Printer Help For Work

[wanderica]

Hi all,

I work in a fairly large medical laboratory, and we have 3 coagulation instruments that run via software on a Windows XP computer. These computers are NOT part of the hospital network. The instruments themselves interface directly with Pathnet (a computer program used for all lab functions on the network), but the computers controlling them do not.

I've been given a task of networking a single Lexmark T654n laser printer to all 3 instruments. This shouldn't be too difficult, but networking printers and setting up Apple mail clients has always been my achilles' heel. I know that it should be as simple as getting a simple 4 port switch and connecting the 3 computers and the printer to it. What of driver support? All 3 computers will have to have the printer drivers installed, correct? Sorry for the seemingly simple question, but I need to submit a parts list and prices to the boss man tomorrow morning and I want to make sure I have it right.

Thank in advance for the input.

 

[Ketchup]

I can't find anything on the Lexmark site for a T658n, but if we are talking XP, then you most likely will need drivers if it is any newer than 2001.

 

[wanderica]

I can't find anything on the Lexmark site for a T658n, but if we are talking XP, then you most likely will need drivers if it is any newer than 2001.

Sorry, I got the model number wrong. It's T654n. Updated the OP. This printer is definitely newer than 2001. I'll be sure and have the Lexmark drivers on a thumb drive just in case then. Thanks.

 

[wanderica]

OK, so now I have an issue, and I don't know if what we're trying to do is even possible. After closer inspection, it turns out that the instruments are interfaced with the computers using the network port. Changing this is not an option, as it is required for reporting patient test results.

Is there any way to do this using only USB, or even a Firewire network via Firewire hub, and not Ethernet?

 

[Ketchup]

That may be difficult without knowing more about those devices (not necessarily expecting a detailed explanation here) but you may want to ask JackMDS to move your thread over to Networking to see if the folks there can think of anything (getting those devices on a network).

The way I understand it (in other words 'in case I am getting this wrong') we have three computers each running the "instrument" connected through the network port on those computers. You need to get a network printer to connect to all three computers, but of course the instruments are using the port necessary to do this.

 

[Fardringle]

Put a second network card in each of the XP machines. Wire those cards directly to a network switch and assign them static IP addresses in a different address range than the main network (or even to a simple router that will assign IP addresses) and connect the printer to that switch/router as well.

 

[Ketchup]

Put a second network card in each of the XP machines. Wire those cards directly to a network switch and assign them static IP addresses in a different address range than the main network (or even to a simple router that will assign IP addresses) and connect the printer to that switch/router as well.

I was thinking about that (should have mentioned it) and wondering how that would work. So would they and the printer need to be in a different address range than the device using the other network port?

 

[alzan]

I was thinking about that (should have mentioned it) and wondering how that would work. So would they and the printer need to be in a different address range than the device using the other network port?

I would think so, if for no other reason than getting rid of potential conflicts with existing IP addresses. Also would ease setup of porting print jobs to a specific printer IP.

 

[Fardringle]

Yes, the printer sharing 'network' would have a completely different IP address range than the IP addresses used by the medical instruments.