Print Server - Cheapest cheap option for a cheap cheapskate

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Morgenmuffel

631 posts

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#233379 13-Apr-2018 19:22

Ok here goes,

I don't understand printservers at all really

The issue is all the printers are hooked up in another room to SWMBOs computer, we have 3 printers (we don't need 3 printers, but apparently they are all good at different things), anyway on the rare occasion I need to print anything I have to send it to swmbo and she prints it, I don't know what she does but the document comes out looking like a draft copy, but short of me lugging the printer to the other end of the house its the only option.

I had a brainwave which was to get a little printserver thingie as there were some on trademe for about $20 a while back, but didn't get around to it. and now they are all way dearer than i want to spend (yes I am that cheap).

Anyway we have an Orcon Genius modem the white one, and it has a USB port, is this able to function as a print server?, otherwise our local op shop has dozens of late model modems (ISP supplied ones) for a few dollars each, is it a standard feature for USB ports on these to be able to work as print server thingies

Also are they compatible with all printers or are they brand specific, I don't want to spend much as it is a very rare occasion that I print stuff but it is a frustrating niggle, that it looks like crap when i am fairly sure it wasn't that terrible when I hook it to my computer

'We love to buy books because we believe we’re buying the time to read them.' WARREN ZEVON

nzkc

1572 posts

Uber Geek

#1995701 13-Apr-2018 19:24

Windows? Just share the printer and print it that way.

Or if the printers are network capable use that feature.

Failing any of those, quite a few people grab a raspberry pi to run as a print server for printers that do not have network capabilities.

Update: I dunno about that router but yes some do offer print server capability. Lets say "my answers assume that router/modem does not offer that feature" ;-)

Morgenmuffel

631 posts

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#1995709 13-Apr-2018 20:07

nzkc:

Windows? Just share the printer and print it that way.

Or if the printers are network capable use that feature.

Failing any of those, quite a few people grab a raspberry pi to run as a print server for printers that do not have network capabilities.

Update: I dunno about that router but yes some do offer print server capability. Lets say "my answers assume that router/modem does not offer that feature" ;-)

SWMBO is using Linux, but doesn't do anything other than basic browsing, the printer i need to use is old Brother HL5130? so definitely not network capable,

and i refuse to touch her computer as anything that goes wrong with her machine in the next decade will somehow be linked backed to me doing something on the machine.

I might try the Orcon Router as i only need basic print functionality, the worst that can happen is that it doesn't work, and i'll check out details on the opshop routers and see if any are better

'We love to buy books because we believe we’re buying the time to read them.' WARREN ZEVON

nzkc

1572 posts

Uber Geek

#1995729 13-Apr-2018 20:31

Morgenmuffel:

SWMBO is using Linux, but doesn't do anything other than basic browsing, the printer i need to use is old Brother HL5130? so definitely not network capable,

and i refuse to touch her computer as anything that goes wrong with her machine in the next decade will somehow be linked backed to me doing something on the machine.

I might try the Orcon Router as i only need basic print functionality, the worst that can happen is that it doesn't work, and i'll check out details on the opshop routers and see if any are better

Haha..fair enough.

Go the Raspberry Pi option over another router. It'll be $50 well spent. Trust me!

timmmay

20591 posts

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#1995741 13-Apr-2018 21:01

Plug a long cable into the printer? I gave up on cheap printers, got a reasonably priced brother color laser which anyone on the network can print on, all good.

ObidiahSlope

260 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1995778 13-Apr-2018 22:31

If SWMBO's computer runs Linux it probably already has an A CUPS(Common Unix Printing System) print server installed.

If it is running CUPS has a built in web server listening at port 631 on the loop back network address.Open the browser on her computer and see if you can connect on 127.0.0.1:631

What type of files are you wanting to print? The Linux box will lack the ability to render MS Word files. Save word files as PDF's to print.

Obsequious hypocrite