USB and parallel ports

[fstreed]

I have a HP 882C printer hooked up to a computer using the USB port. The printer also has a parallel port. Could I use the parallel port to connect to a network through a print server, and still use the USB connection?

 

[eklass]

uh... huh?

you're not making any sense... if you're going to connect the printer to a print server (a computer or a dedicated print server), then it's on the network and you can just print right over the network... why would you want to utilize the usb connection?

 

[amdskip]

Just use the print server.

 

[fstreed]

Because I want to know if it would work! And because the computer hooked up with the USB cable ain't got a network card!

 

[eklass]

...network cards can be had for $10 at circuit city... buy one, it does a mobo good

 

[amdskip]

Originally posted by: eklass
...network cards can be had for $10 at circuit city... buy one, it does a mobo good

yup

 

[fstreed]

eklass and amdskip, thanks for the excellent advice. It has been most useful. Little hard to implement though, since I don't have room for a network card. But hey, wtf, I COULD just buy another computer and be done with it. Or hey, why not just buy another printer, they are cheap right now and that would sure be easier than plugging my old clunker into the printer using the USB port and then using the parallel port to connect to my network so the networked computers, which are in different rooms, could use the same printer. And then of course there is also the fact that if I or my wife want to print something the computer that is hooked to the printer must be turned on in order to print through the network. But I guess I could just solve that by leaving it on all the time even though it is in the bed room and the Ol' Lady goes ballistic if I try to leave it on at night. But I guess I could just trade her in for a more tolerant wife, maybe a younger model, but how do I know the new wife won't also go ballistic 'cause she can't sleep with fans whining all night. But it would probably be cheaper to just buy another printer or two.

Now back to where I started. Will a printer that has both a USB connection and a parallel connection work with a computer plugged into each or can I only use one port at a time. I would like to leave my old clunker, which AIN'T going on the network, hooked up to the printer using the USB port, and I would like to use an el cheapo print server to also connect my network of two computers to the same printer using the parallel port. The advantage is that either computer could use the printer without turning on another dedicated computer. I would like to know if my idea is feasible before I invest in a print server. Maybe someone on another forum might know....maybe the crew over at linuxquestions.org might know.

 

[igowerf]

I don't know if the printer thing would work, although I'd imagine that it would. Don't quote me on that though.

I just ordered a $50 print server from Amazon.com. I believe it's made by Hawking. I have a wireless network set up at home with 2 desktops and a laptop. I plan to build another system this summer, so for me, this print server is a very worthwhile investment. It'll let me upgrade my network in the future without worrying about getting a router with a built in print server.