Print Server

[Mark One]

So what exactly do these do?

I'm installing this sitecom print server into my mums office

I was under the impression I would just need all PCs on the network to have drivers intalled for the printer, then just change the port on each PC so they find the printer on the network instead of at the end of a USB.

Not so.

Having fixed the IP of the print server, I tired printing to the IP 192.168.1.5/printername.
No joy, So I installed the print server software on all the PCs. It turns out that each time you turn on the PC, It uses the software to create a virtual USB across the network. But this won't happen automatically. Also as soon as someone is "connected", no-one else can "connect" which defeats the point of a network printer!!
I am nearing the end of my tether with this now.

Anyone got any experience with these things? Can anyone recommend a good one? anyone actually know what they do/how they work?

 

[Adam K]

i have installed a very similar product from belkin before, basically only 1 pc can have control over the printer at any one time, and when the next machine wants to use the printer it needs to request that the previous machine lets go of the connection to it.

 

[Mark One]

god, how utterly sh1te is that. anyone else got any ideas?

 

[A13EX F Trophy No70]

sounds very complicated cant you have the printer installed to one pc then get all other computers to print through that pc no need for cocking about thats what i've done at my work and that works for macs and pc's (although every mac does print everything twice)

 

[Pettsi]

As above ^ You'd be better of sharing the printer from one machine. But that machine would have to be on all the time.

 

[Mark One]

they have a Backup PC which they call a server which is on all the time. I think I will do as suggested. Use the print server to connect to the backup PC perminently and then everything else can print through the backup PC.

Note to everyone. Print servers are as much good as a really long USB cable.

 

[Adam K]

Note to everyone. Print servers are as much good as a really long USB cable.

not true at all. you have just bought a poor one.

 

[ChrisR]

Note to everyone. Print servers are as much good as a really long USB cable.

No, a proper print server works how you want it to, this just sounds s**t It's more a hub rather than a server.

If you've got a backup server there then use that as an actual print server and hook the printer up to that.

Or just get a printer that has a NIC built in, much easier Personally wouldn't use USB for printer servering anyway.

 

[Mike_182]

Or just get a printer that has a NIC built in, much easier Personally wouldn't use USB for printer servering anyway.

Ditto. Ask anyone who works with Terminal Services and they'll tell you just how much mess a poor choice of printer can make of your system. Printers with NICs now are cheap as - and if you want one that makes your coffee for you look at the HP OfficeJet Pro L7680/7780 - for the money they're astonishingly good bits of kit, and extraordinarily reliable. Much better than tossing around with £5 print servers, and you actually get some manageability through the web server.

 

[Adam K]

Or just get a printer that has a NIC built in, much easier Personally wouldn't use USB for printer servering anyway.

Ditto. Ask anyone who works with Terminal Services and they'll tell you just how much mess a poor choice of printer can make of your system. Printers with NICs now are cheap as - and if you want one that makes your coffee for you look at the HP OfficeJet Pro L7680/7780 - for the money they're astonishingly good bits of kit, and extraordinarily reliable. Much better than tossing around with £5 print servers, and you actually get some manageability through the web server.

i have installed around 180 HP L7680's for a large restaurant chain.

tbh they aren't that sturdy and the cartridges are tiny bar the double size black cartridge which is average.

 

[Mike_182]

Ditto. Ask anyone who works with Terminal Services and they'll tell you just how much mess a poor choice of printer can make of your system. Printers with NICs now are cheap as - and if you want one that makes your coffee for you look at the HP OfficeJet Pro L7680/7780 - for the money they're astonishingly good bits of kit, and extraordinarily reliable. Much better than tossing around with £5 print servers, and you actually get some manageability through the web server.

i have installed around 180 HP L7680's for a large restaurant chain.

tbh they aren't that sturdy and the cartridges are tiny bar the double size black cartridge which is average.

All the carts are available double size - and they're sturdy enough for inkjets. Couple of monthsago HP offered free 3yr NBD support and warranty.

 

[Adam K]

i have installed around 180 HP L7680's for a large restaurant chain.

tbh they aren't that sturdy and the cartridges are tiny bar the double size black cartridge which is average.

All the carts are available double size - and they're sturdy enough for inkjets. Couple of monthsago HP offered free 3yr NBD support and warranty.

i don't profess to be an expert on the cartridges, but how can they all be available in double size when only the section where the black cart goes has the extra width to take a larger cart?

we have had quite a few back due to a paper jam occuring and then when the paper gets pulled out of the printer it breaks plastic crap at the same time.

 

[cava83]

The ideal solution.

Print servers, normally pooh.

If you have a spare PC, use that as your print server.

Buying a good printer is the way to go, always read the professional and customer reviews too, however, some customers are just idiots when they write the reviews.

If you do it through your spare PC, you can also admin everything nicely and you have a much larger control of the drivers and default configuration for everyone.

Note to everyone. Print servers are as much good as a really long USB cable.

No, a proper print server works how you want it to, this just sounds s**t It's more a hub rather than a server.

If you've got a backup server there then use that as an actual print server and hook the printer up to that.

Or just get a printer that has a NIC built in, much easier Personally wouldn't use USB for printer servering anyway.

 

[cava83]

What printer do you use?

For some reason, on some HP's, or universal drivers, if you dissable the advanced setting, which is normally set to 'enabled' it will stop printing your pages twice. It really is ghey.

sounds very complicated cant you have the printer installed to one pc then get all other computers to print through that pc no need for c**king about thats what i've done at my work and that works for macs and pc's (although every mac does print everything twice)

 

[Darren S]

Or just get a printer that has a NIC built in, much easier Personally wouldn't use USB for printer servering anyway.

Ditto. Ask anyone who works with Terminal Services and they'll tell you just how much mess a poor choice of printer can make of your system. Printers with NICs now are cheap as - and if you want one that makes your coffee for you look at the HP OfficeJet Pro L7680/7780 - for the money they're astonishingly good bits of kit, and extraordinarily reliable. Much better than tossing around with £5 print servers, and you actually get some manageability through the web server.

^^^^ - yep.... 'CRINGE!'. Though to be fair, since we switched to Citrix PS4, it's been far better than the older MetaFrame XPa. If there's an issue with a print client - it just affects that print client and doesn't batter the entire print spooler anymore.

HP printer kit just works. We have so few troubles with them. We historically used their JetDirect print servers which on their own were expensive, but as Mike says - so much comes with them inbuilt nowadays.

Ditch that Sitecom one, if I were you.

D.