Accessing Printer via wireless and hardwired from 2 computers

[Honnold]

I want to buy a new Samsung Laser printer that is accessed in different ways by two computers: (1) hardwired access from an IBM Thinkpad that has no internet connection (2) wireless access from a Dell Desktop. I am very confused as to what type of printer and/or equipment is required to support this set-up.

At different times, I've been told I need a "network-aware 2251N printer," "wireless 2252W printer," "Linksys WPS54G print server," or that "it can't be done." My main limitation is that I DO NOT want to have my Thinkpad connected to the internet --- I want it to be hardwired into the new printer.

Here’s the current set-up in my house:

Location 1: Verizon DSL phone line -> Westell Modem -> Linksys Wireless-B Router.

Location 2: Dell Desktop Computer -> Wireless Adapter. (Connected to internet.)

Location 3: IBM Thinkpad -> Parallel Port hardwired -> OLD PRINTER.

With the new set-up I want to accomplish the following:

Location 1: The Same... DSL line-> Modem -> Wireless-B Router.

Location 2: Dell Desktop Computer -> Wireless Adapter -> WIRELESS ACCESS TO PRINTER.

Location 3: IBM ThinkPad <- Parallel Port hardwired <- NEW SAMSUNG PRINTER -> ACCESSED FROM DELL DESKTOP IN LOCATION 2 VIA WIRELESS.

Thanks for any advice.

[BraytonAK]

I want to buy a new Samsung Laser printer that is accessed in different ways by two computers: (1) hardwired access from an IBM Thinkpad that has no internet connection (2) wireless access from a Dell Desktop. I am very confused as to what type of printer and/or equipment is required to support this set-up.

To accomplish this you'll need to make sure that the printer has both the Parallel and USB ports. The Linksys WPS54G is actually a great idea. Plug in your Thinkpad with the old Parallel cable and get everything working there. Then you can attach the WPS54G to the USB port on the printer. This will give your Wireless desktop access to the printer via the wireless router. (It will not cause your Thinkpad to connect to the Internet via the printer. No way, no how.) To perform the initial setup of the WPS54G, you need to connect it to your router with a wired connection. The software on the Installation CD guides you through the process.

With this setup, the Thinkpad can print via Parallel and the Desktop can print via Wi-Fi. However, I wouldn't try printing on both computers at the same time because the printer itself does not have a print server to handle multiple requests at once.

Tip for the WPS54G: After the initial setup and the test page prints correctly, I would suggest going back to the Printer control panel on the desktop and telling it to Add a New Printer (again). The initial setup routine will configure the desktop to print to the Print Server and communicate with it. This, I found, can be sluggish or cause a pause between the time you click Print in an application and the time that the print settings dialog finally shows up.

When adding the new printer again, tell it that you're connecting a LOCAL printer, rather than Network.

The system will ask which port the printer is connected to. Tell it that you want to create a New Port or TCP/IP Port.

In the next step, you provide the wizard with the IP address that you gave the print server. You continue on installing the printer, telling it that you "Have Disk" if you don't see it in your printers list.

Be sure to tell the Wizard to REPLACE the existing driver (because technically, the entire driver didn't go onto your computer the first time.)

Now, when you go to print, the response is far faster and you still retain all the functional options of the printer. It behaves as if it's connected directly to the network card on your computer.

Hope this answers your question and then some! :D

[M/Q]

Is the concern to not access the Internet or to not have any network capability? If it is the first option you have a few possibilities. It might be nice to be able to use the mobility of the notebook to your advantage. If it was part of the internal network then you could setup file and printer sharing as well.

One method to prevent Internet access is through the use of a software firewall on the notebook. Just dis-allow access by using it. If it is Win2K or XP you can also use local policies to prevent Internet access.