turn usb printer into wireless?

[Doug]

On 01/01/2011 06:13 PM, wcj9996 wrote:
> 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
>
I would like to say thank you very much to the folks who have replied here--
Walt, Angus, Mr. ZenWiz, anyone else I have left out.

I'll get the gadget next Friday (predicted) and will go on from there 
with it.
In the meantime, I'm trying to set up a Linksys wired/wireless network.
Up to now, I just plugged all the machines into the router.  I had a
minimal network, which I didn't actually set up at all.   Wish me luck.

doug

-- 
Blessed are the peacemakers...for they shall be shot at from both sides. --A. M. Greeley