Networking a printer

IM

I suppose I ought to preface this with a request for any pointers towards a beginner's guide to creating a home network - as it's occurred to me that I know very little

Beyond that though, the specific thing I want is help with adding a printer to my network.

I currently have a desktop PC connected directly to my router (Sky are my ISP - it's a Netgear DG934G) via ethernet, and a printer (a Lexmark E232) which connects to that PC via USB. The PC and printer are both in an upstairs office (handily adjacent to a phone point).

For the rest of the house, I have a laptop, tablet and various phones connecting to the internet via wi-fi, together with a Canon MX880 colour scanner/printer.

I've just bought some Devolo power line network extenders, to improve the wi-fi signal in the dining room, where I tend to use my work laptop.

It is this work laptop that I specifically need to be able to connect to the Lexmark printer upstairs.

What's the best way to go about this?

(I don't want to add a wi-fi adapter to the printer, because I know I won't get a great connection with the laptop downstairs)

Hoping the good folk of MSE can help.

kwikbreaks

That printer doesn't appear to have any ethernet port so you'd need to leave it connected to the desktop with the USB cable and enable printer sharing. To use the printer the desktop would need to be powered on.

It isn't clear whether or not you've set up a home network linking the desktop and laptop but that would be a requirement too.

System

what version of windows are you using on each machine? the homegroup function of win7 makes setting these up very easy

macman

OTOH, if you are trying to network across different OS's, it can be a complete PITA. I once spent a whole day trying to network a Vista desktop to an XP laptop in order to be able to print direct from the laptop. I did eventually get it working, but I was never sure quite how.

zax47

Just get a USB print server, which lets you connect USB printers directly to your router. Any machine connected to your network(via wireless or otherwise) can then print from it without having to have the desktop PC switched on.

Plenty of choice here, doesn't need to be expensive; http://www.amazon.co.uk/b?ie=UTF8&node=430577031

Im_just_careful

I'm currently using two different methods to achieve what you describe.

1) A router with a USB print port (This has a Lexmark E120 connected to it)

2) A Network Attached Storage (NAS) disk drive. (This has a Dell colour printer connected to it)

There is no particular reason why each printer is connected to each device, other than convenience.

Without too much messing about, both printers work from XP, Windows 7 & OSX both wired and wireless.

The key thing to know is to follow the instructions on the device with the print server (NAS or router) not the printer manufacturer.

From where you are I would buy a NAS, this has merits as a backup anyway. I mirror data from all the computers onto the NAS to protect against disc failure.

Im_just_careful

One other point. If you use a VPN on your work laptop you will have extreme difficulty in using a networked local printer.

System

What's money saving about advising the op to buy new equipment when they already have everything they need?!?

IM

Thank for the replies.

The desktop PC and one laptop are both Windows 7, the work laptop is on XP - plus a tablet and a couple of phones on Android.

The router doesn't have any USB ports.

Is there anything to choose between USB print servers (and are they plug 'n' play?)

Im just careful -Take you point about the VPN, but I guess once I can print, I can establish if our IT department will let me

IM

the_r_sole wrote: »

what version of windows are you using on each machine? the homegroup function of win7 makes setting these up very easy

Had never heard of/spotted this (told you I know very little), but have managed to print from the laptop just now - so many thanks :T

Just a question of figuring out how to bring the (XP) work laptop - and ideally the Android devices - into the fold....

securityguy

IM wrote: »

Im just careful -Take you point about the VPN, but I guess once I can print, I can establish if our IT department will let me

It's almost unimaginable that they will permit split tunnelling, which would be required to permit printing while the VPN is up. As to whether you can add the drivers to print while the VPN is disconnected, that's more up for negotiation.