turn usb printer into wireless?

[wcj9996]

Doug:

See below.


On 01/01/2011 12:22 AM, Doug wrote:
> On 01/01/2011 12:08 AM, wcj9996 wrote:
>>
>> Doug:
>>
>> If you can use a wired print server check the following from Amazon:
>>
>> Trendnet 3 Port Print Server
>>
>> I have been using one foe several months with good results.  It has 
>> two USB 2.0 and one parallel port, all separately addressable.  I 
>> paid less than $50 for it.
>>
>>   walt 
> This sounds like a very nice simple solution, and I intend to buy it.  
> (The price is just a few dollars higher, today.)  I thank you for
> your quick reply. I downloaded the installation manual, and now I have 
> to ask a few questions that are not obvious to me, but of course to 
> anyone who has set up a network:
>
> 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.

No separate server is necessary.  I have two desktops running UB 10.04 
and a laptop running UB 10.10.  I have printed with all of them.  I 
haven't needed to run Windows.
>
> 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?
>

I set up the printer using CUPS in each machine.  The MAC address is a 
unique serial number on each network card that identifies the printer, 
computer, modem etc.  The print server needs to have an IP address for 
each printer that will be used to address the printer.  I have used the 
"Unleashed" series of books by Sams Publishing.  "Ubuntu 2010 Edition"  
is the latest one that I have.

> 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?
>
I have used CUPS to set up network printers on several versions of 
Ubuntu and Fedora with no problems.  All were behind a NAT router.

> 4. Did you have to call the tech support people, and if so, did they 
> know about Linux?
>
No, I found the information I needed in the the CD manual.

   walt

-- 
-----  walt  wcj9996 at frontier.com -----