turn usb printer into wireless?

[Angus MacGyver]

> On 01/01/2011 12:08 AM, wcj9996 wrote:

> 
> 1.  The network will consist of 3 computers: one Win 7, one mostly 
> PCLINUXOS (PCLOS) dual booting very seldom to Win XP, and one
> laptop with XP, PCLOS, Debian, Ubuntu, and MINT, mostly running PCLOS. 
> The first two will be wired to Ethernet, the third will be alternately 
> wired or wireless, via wireless router.  There will be two printers (one 
> color, one B/W laserjet) both of which have USB inputs available.  Since 
> this will now be a true network (I guess) I assume that one machine will 
> have to be a server, altho I really would just as soon they all be 
> equal. If one has to be a server, it will be the W7 machine, for various 
> good reasons.
> 
> 2.  How do I set the computer names, the network name, and the network 
> and computer ip addresses? What is a MAC address,
> and how do I find it or set it?  Is there somewhere I can read up on 
> this, in _plain English_ not gobbledygook?  (I have several books on W7 
> that may help. Perhaps I can borrow an XP guide at the library.) What is 
> the best and easiest source of information on Samba?
> 
> 3.  Are there things that I should know unique to Linux with regard to 
> this device?  If so, what?  Are they likely to be the
> same for all 4 distros? Is there any Linux support on the CD that comes 
> with it?
> 
> 4. Did you have to call the tech support people, and if so, did they 
> know about Linux?
> 
> Thanx, Walt.  --doug
> 


Looking at the manual, the device is the "server"... so all three PC's
don't need to be.

>From Windows 7 - the setup should be trivial - install the software,
then use Windows Control Panel printer configuration to set it up.

Ubuntu(and I am guessing MINT as well) should also be trivial.
System > Administration -> Printing...
Choose Add new printer, and choose "Network Printer", and then choose
"Windows Printer by SAMBA".
The put in the path as you would have done in Windows, like 
\\devicename\printer-port1 - but put it in like devicename/printer-port1



Networking is a little more involved.
You have a router for Internet ?
That should handle giving all the PC's IP addresses. (and from the
manual on the printer server, the software for Windows should deal with
sorting out/finding out what the device name/IP address is when plugged
in)


If you do already have a network, then MAC addresses should be
irrelevant really.
MAC = Media Access Control - it the theoretically unique hardware
address of every network card, and you cannot set it, it is put their by
the manufacturer of the network card.

Windows ?? command line ipconfig /all should give it.
Linux, command line, ifconfig -a  should give it.
Should be the "number" separated by : 
example - 34:ab:de:12:00:12

If you don't - and your router doesn't have the ports to plug all these
devices in (or via wireless) - then that is a little beyond this scope,
and you will need to look at sorting the network out first.

Cheers

--
AM