I do occasional contract work for a guy who runs a small business from his home. Right now he has 3 computers, 2 newer, 1 old, the newer ones are used the most. They are currently connected through a router onto DSL.
He just contacted me and he would like to be able to share the files between all the computers in one place, basically eliminate the 3 different "My Computers" [XP machines] and have them all be in one place. He would also like to share a printer or two between all 3 computers. The new one he bought is a USB printer, but I think the other one uses a regular parallel cable, but I believe it also has the capability to be plugged into a network.
When I got the request I was thinking that I could do this by setting up a Linux box and using Samba, but I want to stay away from that because I want to keep it easy, I don't spend much time there and the less administration and setup needed, the better it is. So after doing some searches on Froogle I found some devices that do Print Server for about $450 (and iomega one) and also other devices that can do usb print server with wireless router, but not all in one... well this device comes close:
http://www.electronicsoutfitte.../store/gns1000120.html
but it doesn't do wireless. The reason why I would like to do wireless is so that he can connect his personal computer to the business network which is in a different apartment about 40 feet away (and eliminate the DSL account from his home apartment).
Anyway, does anybody here know of a single device or simple solution? Thanks in advance.
He just contacted me and he would like to be able to share the files between all the computers in one place, basically eliminate the 3 different "My Computers" [XP machines] and have them all be in one place. He would also like to share a printer or two between all 3 computers. The new one he bought is a USB printer, but I think the other one uses a regular parallel cable, but I believe it also has the capability to be plugged into a network.
When I got the request I was thinking that I could do this by setting up a Linux box and using Samba, but I want to stay away from that because I want to keep it easy, I don't spend much time there and the less administration and setup needed, the better it is. So after doing some searches on Froogle I found some devices that do Print Server for about $450 (and iomega one) and also other devices that can do usb print server with wireless router, but not all in one... well this device comes close:
http://www.electronicsoutfitte.../store/gns1000120.html
but it doesn't do wireless. The reason why I would like to do wireless is so that he can connect his personal computer to the business network which is in a different apartment about 40 feet away (and eliminate the DSL account from his home apartment).
Anyway, does anybody here know of a single device or simple solution? Thanks in advance.
Facebook
Twitter