Using One Printer to Serve Three Computers


  1. Posts : 7
    Windows 7
       #1

    Using One Printer to Serve Three Computers


    Hello
    Members,
    My problem is as follows. I have one printer that is physically connected to one computer, but is wirelessly connected to two other computers. The way the setup I have at present works means that the computer the printer is physically attached to has to be on for the other two computers to print anything.
    I recently purchased a new Dlink modem/router and I believe it has the ability to connect the printer to the modem/router via a USB port. All I need are instructions on how to setup the router so the three computers can communicate with the printer and not need the physically connected computer to be powered on.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 3,371
    W10 Pro desktop, W11 laptop, W11 Pro tablet (all 64-bit)
       #2

    What model dlink router? Just because the router has a USB port, doesn't mean a printer can be attached, it also needs to have printer server functionality built in.

    Does the printer itself have built-in wifi? What make/model is your printer? If the printer has built-in wifi, then it can connect to the router via wifi and you can sever the physical connection between the computer and the printer but have all computers able to use the printer as long as they are connected to the network.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 2,752
    Windows 7 Pro x64 (1), Win7 Pro X64 (2)
       #3

    elusive1 said:
    Hello
    Members,
    My problem is as follows. I have one printer that is physically connected to one computer, but is wirelessly connected to two other computers. The way the setup I have at present works means that the computer the printer is physically attached to has to be on for the other two computers to print anything.
    I think you must misunderstand the setup you have. If things were the way you say then each of the three computers would have independent connectivity to the printer, and the one with the local USB cable connection wouldn't have to be on in order for the other two to still be able to print. The one with the physical USB cable connection could definitely be off, and the other two PC's would still be wirelessly talking to the printer and be able to use it.

    So, although you may not have realized what you did, I believe that the PC with physical USB cable connection to the printer is actually configured to be the "network host" for that printer. And on that PC the printer is "shared" so as to make it available (through the "network host" PC) for use as a "network printer" with all other PC's on your existing network.

    And you say you believe those other two PC's are wirelessly connected to the printer, but I believe you really mean that those other two PC's are wirelessly connected to the "shared network printer" through your existing WiFi router, to the host PC with its local USB cable connection to the printer. This current router (not your newly purchased DLink router) therefore is actually currently supporting (a) your "printer server PC" which we'll call A (perhaps by ethernet cable, or maybe it too is wirelessly connected to the router... you haven't indicated), as well as (b) each of your other two PC's wirelessly (since you used those words) which we'll call B and C. The printer (we'll call it D) is available to B and C through the "shared printer services" of A.

    And what you thought was configuring the "network printer wirelessly" on B and C actually was configuring them to make use of the "shared network printer" hosted on A through its local USB cable connection.

    That's why A needed to always be on in order for B and C to be able to print... because they actually WERE really going wirelessly through your existing WiFi router to reach A, which is your "network printer" host.


    I recently purchased a new Dlink modem/router and I believe it has the ability to connect the printer to the modem/router via a USB port. All I need are instructions on how to setup the router so the three computers can communicate with the printer and not need the physically connected computer to be powered on.
    If your printer itself is WiFi-capable, as has been mentioned already you really don't need the new DLink router. Based on my assumptions above, all you need to do is configure your printer D to be WiFi connected to your existing router. You actually should disconnect the USB cable currently going from D to A, as it's generally not advisable to have a printer used simultaneously as both a wired-connected and network-connected device.

    So now you have your existing router, and you have A connected to that router (either ethernet cable or wirelessly), and B and C connected to that router (again, either ethernet cable or wirelessly), and you also have printer D wirelessly connected to that router (although it might also possibly have its own ethernet cable connector, so that it too could optionally be ethernet cable connected to the router). One way or the other you would have the three PC's and one printer all connected to the router, which makes all four devices "visible" to each other, with the "network printer" D now eligible to be "add new printer" through Windows opting for "network printer" wizard dialog.

    Then, you would now have printer D accessible (configured as a true "network printer" as device D on your home network) available to all three PCs, A, B, and C. None of the three PCs would need to be on in order for any other PC to print, since they are actually each connected uniquely through the router directly and individually and independently to the "network printer", via Windows. Printer D is now just one more "attached device" to your existing router, and thus available for Windows to be able to "add printer" on each of your three PCs A, B and C.

    Note that with printer D configured as an independent device on your network, it actually serves as its own "queue" should any two or more of the network PCs want to print simultaneously. A, B and C will send their print data to D, which will queue later requests for printing as soon as any currently in-progress printing (or queued printing) is finished. This same thing happens right now with your current setup where A is your "shared printer server" on the network, and Windows on A is serving as the "print queue" to serialize print requests should two or more printers want to print simultaneously.

    That's what I think.
      My Computer


 

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