Printer Server

[Dorza]

Ok just a quick query really.....

A friend of a friend has a HP LaserJet 6P Series printer with no USB port, only parallel. But their thinking of getting this. What they want to know is could they use a USB > Parallel cable and would they both work together? I wasnt sure so i thoughtd id ask

[Jonny M]

No. The USB > Parallel cable is a lot more than a simple wiring adapter, it basically creates a 'virtual' parallel port, in the same way Bluetooth creates a virtual serial port, and therefore needs drivers to be installed on the host machine.

I recommend you pick up an Intel Netport print server off eBay or something, I got a single port parallel one for a tenner. Also it's a lot more likely to work than some cheap chinese unbranded POS that ebuyer sell.

[Dorza]

Ah ok then. Thanks, ill let them know

[scottyman]

you can also pick up the axis print servers pretty cheaply and they're easy to configure.
I had a nightmare with the new dlink wireless usb print server - very cute, but the worst (and most unfriendly) UI I've ever worked with.
It required that you connect a printer before you can login and set up security (which is a bit backward) and there wasn't even a link in the manual to the login page to bypass teh requirement. guessing login.html worked, and once wep was set up correctly - worked a treat - and was able to configure it correctly for sharing over the domain. cheapest of the bunch if you've got a usb laser - failing that I would recommend an Axis print server. almost as unfriendly - but with a smaller cache and the new ones support wireless parallel and usb connections.