Print Server help

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gcam032

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#16354 5-Oct-2007 15:25

Hey everyone,

My dilema is this:

What I want to do is connect two computers to 1 printer. The printer can connect via ethernet or USB. That is all very easy BUT I don't want to network the computers together. This is important as they're running very sensitive scientific instruments and it's a risk that work is not willing to take. So I thought you could get those wee print server hub things and do it that way?

Does anyone know the best way for me to do this?

Thanks in advance.

geekiegeek

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#89658 5-Oct-2007 15:30

connect one by usb and the other via ethernet.

gcam032

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#89659 5-Oct-2007 15:37

Thanks,

So does that mean that the ports on the printer (USB/Ethernet) can act independently? What will happen if the two computers want to interact with the printer at the same time? Can it spool itself?

Thanks

chiefie

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#89660 5-Oct-2007 15:38

If the above failed, you can try install the printer driver to both PCs and just plug and unplug the USB cable in between depending on which PC wants to print. very manual but to ensure both are set up properly and switch on demand, very little effort to make sure all work "as intended" as if they're one-to-one PC-Printer.

There are a few USB devices which can share a USB device with multiple computer, but some devices may not like that as two PCs are fighting to be the host to the USB device.

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chiefie

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#89662 5-Oct-2007 15:43

Oh.. if using ethernet... i think all you need is a hub or a switch, you may not need to set up network between two pcs. As most network-ready printer can be print server themselves.

Just install the necessary network printer driver on each PC, cable them up to the switch, make sure they are same IP range as the printer, and that should work.

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gcam032

20 posts

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#89663 5-Oct-2007 15:45

Awsome, thanks for your help! I'll get onto it next week.

Gareth

MuShrOomKing

13 posts

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#90245 9-Oct-2007 12:55

The other solution you can try is to get a Usb sharing station, which lets you just switch between the 2 pcs and the printer
But only one pc can print at a time, and when you want to change over to the other pc you have to press the switcher on the sharing station

So in short its like a KVM switch for Usb devices only :)

cyril7

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#90247 9-Oct-2007 13:09

Why is your work concerned about networking the computers together, if they are concerned about earth loops then make them aware that ethernet is galvanically isolated, ie there are coupling transformers in every interface that isolate each device.

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gcam032

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#90250 9-Oct-2007 13:23

I know it sounds silly but it is just a work policy that I cannot change.

cyril7

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#90252 9-Oct-2007 13:25

Odd, guess empires have to make rules

Cyril

gcam032

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#90254 9-Oct-2007 13:33

The basic jist of it is that the computers are controlling sensitive scientific instruments worth close to $1m each and they're scared that if the computer is networked it will be open to problems which may inturn destroy the instruments. It's an "if it ain't broke don't fix it" type thing.

Of course there would be no problems, but it's not worth my time to argue it out with them.