/IP and it recognized the Deskjet 930C and it assigned it to port 1. I added it and then the add printer wizard came up so that I could install the printer on the pc. I choose NETWORK PRINTER and It could not locate the printer if my life depended on it. After repeated attempts I gave up and went to bed.

This morning I called tech support and the person on the line said I need to choose LOCAL PRINTER because I am using the print server. Well, I chose LOCAL PRINTER and the damn thing was there for me to choose. It asked me for the driver and what not and it seemed like everything was going great so I hung up with tech support. After the driver installed I tried to print a test page and the print job was just in the queue and never printed. I got some message " Printer busy with other jobs, will retry every 50 seconds" or somethign similar. So that where I left off and will try and mess with it tonight when I get home. One thing that I did notice was that the manual stated that DSL was a requirement but tech support said I should be able to use it to share files and printer. Anybody have any suggestions since I have never installed a router. Will I have to install the print server driver on each individual pc also? Thanks

Edrod13

[edrod13]

Anybody?

I have tried like crazy using PTP but the printer seems to always be busy. Anybody using LPR instead. Thanks

Edrod13

[glc]

Depends on the print server - HP Jet Directs only need a standard TCP/IP port installed on each computer but a Linksys needs the print server driver installed on each PC. Those are the only 2 print servers I've used.

[edrod13]

Hmm, it seems that this router needs the driver installed otherwise I can't add the printer or at least thats what I have seen. I am having mixed reactions of this router since Netgear tech support tells me I am doing everything right but the printer will just not print and it keeps stating that the printer is busy doing other jobs. Well I have done some research off of the netgear site so tonight I willl try some new things. Thanks

Edrod13

[edrod13]

Guys,

After a few days with NETGEAR tech support I was about ready to bash my router with my fist. No matter what I tried, it wouldn't work. Since the router had the original firmware when the product was released, I decided to upgrade it to the next level. After doing so I was having the same problem and was feeling very frustrated. Tonight at work I was doing a random search on yahoo and came across a thread at DSL REPORTS and someone there had mentioned how he was a beta tester and he had the latest and greatest and it was working flawlessly on their router. I decided to download it even though the fixed issues where not pertinent to the print server. After the upgrade, the print server on my router is now working! Funny thing is that I was messing with it tonight for the last time and was going to return it to COMPUSA tomorrow for a refund. I have never been a person who trusts beta drivers and what not, but tonight was awesome. I am going to go for now, but will post back soon because I have some networking questions that I need help on. Thanks

Edrod13