Networking Printer - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

soccerchamp76 · 12-02-2003, 07:05 PM

I am interested in networking my printer (connected to main computer).

I have a wireless router and my laptop is on the network at my house. The thing is, I had to do no configuration to have access. The laptop (Intel Centrino) automatically connected as soon as I turned it on.

Now, my goal is to be able to print a document and have it print on the base computer's printer.

Any ideas?

P.S. I have the printer software installed on both computers and I hooked up the printer to the laptop via parallel port and tested a page and it worked. Just need to get it wirelessly now.

poof · 12-02-2003, 07:17 PM

Get a print server.

With a printer server your machines share it, but, you don't have to turn on the "base" computer, as the printer is shared, and always on since it is connected to your router/switch via the <a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=1&submit=Go&description=print%2Cservers">printer server</a>. I assumed you have an always on broadband router.

Distraction · 12-02-2003, 07:38 PM

If you don't want to worry about buying anything else you can still do it really easily. But you do have the computer that's attached to the printer on all the time.

What operating system(s) do you use?

With XP it's really easy. Go to control panel, then printers and faxes. Then add a printer. Follow the wizard and when it asks where the printer is, click the "A network printer or a printer connected to another computer" option and go from there.

yodapaul · 12-02-2003, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Distraction

With XP it's really easy. Go to control panel, then printers and faxes. Then add a printer. Follow the wizard and when it asks where the printer is, click the "A network printer or a printer connected to another computer" option and go from there.

Well, ya, but before you do this you have to share the printer. This is done on the computer that the printer is attached to. Once you do this, Win XP on the laptop should see the printer and intall it , and then you will not have to do anything on the laptop.

Of course, if you don't have Win XP then you will have to do as described above.

Let us know how it goes.

Distraction · 12-02-2003, 11:09 PM

Whoops, yeah, sorry. Forgot about the sharing the printer part. Been a while since I set mine up.

soccerchamp76 · 12-03-2003, 08:25 AM

Checked the share box on both machines but I was still unable to do anything.

hrdwareguy · 12-03-2003, 11:39 AM

What OS is the base computer and what OS is the laptop?

soccerchamp76 · 12-03-2003, 05:58 PM

Base - Windows XP Home
Laptop - Windows XP Professional

Distraction · 12-03-2003, 07:02 PM

Do you have any firewalls turned on?

poof · 12-03-2003, 08:38 PM

"If you don't want to worry about buying anything else you can still do it really easily. But you do have to have the computer that's attached to the printer on all the time."

Get a print server!

The firewall comment was just a <strike>silly </strike> Distraction. If configured properly, your network will understand all the computers and print servers and they are ahead of any firewall.

After all, they are on your side, ya know, your network.

Now, my goal is to be able to print a document and have it print on the base computer's printer.

Then share the printer, leave the "base" computer on whenever you need to print, or, taa daa, get a simple, inexpensive print server!

The printer server is always on, and understands the input from any computer on the network that has (shared) permissions.

The computers on the network talk to the server. There is no need to have a "base" computer. As each computer understands it's access point to the internet/network it will also understand that to print, go to the server!

When installing a printer, instead of assigning it to lpt1, you assign it to the port on the print server. It is very simple, and quite popular. I suppose that is why printer servers cost less than a hundred dollars.

Distraction · 12-03-2003, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by poof
The firewall comment was just a <strike>silly </strike> Distraction. If configured properly, your network will understand all the computers and print servers and they are ahead of any firewall

The configured properly part may be what's wrong. When I first installed a firewall (Zonealarm in my case) I didn't have a network at the time. When I did get a couple more comps and a router and set up my network, I couldn't see any of the other comps nor share any printers. After much advil and learning on my part, I realized that Zonealarm was blocking access to anything on my network. I fixed that and everything worked fine.

I'm not saying print servers or firewalls are bad. Firewalls are almost a necessity now and print servers are great. But some people really don't want to deal with or have the money to buy a print server and some people don't know that much about firewalls or how to configure them properly.

So, in closing, if you want to get a print server. Go for it. If you don't, then don't. Neither way is really better then the other for a small home network.

poof · 12-03-2003, 09:57 PM

Distraction, Thanks for the clarification. I also use Zone Alarm, and when I make network changes, not settings actual hardware changes, it comes up and says it has found a new net. If you do not grant permissions, (and why wouldn't you,) it probably would block the print server, so you bring a good point now that I understand your position.

I still feel strongly that the poster could benefit by purchasing an inexpensive print server.

12-02-2003, 07:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
soccerchamp76 Go Cardinals Location: St. Louis/Cincinnati	Networking Printer I am interested in networking my printer (connected to main computer). I have a wireless router and my laptop is on the network at my house. The thing is, I had to do no configuration to have access. The laptop (Intel Centrino) automatically connected as soon as I turned it on. Now, my goal is to be able to print a document and have it print on the base computer's printer. Any ideas? P.S. I have the printer software installed on both computers and I hooked up the printer to the laptop via parallel port and tested a page and it worked. Just need to get it wirelessly now. __________________ Brian Griffin: Ah, if my memory serves me, this is the physics department. Chris Griffin: That would explain all the gravity.

12-03-2003, 08:25 AM	#6 (permalink)
soccerchamp76 Go Cardinals Location: St. Louis/Cincinnati	Checked the share box on both machines but I was still unable to do anything. __________________ Brian Griffin: Ah, if my memory serves me, this is the physics department. Chris Griffin: That would explain all the gravity.

12-03-2003, 11:39 AM	#7 (permalink)
hrdwareguy "Officer, I was in fear for my life" Location: Oklahoma City	What OS is the base computer and what OS is the laptop? __________________ Gun Control is hitting what you aim at Aim for the TFP, Donate Today

12-03-2003, 05:58 PM	#8 (permalink)
soccerchamp76 Go Cardinals Location: St. Louis/Cincinnati	Base - Windows XP Home Laptop - Windows XP Professional __________________ Brian Griffin: Ah, if my memory serves me, this is the physics department. Chris Griffin: That would explain all the gravity.

12-03-2003, 08:38 PM	#10 (permalink)
poof Psycho	<b>"If you don't want to worry about buying anything else you can still do it really easily. But you do have <b> to have</b> the computer that's attached to the printer on all the time.</b>" Get a print server! The firewall comment was just a <strike>silly </strike> <i>Distraction</i>. If configured properly, your network will understand all the computers and print servers and they are ahead of any firewall. After all, they are on your side, ya know, your network. <b>Now, my goal is to be able to print a document and have it print on the base computer's printer.</b> Then share the printer, leave the "base" computer on whenever you need to print, or, <b>taa daa</b>, get a simple, inexpensive print server! The printer server is always on, and understands the input from any computer on the network that has (shared) permissions. The computers on the network talk to the server. There is no need to have a "base" computer. As each computer understands it's access point to the internet/network it will also understand that to print, go to the server! When installing a printer, instead of assigning it to lpt1, you assign it to the port on the print server. It is very simple, and quite popular. I suppose that is why printer servers cost less than a hundred dollars. Last edited by poof; 12-03-2003 at 08:52 PM..

12-02-2003, 07:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
poof Psycho	Get a print server. With a printer server your machines share it, but, you don't have to turn on the "base" computer, as the printer is shared, and always on since it is connected to your router/switch via the <a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=1&submit=Go&description=print%2Cservers">printer server</a>. I assumed you have an always on broadband router.

12-02-2003, 07:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
Distraction Tilted Location: Florida	If you don't want to worry about buying anything else you can still do it really easily. But you do have the computer that's attached to the printer on all the time. What operating system(s) do you use? With XP it's really easy. Go to control panel, then printers and faxes. Then add a printer. Follow the wizard and when it asks where the printer is, click the "A network printer or a printer connected to another computer" option and go from there.

12-02-2003, 11:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
Distraction Tilted Location: Florida	Whoops, yeah, sorry. Forgot about the sharing the printer part. Been a while since I set mine up.

12-03-2003, 07:02 PM	#9 (permalink)
Distraction Tilted Location: Florida	Do you have any firewalls turned on?

12-03-2003, 09:57 PM	#12 (permalink)
poof Psycho	<i>Distraction</i>, Thanks for the clarification. I also use Zone Alarm, and when I make network changes, not settings actual hardware changes, it comes up and says it has found a new net. If you do not grant permissions, (and why wouldn't you,) it probably would block the print server, so you bring a good point now that I understand your position. I still feel strongly that the poster could benefit by purchasing an inexpensive print server.