Suitable print server suggestions...

[Chedmeister]

...for win 7 64 bit?

I want to share a usb printer through a x86 XP machine over a workgroup to two win 7 x64 laptops but am told this cannot be done (well i certainly cant get it to work!)

So need a usb/ethernet print server to hook up to the router but which one? I used to buy the wireless one from belkin but that was pre vista even.

Any help is much appreciated!

 

[PooMan UK]

I've used all of these successfully with win7 ...

Netgear - wired print servers

Netgear - wireless print server

 

[Lemur]

For wireless:

Newegg.com - ASUS WL-520gU 802.11b/g Wireless Router up to 54Mbps with All-in-One Print Server/ DD-WRT Open Source support

I was thinking I'd like to have a wireless print server as well, as I have computers all over the house.

 

[Barman58]

The issue here is not that you need a print server so much but that you will need windows 7 x64 drivers for the printer - this applies whether you share using the XP system or the use a print server.

If the drivers are available for the printer on win7 then install the printer on the win7 systems and create a TCP/IP port pointing to the XP printer share.

If you go the print server route because you need wireless you will still need to perform the same procedure to connect to the print server, which will probably be running a 32 bit bespoke Linux based operating system

 

[Chedmeister]

Thanks for the suggestions!
@ Barman58, So if the printer is not network compatible and cant be assigned an IP address then how do i do it?
Im guessing it can be done by right clicking the share on the XP machine and adding a TCP/IP port. Is that correct?

By doing this im assuming that the win7 machine will not try to bring the driver across from the XP machine via the workgroup but instead use the one it would usually use if the printer was just USB plugged into it.

 

[Barman58]

When you create a printer share under Microsoft workgroup networking you actually create a print server this is normally accessed by the name of the share (\\servername\printershare), however there is also the IP address of the printer that is assigned.

On the XP system you just have to create the share as normal

Due to the fact that the systems using the shared printer are of a later operating system that the sharing system all other work is performed on the win7 systems.

On the win7 machines you should install the printer as a local printer (physically connected to the printer by USB). when this is complete and working connect the printer to the xp machine, and add the port to the win7 systems.

Of course for any of this to work you must have sharing set-up on the both systems so that they can see each other - on the xp system make shure that sharing is on and that sharing is set-up using advanced sharing - simple sharing does not work with win7

 

[jimbo45]

Hi all
I've posted on here various times about how to connect printers to a mix of W7 / XP machines whether 32 / 64 bit or a mix.

Follow the instructions and use the network printers local IP address.

Do this on ALL the machines you want to use the printer on (with ?).
Windows will load the correct drivers on each machine .

I can't remember the link but some else referenced it recently so just do a Forum search on sharing printers with my user id (jimbo45).

You DO NOT NEED A SPECIAL PRINTER SERVER - just hook the printer up to your router as if its a computer -- you don't even need to do that if it's wirelessly connected but I'd give it a FIXED LAN address -- don't let DHCP change it or you'll get hosed up every time you re-boot .

If the printer is physically attached to a particular machine the instructions are in that post as well -- the method works whether you are using a Network printer (one that you can connect to your LAN wirelessly or via a LAN cable) or whether the printer is physically connected to a specific computer.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Chedmeister]

Thanks for that Jimbo. Ill try it and let you know.

 

[Chedmeister]

Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou Jimbo, that worked a treat.
Really useful info there, really happy with that thanks!

 

[chev65]

For anyone else having this problem here is the post that Jimbo45 is talking about.

http://www.sevenforums.com/network-sharing/4602-xp-7-printer-sharing.html#post75102