So, I need a print server.

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Kil4Thril

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Sep 21, 2003
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I was looking at add-on print servers, and they seem a bit wonky, not to mention expensive. Is there any good reason to buy an expensive and unreliable add on over replacing my GL4300 router with something like the DIR625? My router is reliable, but I need the server.
 
I was trying to K.I.S.S. as I need no complex network in my home. I did just notice the 625 is NOT Gigabit, which saddens me. That means I either need a $120+ router to get the built-in USB capability, or a $65 add on that doesn't work well. I wonder if it is cheaper to replace the printer at this point.
 
I have an IOGear Print Server and it works well. With this so long as you can run an ethernet cable to it, it doesn't matter where it is, so you don't have to keep it near the router.

I'm using it with a Brother laser printer and a couple of Vista machines, and I've had no problems.
 
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Print Servers, in my experience, are very unreliable.
I've either A) Gotten a USB cable with a repeater in the middle somewhere or B) Replaced the printer for a networked version.
 
TechieSooner said:
Print Servers, in my experience, are very unreliable.
I've either A) Gotten a USB cable with a repeater in the middle somewhere or B) Replaced the printer for a networked version.
Click to expand...

That's what I was afraid of. My printer probably doesn't have 100 sheets through it yet. I'll figure something out.
 
The only truly reliable print servers out there are HP. However not all USB printers are compatible with print servers to begin with. Some use the host (PC) to do most of the processing.

However, a new HP USB (or even a parallel) print server tends to run $150-200.
I've used HP parallel print servers on non HP printers, but with USB printers its quite a PITA.

You're honestly much better off going with a networked printer (built in print server).
They are generally much easier to work with. And most will even tell you Ink/Toner/Consumable levels through software and/or their built in web page.

I'm lucky though. I got my Laserjet 2300DTN for $175 used (was still on its first cartridge) :D
And I got my Photosmart c5180 for $75 when it had only been used for 180 pages (practically new). Both are network printers.
 
TechieSooner said:
I'd agree, but I have only used those with HP printers. Anything else has been nothing but a big waste of time trying to get it to work.
Click to expand...

With a USB most likely. I haven't tried an HP USB print Server. With parallel however i have to disagree. I had an epson action laser 1500 hooked up to an HP 300x (i think that was the model) print server w/o any trouble.
 
OmegaAvenger said:
With a USB most likely. I haven't tried an HP USB print Server. With parallel however i have to disagree. I had an epson action laser 1500 hooked up to an HP 300x (i think that was the model) print server w/o any trouble.
Click to expand...

Yea, always with a USB. I've never tried the parallel.
 
I read the reviews on Amazon for that IOGear print server. Mixed results.

Are there any wireless routers out there that allow you to use the USB for printing? Most of them have them enabled for storage only, as far as I can tell. And there is no mention of them working correctly in a mixed operating environment (PC and Macs). My sister and brother-in-law have a desktop rig I built for them a while back and they both have Macbooks. They would like to be able to print when the PC is off. I'd really like to have them NOT buy the Apple Airport Extreme, as is pretty overpriced and there is no web interface to access the device. Oh, and there's no firewall either......
 
The wireless one I bought for an HP BusinessJet (I think that was it) was the worse Print Server that I've ever used. Worse than the wired ones.
 
TechieSooner said:
The wireless one I bought for an HP BusinessJet (I think that was it) was the worse Print Server that I've ever used. Worse than the wired ones.
Click to expand...

I've had mixed with those...I think 1/2 of the equation...(which holds true for any type of wireless client)...is the access point/wireless router that they connect to. Different mixes of different brands, different firmware versions, various wireless settings such as channels, as well as overall ability for wireless to perform in the environment...interference, etc...impact this.

Also as a rule of thumb..any IP print servers I setup, I've found having them on a static LAN IP increases reliability 10x fold.
 
YeOldeStonecat said:
Also as a rule of thumb..any IP print servers I setup, I've found having them on a static LAN IP increases reliability 10x fold.
Click to expand...

I've never set them on anything but static and the reliability is still terrible.

Just a mixed bag I guess. Works well for some folks but the best way to do it is a printer with built-in network capabilities.
 
TechieSooner said:
Just a mixed bag I guess. Works well for some folks but the best way to do it is a printer with built-in network capabilities.
Click to expand...


Yeah....wireless can be a mixed bag.

True about get a printer with a built in NIC...that way you get a print server that is pretty much guaranteed to work with your printer. (less chance of compatibility issues)

Back in the NT4 days it was still sometimes an oddball to setup, but since IP printing received much more standardized support with 2K...it's gotten quite good and simple.
 
Scroatdog said:
I read the reviews on Amazon for that IOGear print server. Mixed results.

Are there any wireless routers out there that allow you to use the USB for printing? Most of them have them enabled for storage only, as far as I can tell. And there is no mention of them working correctly in a mixed operating environment (PC and Macs). My sister and brother-in-law have a desktop rig I built for them a while back and they both have Macbooks. They would like to be able to print when the PC is off. I'd really like to have them NOT buy the Apple Airport Extreme, as is pretty overpriced and there is no web interface to access the device. Oh, and there's no firewall either......
Click to expand...

Sounds like they need exactly what I do. The only place I have for my printer is at my old desk, and I prefer to not leave that machine running (sharing works just fine, but it's a PITA when me/wife want to print from elsewhere).
 
YeOldeStonecat said:
Also as a rule of thumb..any IP print servers I setup, I've found having them on a static LAN IP increases reliability 10x fold.
Click to expand...

I'll vouch for that. I have everything except laptops set to static IP and I only have the laptops non-static because I don't want mess with the IP settings when I go somewhere besides home). Makes it much easier to manage things.
 
A router like the very cheap Asus WL-520GU has quite good performance and a print server feature.

The print server doesn't work with many printers apparently, but you can easily(more or less...) install DD-WRT and install CUPS (unix printing support) which works with almost every printers out there. You can also use it as a NAS, but you're limited to 1MB/s transfer rates for the USB 2.0 port (it loads the CPU a lot) Some people managed stable 2.0MB/s, but it's too complex to do at the moment (many patches and code to compile)

Another do-everything unit is the Linksys NSLU2 (discontinued recently) you can find used which, with Linux installed, will allow you to connect about anything on the USB port on the network, without speed problems.


The best print servers are JetDirects, and PCs left turned on. A router with Linux will let you do this.
 
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