Alright, I have recently acquired a Compaq Pentium 1 at 233MHZ from Coors, I am planning to make a print server with it but I have not much experience with networking. I have set up a wireless network at home that looks like so:

--cable modem--my computer--my router)))(((my laptop & both of my sisters laptops

I can configure this anyway I want really as long as it all works. As long as I can use my P1 with my Epson Stylus C64 and my HP DeskJet 3820 with all the computers and laptops on my network. I also am planning to add another Workstation to my network and where I should put that on my network. Any help is greatly appreciated.

You have a router? Plug it like this:

Modem -> Rouuter -> Computers
-> Printer Server
)))((( Laptops

Just install Windows 98 or NT4.0 and install the printer drivers and VNC if you don't have a spare monitor. Call your server something like //pserver/ (the network name of the machine) and share your printers (in the printer options). Set a different name for each printer. So your printers will be called something like this:

//pserver/epson
//pserver/Hp

Just go on all of the workstations, and install the printer software like you normally would. The just do "add a printer" and select "network printer" instad of "local printer". You will have an option to browse through the network or to mount it directly. Just put in //pserver/epson or //pserver/hp and fallow the rest of the instructions. Once that's done, print a test page.

I did that with my Canon inkjet and my HP laser and it works great.

Posted by Professor Chaos You have a router? Plug it like this: Modem -> Rouuter -> Computers -> Printer Server )))((( Laptops Just install Windows 98 or NT4.0 and install the printer drivers and VNC if you don't have a spare monitor. Call your server something like //pserver/ (the network name of the machine) and share your printers (in the printer options). Set a different name for each printer. So your printers will be called something like this: //pserver/epson //pserver/Hp Just go on all of the workstations, and install the printer software like you normally would. The just do "add a printer" and select "network printer" instad of "local printer". You will have an option to browse through the network or to mount it directly. Just put in //pserver/epson or //pserver/hp and fallow the rest of the instructions. Once that's done, print a test page. I did that with my Canon inkjet and my HP laser and it works great.

For some reason it won't let me use any name with a "/" in it

edit: added stuff

When you put in the network name, you don't put in the // and /. It's automatic.

Posted by Professor Chaos When you put in the network name, you don't put in the // and /. It's automatic.

Ahh, why didn't I think of that.

Most printers you can plug directly from the printer to the router by cat35 cable. Or just plug the printer in to your computer and share it on your network. OR.... You can go buy one of those cheap little wireless pinter things, theyre like 80$ and I know you have 802.11b

Most laser printers have that option. I never saw a ink jet desktop printer with a built in RJ-45 port...

You could also use a wireless printer station like snarf suggested but hey, you got a free server

Posted by SnArF You can go buy one of those cheap little wireless pinter things, theyre like 80$

Um... Maybe you think thats cheep...

And setting up your own wired server is geekier and funner.

Posted by SnArF Most printers you can plug directly from the printer to the router by cat35 cable. Or just plug the printer in to your computer and share it on your network. OR.... You can go buy one of those cheap little wireless pinter things, theyre like 80$ and I know you have 802.11b

I was looking into one of those but it was out of my price range and not as customizable, and since I have the server sitting around I might as well put it to use. I almost have it finished but I'm gonna upgrade the network card and put another USB port in it, so it will have 3 printers, instead of the original two as I had planned.

If the current network card is a 10mbps, you don't need to change it.

It is an ISA card so I don't know really know how slow it is. Right now I'm working on scrounging up some cash for more network cables and the usb card, then I will see if I need to replace the network card. Also, I'm trying to fix an old PII but I'm not gaining much progress because I don't have a hard drive and I think the PSU is the problem.

You can find network cables in dumpsters. I got a 100ft roll of CAT5 in a dumpster. Bought a pack of 25 ends for like 4$.

If it's a ISA then it's 10mbps. Since you're server is not a file one and won't handle big loads, the ISA will be fine.

Posted by Professor Chaos You can find network cables in dumpsters. I got a 100ft roll of CAT5 in a dumpster. Bought a pack of 25 ends for like 4$.

Unfortunately, there aren't really any good dumpsters around here. What kind of building was the dumpster that you find the roll in?

If it's a ISA then it's 10mbps. Since you're server is not a file one and won't handle big loads, the ISA will be fine.

Yeah, I'll try it all out once I get everything else I need. I tried hooking it directly to my cable modem earlier today and it didn't detect anything after numerous attempts of the internet connection wizard that comes with Windows 98.

Convention center where I did some technical support... I also got more goodies in there...

Shit load of power bars (probably like 12 and they all work and are of nice quality)
Dlink 10/100 8 port switch

Why do people throw this stuff out anyway?

Posted by Professor Chaos Convention center where I did some technical support... I also got more goodies in there... Shit load of power bars (probably like 12 and they all work and are of nice quality) Dlink 10/100 8 port switch Why do people throw this stuff out anyway?

Dang, why don't I ever get that lucky? I might try to get something from school, they have tons of crap just lying around that I'm sure they wouldn't notice a few cables gone.

Alright, Today I finally headed off to best buy, I got some network cables, a usb card and i was attracted by the low price off a 10/100/1000 card so I bought it and put my 10/100 card in the Print Server, along with the USB card, now the Printer(Epson) works from the server but not from any of the other Computers, I also cannot contact the server over the network/workgroup (mine is named HOME).

here are some screenshots:

First of all, are you running XP on your server?

Make sure you have file and printer sharing enabled. Also check to see if both machines have the same workgroup names. Also check the names for the printers. It could be a network card problem so try to ping it and see if it answers back. Just double check all names.

The printer propreties on the workstation should look like this :

click to view

edit 2: Ahh, I just realized something. You put the //pserver/ABC in location. Do "add printer", select "Network printer" and select "connect to this printer" and in the name box put in //pserver/ABCname. It will just reinstall its self.

click to view

Um, the server is running 98, If it was running XP I Probably could've got it up, but 98 was a while ago. I'll try the printer wizard but I can't find the server on my workgroup from the workstation.

EDIT: I'm Pretty sure the network card is working, but how do I ping it?

First off, get the server IP address (winipcfg for 98).

In XP:

Start > Run > CMD

Then type ping and the ip address. ie: ping 192.168.0.1

If it answers back, then you're ok.

This is what I get when I ping my printer server. It's working.

click to view

Posted by Professor Chaos First off, get the server IP address (winipcfg for 98).

Ok, I get a a fatal error that says it cannot read the IP configuration.

In XP: Start > Run > CMD Then type ping and the ip address. ie: ping 192.168.0.1 If it answers back, then you're ok. This is what I get when I ping my printer server. It's working. click to view