Trying to use Okidata 420 dot matrix printer with print server

[FightingChance]

Okidata Microline 420 dot matrix printer. I've got a Netgear USB print server, small simple thing (PS121). Everything is hooked up, but when I run the software wizard and get to the auto-detection part, the print server gets detected but it says 'no printer' in the printer name field - like the print server is having trouble connecting to the Okidata.

Is there some standard that the Okidata is not adhering to to talk to the print server? Not sure what I'm doing wrong with something so simple...

Edit: I got it to work with a Dell 1720 laser printer; I am thinking that the printer must be PCL compliant to work with the print server, and the Okidata as far as I can tell is not a PCL printer.

 

[JackMDS]

The ad-ons printer servers are "Up to Luck" devices. They do not work with many printers.

http://www.ezlan.net/prtserver.html

 

[FightingChance]

Thanks for your reply. Makes sense.

 

[spikespiegal]

Best way to share-off a dot matrix printer is hook it to a beater PC with NT4 or Win2K on it.

 

[Fardringle]

The Microline 420 is a network capable printer. If you have the 420n, it already has a network card in the printer. Simply hook it up to your router (with an ethernet cable, not a USB cable) and configure the printer with the correct IP address settings for it to talk to the network. If it is not the "n" model, you'll need to purchase the appropriate network adapter before connecting it to the network.

 

[ScottMac]

Is the printer Serial or Parallel? Does it have a 50Pin Centronics -style connector, or a 25 pin serial connector?