I would like to add a print server, maybe two, to my home network.

[TazExprez]

I currently have a network at home and would like to add one, maybe two, USB printers to the network. Right now I have a Linksys WiFi G router in the center bedroom. The two printers are on the bedrooms on either side of the room with the router. One of the side bedrooms has a Linksys wired only router because I have a PS2 with the online adapter and a wired PC in this room. This room also has a laptop and Pocket PC, but they both work on the WiFi G connection. The side other bedroom only has a wired PC, so it doesn't have a router. The center bedroom only has a WiFi G laptop and a PS2 with the online adapter. And the home theater room has a HTPC with a USB 2.0 WiFi G adapter because I didn't feel like running a wire downstairs.

So what would I need to add to the side rooms in order to have the printers work? The printer in the room with the single wired PC and no router is a Canon i860, which turns on alone when jobs are sent to it. The printer in the room with the router, laptop, regular PC, PS2, and Pocket PC is a Canon bjc-55. I haven't used this one in a while, but I don't think it turns on alone. In the room without the router, what should I get? Will the printer in this room still turn on alone? What should I get for the room with the router in it?

I have never used a print server.

Thanks for all your help.

 

[Goosemaster]

Expensive, but it allows for wireless stand-alone printers.

All you need to do then is "add network printer" in "printers" and point it to that IP


Here is a regular WIRED print server (considerablly cheaper)

 

[TazExprez]

Hey, thanks a lot. I was wondering, if I get a wired one for the printer in the side room without the router, then I will need to buy a router and a wired print server, too? Or will the wired print server let me connect a USB printer and the PC on the ethernet port? Also, am I better off getting wired or wireless print servers for USB printers? Will the wireless performance of my 2 laptops, 1 HTPC, and 1 WiFi PPC be affected if I get a wireless print server? Thanks again.

 

[Goosemaster]

I would recommend that you get the wired print servers so it doesn't clog up the already-slow WLAN.

Think of a print server as a sort of a PC. It acts just like a host PC that is sharing its printer.

 

[TazExprez]

Hey, should I also get a router for the room that has no router, or will the wired print server handle the wired PC and the printer in that room? Also, are there any routers currently available with print servers built in? Or will I get better performance by having everything separate? Thanks again.

 

[Cheetah8799]

You only need one router. If you already have a router between your network and your cable/dsl modem, and you just want to connect a print server to the wired network in another room, then you could either put a switch in the room, or maybe run a long CAT5 cable directly to the print server.

Some routers come with a print server built in, but most often only 1, and since you need 2 you'd still have to get a standalone print server.

I 2nd the suggestion on getting wired print server(s). If you print a lot, wireless may bog down your network. There also may be more lag time between when you start your print job and when it actually starts to print. Especially if you print graphics or other large types of jobs.

 

[kevnich2]

Why not get this, it's a print server with an integrated 4-port switch:
http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=34&scid=32&prid=580

 

[TazExprez]

Thanks for your replies.

I currently have two routers. The wireless one is in the center room and the wired one is in the side room. This side room has a wired PC and a wired PS2, and it also has a WiFi laptop and a WiFi PPC. The other side room only has one wired PC, so it has no router.

Do you think I should just add a router with a built-in print server to the side room without a router and a print server to the side room with the router? Or should I just add a print server and a router to the side room without the router, and just a print server to the side with a router? I don't really want to run any more wires in my house.

Thanks again.

 

[jleon]

I'm still loving my SMC 7004ABR. It's a broadband router with built in print server. You connect via good 'ol parallel port to the back of the router.

 

[TazExprez]

Hey guys thanks for all your help. I have decided to just get two separate wired USB print servers and another router. So my setup will now have three routers and two wired print servers. Thanks again.

 

[TazExprez]

Which print servers do you think I should get?

 

[TazExprez]

Btw, will the printers still turn on automatically, when used with the print servers, or will I need to turn them on before doing jobs? Thanks again.