How do I install this HP network printer...?

[LawyerRon]

I’ve ordered an HP 4200TN Laser Printer for our network. This is intended to be a stand alone printer on our network. The specs on the printer are here: http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/un/WF06/18972-236251-236263-14638-84028-84036-84037.html

Our server runs the Windows 2000 Server operating system and the pc’s all run WIN98SE. The printer will be here in a few days but I want to know what to expect as far as software installation and any other issues are concerned. I’ve never installed a network printer before. This might sound dumb, but does the software get installed on the server? A basic overview of the install process would be appreciated.

[reboot]

Hook the printer to the server, and install it as a networked printer.
Open the properties tab of the printer, and share it.
On each 98 box, set the default printer as the networked HP.
Done.

[LawyerRon]

Thanks Jim.

[reboot]

You're welcome, actually it's easier said than done, but providing the server takes the installation as a "Networked Printer", it should all go well.

[glc]

Nope - the TN has an internal Jet Direct card - you don't connect it to the server, you connect it to your network switch.

If your network has a DHCP server to assign IP addresses (either a router or the 2K server itself) to all the workstations, the printer is ready to go, it defaults to using DHCP to get its IP address. If you use static IP addressing on your network you assign its IP address through the front panel menus.

To install the printer on a workstation, just run the CD, tell it that it's a network printer on a Jet Direct, and it will go out and find it and install the driver and appropriate network port. Same thing if you want to install the driver on the server.

[LawyerRon]

OK, thanks George.


Of course I'll read the manual when the printer arrives, but I wanted to know what to expect since I've never done this type of printer install.

[reboot]

Gah...figures, it can't just be a "Printer", it's gotta be something complicated that HP thinks is a "better idea"...
Sorry Ron.

[glc]

Complicated? This is a lot better than a shared local printer! The Jet Direct card has 2mb of onboard memory and acts as the print spooler, the server doesn't even get involved in handling print jobs. There are many different models of print servers out there these days, but the HP Jet Direct has always been, and still is, the best, and is priced accordingly.

[LawyerRon]

Hey George,
I'm installing the printer today and I'm still kinda lost. Do I run the install cd (from HP) directly from the server, or can I run it from any workstation? This printer is not to be hosted by a pc, it's a stand alone printer.

[LawyerRon]

Nevermind, I figured it out; I just installed the software on each pc (from the server) and it found the printer on the network just fine.