Solved Printer Networking...

[MagusMagnus]

Printer is a Canon MX340 Pixma (WiFi).
I want to fully share it with:
1 Vista Laptop (WiFi)
1 7 Notebok (WiFi)
1 XP Desktop (LAN)
1 7 Desktop (LAN)
Using either our modem and/or router (both are WiFi-capable and physically linked).

The catch is that I can't physically connect the printer to either the modem or router as they are in separate locations. The instructions are quite lacking in this scenario, so... what do I need to do?

 

[2xg]

Hello,

If the printer is Wi-Fi capable you will setup the SSID, pass-phrase and you may choose to assign Auto IPs or Static IPs on the printer itself. Run the installation disc from all the computers to communicate to the printer and it will detect/compile your network's info. There's no need to plug an ethernet cable from the router to the printer. It's also important that all the wireless computers have a great reception/signal to the wireless printer.

Hope this helps.

 

[dsperber]

Is the printer currently USB-connected to one of your PC's? Is there a reason why this approach to sharing is not acceptable, i.e. "hosting" that [shared] printer to all the other PC's on your LAN?

Is there any problem with that PC that hosts the printer being powered off/sleep/hibernate while other machines are powered on and need to print, so that there is a requirement that the host PC now be left on 24/7?

Windows printer sharing supports this configuration (with the printer hosted by one PC and made available for printing to other PC's on the LAN) including both x64 and x86 "client" machines, most conveniently if the "host" machine is x64. Then the x86 driver for the printer is simply "added as second driver" using the standard Windows function. Now both x64 and x86 drivers are present on the host machine, available for delivery-on-demand to the client machines when they go through their "add network printer" dialog.

 

[MagusMagnus]

I am so sorry, I nearly forgot about this (waylaid with the new build setup).

Just to be upfront, I am a total moron when it comes to printers and especially the networking/sharing of them, so please do respond appropriately as such.

We do not keep any of our systems on 24/7 (I even actually physically remove them from the power supplies so lol) and so designating one of them as “Host” would really be a chore for that reason. It’s not just my printer (otherwise it would be in my room, physically wired to the router and that would be the end of it). It would just get complicated having to go turn on this or that system for one or the other of us to print, and probably when one or the other of us are not able to do that (password protected; not actually networked together beyond the internet itself).

And so I was hoping the router itself could somehow be “Host”... Router-Wifi to Printer-WiFi, and so that additionally the two LAN systems in my room physically connected to that same router could also print independently and not just the two WiFi systems as with the other alternative (1 PC as "host").

I mean I guess otherwise I can try and ask if the printer could be moved to my room if there is just no other way to do this other than physical connections (to where each system can use it independently) but that also, again, would really not be ideal.

 

[MagusMagnus]

How to print over a network: share one printer with all your computers - PC Advisor

“Connecting a printer directly to the network has the advantage of not requiring a computer. All you need is a network connection and this can be wired or wireless. Wi-Fi in printers is increasingly common and it’s even found in budget models. They do need to be configured though and you need to know the SSID (network name) and WPA security key.

Many home routers and printers support WPS (Wireless Protected Setup). Press the WPS button on router, select WPS on the printer’s LCD menu, and the device is automatically configured for network use. Then just install the printer software on the PC. If WPS isn’t available, either the printer’s LCD menu is used to input the network info, or you plug it into a PC’s USB port and install it like a USB printer. During installation it is configured for Wi-Fi and the USB cable is then unplugged.”

So it is possible to wirelessly establish this between a WiFi printer and a WiFi router (no cables, no “Host” computer having to be constantly on; WiFi and LAN devices can all use it independently = exactly what we need)… I’m just failing to see how to actually do it on this MX340 (the manual is not very clear IMO) and my WNDR37AV router (which does in fact have a USB port; though it’s intended for NAS and I don’t think a “print server” function unless the two are interchangeable?). I’m assuming, with this method, I would then not have to use the “Wireless Setup Assistant” that actually (Win7 version) is broken… but the LCD panel for the SSID and WPA key instead?

I’d probably also need to temporarily disable MAC Address Filtering for this as well or it won’t be able to be seen let alone used initially, right? I’ve also set it to WPA2-PSK [AES] and I don’t think there is a WPS button on it. Hmmm.

This stuff is why I hate printers.

 

[MagusMagnus]

Sorry for triple-posting.

I figured out the WiFi. I did have to use the LCD menus and the router's WPS button and that went fine. However, my desktops still can't see the damned thing on the network/workgroup, only my WiFi notebook does. That's still a world of improvement, but I really would prefer to be able to use my desktop too (and preferably without having to always keep my notebook out/on whenever I want to do that). So now what? I thought this in and of itself would carry over to the LAN/Ethernet systems but it seems not... blegh.

Do I now still have to use my notebook as the "host" and keep it on to actually use it on the desktop(s), or is there another magic setting/button somewhere for that (lol)?


Edit: seems I was impatient, its popped on the desktop's network now. Just have to figure out driver/software and test it now. Gave me an error before, hope that's cleared too.

 

[2xg]

Just to clarify, did you get it to work? I've mentioned that you'd need the CD to install on each computer to be able to see the printer in your network.

Edit: seems I was impatient, its popped on the desktop's network now. Just have to figure out driver/software and test it now. Gave me an error before, hope that's cleared too.

 

[MagusMagnus]

Yup.

Seems it is "Wireless Setup Using WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup)" and even if you actually are not going to use the WPS button, go figure, that you want for being able to connect it directly to the network and apparently this is way the hell into page 45 on the physical manual for some stupid reason. Otherwise you’re directed to the vastly inferior method of the busted (Win7 one no less) “Wireless Setup Assistant” and which doesn’t remotely do the same thing as this (will not get Ethernet devices connected and must be done WiFi system by WiFi system)… and you will also be left with the impression of there being no alternative (and a gigantic headache besides).

In conclusion, Cannon severely needs an overhaul on their manuals (and site for that matter). Algebra 2 is more understandable than this gibberish, seriously. Clearly not a word of it was done by a first-language English speaker. :sarc:

 

[2xg]

Glad to hear that all is well.

Yup.

Seems it is "Wireless Setup Using WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup)" and even if you actually are not going to use the WPS button, go figure, that you want for being able to connect it directly to the network and apparently this is way the hell into page 45 on the physical manual for some stupid reason. Otherwise you’re directed to the vastly inferior method of the busted (Win7 one no less) “Wireless Setup Assistant” and which doesn’t remotely do the same thing as this (will not get Ethernet devices connected and must be done WiFi system by WiFi system)… and you will also be left with the impression of there being no alternative (and a gigantic headache besides).

In conclusion, Cannon severely needs an overhaul on their manuals (and site for that matter). Algebra 2 is more understandable than this gibberish, seriously. Clearly not a word of it was done by a first-language English speaker. :sarc: