Adding a printer to the network

[Nebor]

I'm not much of a networking guy, so I figured I'd let you guys have a go at my problem.

Basically, I have an HP Printer\Scanner that connects via USB to my AMD machine in the office. Also in the office is a Dlink DI-604 router, which connects to my cable modem, as well as the AMD machine, my Intel machine (on the other side of the house) and my laptop (same room as printer\amd machine.) As it stands, if I want to print, I have to go and power on the AMD machine, then come back in here and hit print.

What I'm looking for is some way to plug the printer into the spare network port on my router and have all computers be able to print to it at all times, regardless of which computers are corrently on. I'm not sure what to call what I want, I'm not sure that it's a print server.... Anyways, I realize that it's very unlikely that I would keep my scanning abilities through the ethernet port, so I'd probably through some kind of USB switch between the printer and the print server(?).

So please, tell me what I need, and if possible, a specific brand.

Thanks,
Your Nebor

 

[Swimmer12]

Usb printer server will do the trick.. as far as the scanning abilities.. the are going to be lost... I am not sure wether the USB switch is going to work... I am not confident that the print server is going to find the printer every time... I think they you have to have the printer directly connected to the print server... If you have a bi-directional printer... HP and other high end printers you might run into a problem with the printer... I think that the linksys printer server takes care of this issue... you might just have to do the old plug in to scan and then un plug it to use it on the network...

These are network ready.. http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF25a/18972-238444-410635-12019-f51-376170.html except for the $599 one...

 

[InlineFive]

That would be a complicated switch. It might be easier to plug it into your primary machine and set it up as a network share.

 

[Swimmer12]

it would be like a KVM switch.. but I can find something that allow you to select what port you use... If you can get one of those I am more confident that it would work..

 

[Nebor]

Look, just tell me how to plug my printer into the network so that all computers can use it.

 

[imported_Paladin]

http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=305183&pfp=BROWSE Or Equivalent -- Connects your Ethernet network to the Printer.

Or you could simply leave one computer powered up as a file/print server.