network printer - multiple PC

[dmini]

I've got a brother printer with a NIC built in, - again installing through the software each PC went out and scanned the network and found the printer. Easy. As far as I am aware, all decent networked printers for home or business use, if they have an inbuilt NIC, have this functionality.
Dont worry about deleting the printer you have installed. Just try again with the CD, tell it that its a networked printer, and it may well surrise you and identify and attach to the printer correctly.

[Moscow Mule]

Thanks, yes
I have thought of uninstalling the drivers and re-installing using the driver disk. But as it has not caused a problem in the last three days, no need to fix it.
I suppose there is confusion of what is a "network printer". Is it a printer that is shared by a PC on the network, or a workgroup printer that has a LAN card and is directly connected to the network. Mine is the latter.
In windows such printers are added using the wizard as a Local Printer. You then add a IP port set to the printers IP address.

Anyway, seems sporadic so not sure what causes it to "disconnect".

My printer is plugged directly into the router (as in your case).

The macs just see the printer and can use it (gotta love those macs).

In windows, I run the Add printer wizard, and set up a network printer - none of this local printer/IP address malarkly.

However, instead of browsing for the printer - tell it to connect to the printer,
mine is set up to \\192.168.2.3 - works when the printer or the router is switched off. (edit: and back on again - obviously!)

[DaveB]

Thanks, yes
I have thought of uninstalling the drivers and re-installing using the driver disk. But as it has not caused a problem in the last three days, no need to fix it.
I suppose there is confusion of what is a "network printer". Is it a printer that is shared by a PC on the network, or a workgroup printer that has a LAN card and is directly connected to the network. Mine is the latter.
In windows such printers are added using the wizard as a Local Printer. You then add a IP port set to the printers IP address.

Anyway, seems sporadic so not sure what causes it to "disconnect".

Have you given the printer a permanent IP address or are you allowing it to get one via DHCP from your router? If the latter then the disconnects would be explained by the fact that the printer may be changing it's IP address every time it or the router switched off/on.

[lilelvis2000]

Thanks, yes
I have thought of uninstalling the drivers and re-installing using the driver disk. But as it has not caused a problem in the last three days, no need to fix it.
I suppose there is confusion of what is a "network printer". Is it a printer that is shared by a PC on the network, or a workgroup printer that has a LAN card and is directly connected to the network. Mine is the latter.
In windows such printers are added using the wizard as a Local Printer. You then add a IP port set to the printers IP address.

Anyway, seems sporadic so not sure what causes it to "disconnect".

[Sausage Surprise]

My printer is plugged into the router - the 2 kids PCs and my laptop just added it by running the disc that came with the printer on each device we wanted to connect (HP Photosmart by the way)

[Moscow Mule]

Doesn't work that way. The printer can't be found.

I think that's the problem, mine is setup as a network printer (on a Mac/windows environment).

Have you gone through the setup utility in the Printers web page - maybe it's not running a particular service, or as you suggest your router doesn't allow upnp requests?

Tried adding a network printer using the ip address?

[Platypus]

Try switching off the windows firewall on a PC that can't print?

[NickFitz]

this is supposed to just work isn't it?

No, that's a Mac. Windows only pretends to Just Work.

[lilelvis2000]

What happens if you add it as a network printer, as opposed to a local printer?

Doesn't work that way. The printer can't be found.

[KevinS]

No haven't done that. went through the add printer wizard and selected local printer, then created port - ip <IP_ADDR> - and then installed the printer driver.

What happens if you add it as a network printer, as opposed to a local printer?

[lilelvis2000]

No haven't done that. went through the add printer wizard and selected local printer, then created port - ip <IP_ADDR> - and then installed the printer driver. Could UPNP be having an affect?

It really is weird because I can access the printer's SNMP info and its web page. The taskbar thingi also can contact the printer, but the printer icon in windows indicates it is offline. I have to do the delete-recreate almost everyday...this is supposed to just work isn't it?

[Board Game Geek]

For a moment, I had a horrible feeling that if the printer's IP address was 192.168.1.10, you had gone to the PC's and also given each of them an INTERNAL IP address of 192.168.1.10 as well.

In which case, you are fooked.

[Moscow Mule]

In my office I have a network printer and about four PC's. So I have setup the TCP port on each PC to the IP of address of the printer and installed the appropriate drivers.

Why is it this complicated? On XP, just set up the printer as a network printer and it should find it when you switch on.

[lilelvis2000]

In my office I have a network printer and about four PC's. So I have setup the TCP port on each PC to the IP of address of the printer and installed the appropriate drivers.

What happens is when I come in the next morning only one of the PC's can print, the other PC's can't. The printer shows up as offline. I end up deleting the printer and adding it back in again.

I am using the printer in the wrong way. Does one of the PC's need to share the printer and the rest use the share? Maybe I should buy one of those little print-server devices. Any tips?