Guide to Print Servers

Share your printer with a network print server
By B. Lumadue

Print servers are hardware devices that connect a printer to a network. The device connects to the printer's USB, serial or parallel port on one end. The other end is connected to the network through wireless or network cable.

Once installed, set up the Ethernet print server with an Internet protocol (IP) address, which makes it easy to install the printer on your networked computers. Just use the same procedure to install a network printer as you would a local printer, but instead of selecting a local port, choose a transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP) port and enter the printer's IP address. There are a few different kinds of print servers:

1. A wireless, parallel, serial or USB print server.

2. An internal print server that is integrated into the printer.

3. A server or computer workstation that shares a printer and acts as a print server.

Action Steps

The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose the right kind of print server Check your printer to see what kind of ports it has before purchasing a print server. Get a parallel print server for a printer that connects to a parallel port, USB for a USB port, and serial for serial connections. Print servers have either a single port or multiple ports to share more than one printer.

I recommend: D-link carries a wide range of print servers, including the DI-604UP router print server combination. It acts as a network router for small offices and has a built-in USB print server. Axis has products with single and multiple ports with USB, serial and parallel connections. The 5550 has USB and parallel ports to connect to both kinds of printers. HP Jetdirect is a leader in print server products, with a full line of parallel and USB print servers

Go wireless A wireless print server allows computers to connect to one or more printers without using network cable.

I recommend: Browse the wireless print server selections at HP, Netgear and Linksys.

Consider an internal print server An internal print server is a card that is installed on a compatible printer. Advantages of an internal print server is that it saves space and you don't have to worry about it getting accidentally disconnected from the printer.

I recommend: The HP jet direct is the most popular internal network print server. You can purchase it already installed -- look for printers with "N" at the end of the model -- or buy one later for a compatible HP printer. Epson is another manufacturer of internal print servers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

As an alternative to a printer server, you can set up a server or workstation as a print server. Connect a printer and share it with Windows file and print sharing. A regular computer will work in this role as long as it stays on all the time and has enough memory and processing power to handle print jobs from multiple users.
Keep cable-length limitations in mind if you're thinking about using a multi-port print server to connect to two or more printers in different locations. Sixteen feet is the recommended maximum length for USB and 10 feet for IEEE-1284 parallel cable.