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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Setup of Wireless Print Server
petersuter - Mar 11, 2006 - 1:09 pm
I have a Wireless-G Print server Model # WPS54GU2 from Linksys. I was told by Linksys' technical support that you could help me to set up this Print Server on my Mac System 10.4.4. (Linksys supports only Windows XP).
I'm looking forward to an answer.
Best
Peter
I'm looking forward to an answer.
Best
Peter
gsahli - Mar 11, 2006 - 5:07 pm
I need to know the printer model. There are driver issues with non-postscript printers.
And in the meantime, you can research these two essential pieces of info: IP address of the print server - it will be best if you can use the web interface to set a fixed IP address that's in the same subnet as your computer(s), but away from the computer's address. Example: computer 192.168.0.2 - print server 192.168.0.100.
Next piece of info - read the print server manual to find its internal queue name. Common queue names are L1 (el-one), lp, lpt1, etc.
And in the meantime, you can research these two essential pieces of info: IP address of the print server - it will be best if you can use the web interface to set a fixed IP address that's in the same subnet as your computer(s), but away from the computer's address. Example: computer 192.168.0.2 - print server 192.168.0.100.
Next piece of info - read the print server manual to find its internal queue name. Common queue names are L1 (el-one), lp, lpt1, etc.
petersuter - Mar 16, 2006 - 10:43 pm
Xerox 8400DP.
I am on a wireless network using a linksys router which works perfectly with airport. The question remains how to set up the WIRELESS print server. I don't know where to look for these L1's (or whatever).
I am on a wireless network using a linksys router which works perfectly with airport. The question remains how to set up the WIRELESS print server. I don't know where to look for these L1's (or whatever).
gsahli - Mar 17, 2006 - 10:05 am
I guess it would help if you told me where you get hung up. Have you connected to the print server with a web browser yet?
I began on the assumption that you got hung up where most people do - setting up the printer in Printer Setup Utility. Sorry if that's wrong.
But as long as I have researched that - your print server's queue names are P1 for the parallel port and L1 for the USB port. Your Xerox printer is apparently a postscript printer and the driver (actually PPD) is included in OS X.
I don't have that print server. If you want help, you'll have to be willing to try steps and report results back to me. If that doesn't work for you, no problem. I could send this back to the rest of the Techs, to see if there's someone out there who has this exact print server.
I began on the assumption that you got hung up where most people do - setting up the printer in Printer Setup Utility. Sorry if that's wrong.
But as long as I have researched that - your print server's queue names are P1 for the parallel port and L1 for the USB port. Your Xerox printer is apparently a postscript printer and the driver (actually PPD) is included in OS X.
I don't have that print server. If you want help, you'll have to be willing to try steps and report results back to me. If that doesn't work for you, no problem. I could send this back to the rest of the Techs, to see if there's someone out there who has this exact print server.
petersuter - Mar 18, 2006 - 11:24 am
Hi G
You are right with your assumption that I tried to set up the print server with printer Setup utility. When I used this print server with Windows XP I could use the CD to install a driver for the server and the set up process was no problem. This CD doesn't work with the mac. I don't know how to use the internet to set up the print server and I also don't know much about IP addresses. A step by step instruction would help me a lot, I guess.
Thank you
Peter
You are right with your assumption that I tried to set up the print server with printer Setup utility. When I used this print server with Windows XP I could use the CD to install a driver for the server and the set up process was no problem. This CD doesn't work with the mac. I don't know how to use the internet to set up the print server and I also don't know much about IP addresses. A step by step instruction would help me a lot, I guess.
Thank you
Peter
stottm - Mar 19, 2006 - 10:51 am
That's quite a nice printer you've got there. My father bought one last year.
The CD probably doesn't have the Mac software on it. The Xerox website has OS X USB drivers and a Printer Installer utility available for download. The DP model has a built in ethernet print server as well as USB.
http://www.support.xerox.com/go/resu...wnload#Drivers
You should be able to connect the printer via ethernet to the Linksys router, you don't need the printer server features in the router, the printer can do that itself.
The documentation on the Xerox site in PDF format for this printer states that if you have Mac OS 10.2 or greater, that this printer will be automatically be detected and setup via Rendezvous/BonJour/ZeroConf when you click Add (or the plus button). This means if the printer is connected to the local network via ethernet (i.e. plugged into your router) it will broadcast it's availability to any OS X Mac which will detect it and OS X already has the necessary drivers.
Or you can manually configure it by clicking Add, Select IP Printing from the drop-down list, Enter your printer’s IP address (print a test page on the printer it should list the IP Address), Deselect Use default queue on server box., Type AUTO in the Queue Name field., Select the appropriate PPD from the list displayed in the Printer Model drop-down list., Click Add.
Here's a link to one of the manuals on Xerox.com
http://www.office.xerox.com/userdoc/.../macintosh.pdf
There's a ton of information on the Xerox site for this printer including howto video's, manuals and drivers. You could even call Xerox for phone support. It might cost you something but if all else fails they are available for support and they do support Mac's.
The CD probably doesn't have the Mac software on it. The Xerox website has OS X USB drivers and a Printer Installer utility available for download. The DP model has a built in ethernet print server as well as USB.
http://www.support.xerox.com/go/resu...wnload#Drivers
You should be able to connect the printer via ethernet to the Linksys router, you don't need the printer server features in the router, the printer can do that itself.
The documentation on the Xerox site in PDF format for this printer states that if you have Mac OS 10.2 or greater, that this printer will be automatically be detected and setup via Rendezvous/BonJour/ZeroConf when you click Add (or the plus button). This means if the printer is connected to the local network via ethernet (i.e. plugged into your router) it will broadcast it's availability to any OS X Mac which will detect it and OS X already has the necessary drivers.
Or you can manually configure it by clicking Add, Select IP Printing from the drop-down list, Enter your printer’s IP address (print a test page on the printer it should list the IP Address), Deselect Use default queue on server box., Type AUTO in the Queue Name field., Select the appropriate PPD from the list displayed in the Printer Model drop-down list., Click Add.
Here's a link to one of the manuals on Xerox.com
http://www.office.xerox.com/userdoc/.../macintosh.pdf
There's a ton of information on the Xerox site for this printer including howto video's, manuals and drivers. You could even call Xerox for phone support. It might cost you something but if all else fails they are available for support and they do support Mac's.
stottm - Mar 19, 2006 - 11:16 am
Sorry, I just realized you're trying to get the printer to be wireless by plugging the USB port on the printer to a wireless Linksys WPS54GU2 USB/Wireless print server. This print server then wireless connects to another Linksys wireless router. The Xerox 8400DP already has a built in ethernet print server which you could connect directly to the Linksys router but if the printer is remote to that location then you need to get the wireless print server talking to the Linksys wireless router and serve the printer that way. Which looks like what you are trying to accomplish with the WPS54GU2 device.
What you need is a device that converts ethernet on the printer to wireless 54G and that would work as well. The Linksys WPS54GU2 device is meant for dumb USB printers like cheap inkjets. That Xerox 8400DP is a very smart printer.
What you need is:
Wireless-G Ethernet Bridge - WET54G
Connect any Ethernet-equipped device to a high-speed Wireless-G Network
The versatile Wireless-G Ethernet Bridge can make any wired Ethernet-equipped device a part of your wireless network. At home, use the Bridge to connect game consoles, set-top boxes, or computers to your Wireless-G network and its shared high-speed Internet connection. In the office, convert your Ethernet-wired printer, scanner, camera, notebook or desktop into a wireless networked device.
It's completely driver-free, so it works on any platform and under any operating system! Since there's no drivers to load, setup is a snap -- configure the network settings through your PC's web browser, then plug it into your device and go.
You can also use the Wireless-G Ethernet Bridge as a kind of "cable-less cable" to connect remote areas together. Maybe Shipping is all the way across the warehouse from Receiving. Or maybe you want to set up a home office in your detached garage. With a Wireless-G Ethernet Bridge in the garage, and another one (or a Wireless-G Access Point) in the house, you're connected -- no digging trenches, and no overhead wires.
What you need is a device that converts ethernet on the printer to wireless 54G and that would work as well. The Linksys WPS54GU2 device is meant for dumb USB printers like cheap inkjets. That Xerox 8400DP is a very smart printer.
What you need is:
Wireless-G Ethernet Bridge - WET54G
Connect any Ethernet-equipped device to a high-speed Wireless-G Network
The versatile Wireless-G Ethernet Bridge can make any wired Ethernet-equipped device a part of your wireless network. At home, use the Bridge to connect game consoles, set-top boxes, or computers to your Wireless-G network and its shared high-speed Internet connection. In the office, convert your Ethernet-wired printer, scanner, camera, notebook or desktop into a wireless networked device.
It's completely driver-free, so it works on any platform and under any operating system! Since there's no drivers to load, setup is a snap -- configure the network settings through your PC's web browser, then plug it into your device and go.
You can also use the Wireless-G Ethernet Bridge as a kind of "cable-less cable" to connect remote areas together. Maybe Shipping is all the way across the warehouse from Receiving. Or maybe you want to set up a home office in your detached garage. With a Wireless-G Ethernet Bridge in the garage, and another one (or a Wireless-G Access Point) in the house, you're connected -- no digging trenches, and no overhead wires.
petersuter - Mar 19, 2006 - 12:11 pm
Thak you for your response. My first question: is the Wireless-G Ethernet Bridge a device or a driver program?
The Wireless-G Print Server is not such a cheap device as you might think. It has, in addition to the USB, also a Ethernet and a Parallel port. My question is not, how to connect from the server to the printer, but how to integrate my wireless print server into the wireless network. Since I don't have the software to setup the desired connection I am looking for an alternative way (if there is such) to make the print sever "visible" in the network. I think, once my network is enabled to detect the printserver (into which my printer is plugged in via Erhernet) the connection to the printer wouldn't be a problem at all.
My printer works beautifully when it is plugged in to my Powerbook and can be accessed via airport network from any other computer in our household. With the wireless print server I could go a step further and have a wireless connection also from the powerbook.
Best
Peter
The Wireless-G Print Server is not such a cheap device as you might think. It has, in addition to the USB, also a Ethernet and a Parallel port. My question is not, how to connect from the server to the printer, but how to integrate my wireless print server into the wireless network. Since I don't have the software to setup the desired connection I am looking for an alternative way (if there is such) to make the print sever "visible" in the network. I think, once my network is enabled to detect the printserver (into which my printer is plugged in via Erhernet) the connection to the printer wouldn't be a problem at all.
My printer works beautifully when it is plugged in to my Powerbook and can be accessed via airport network from any other computer in our household. With the wireless print server I could go a step further and have a wireless connection also from the powerbook.
Best
Peter
stottm - Mar 19, 2006 - 2:20 pm
The ethernet port on your Wireless-G Print Server is not meant to be plugged into the printer at all. It's meant to be plugged into the network. It's a cabled alternative to the wireless. i.e. to connect it to the network without wireless. The printer connects to it via either USB or Parallel port. The specs for this device don't mention using the ethernet to talk to the printer but only for a cabled network interface.
The alternative hardware Wireless-G Ethernet Bridge does what you want; which is to plug the printer ethernet into the Bridge and the Bridge connects wirelessly to the network and makes the printer visible. It doesn't require software at all. It retails for about $85.00 USD or less if you shop around.
The only way you can get the Wireless-G Print Server to work would be to connect the printer to it via USB and then configure it to connect to your wireless network and configure the print server queue, etc. This requires more configuration and might be difficult to get working if at all.
Linksys states they only support Windows. I've found that Safari on the Mac doesn't work too well with Linksys configuration screens. That is most likely the trouble you were having programming the Wireless-G Print Server via Safari. I know that FireFox does work very well with Linksys equipment and it's available on Mac OS X. So download it from http://mozilla.com/ and try configuring the device again. Call Linksys back if you continue to have problems. Don't tell them you are running a Mac. It will work just fine with FireFox. I had to do this with a Linksys 54G Router a couple of weeks ago, Safari just didn't work with the Linksys Routers web configuration screens. FireFox worked. If you have a PC, you can configure the device with Internet Explorer as well.
It is still my opinion that you have the wrong device for the task at hand. The Xerox printer has a sophisticated print server already built in that actually supports the Apple Bonjour/Rendezvous service which will make it automatic and easy to setup. You paid for an expensive high quality fast (24ppm) color solid ink printer, you might as well use it's built-in feature set. It is better to actually use the ethernet then the USB interface whenever possible.
It would be more difficult to program the Wireless-G Print Server to join your wireless network, attach the USB printer and configure the printer queue and then configure the Mac's to connect to the Wireless-G Print Server and install their own print queue and driver. Using the bridge device instead of the Print Server will save you a ton of time and headaches. You just have to tell it to join the network then attach the printer and the Mac's should suddenly be able to see the printer automatically. It effectively replaces the ethernet cable with a wireless connection.
The alternative hardware Wireless-G Ethernet Bridge does what you want; which is to plug the printer ethernet into the Bridge and the Bridge connects wirelessly to the network and makes the printer visible. It doesn't require software at all. It retails for about $85.00 USD or less if you shop around.
The only way you can get the Wireless-G Print Server to work would be to connect the printer to it via USB and then configure it to connect to your wireless network and configure the print server queue, etc. This requires more configuration and might be difficult to get working if at all.
Linksys states they only support Windows. I've found that Safari on the Mac doesn't work too well with Linksys configuration screens. That is most likely the trouble you were having programming the Wireless-G Print Server via Safari. I know that FireFox does work very well with Linksys equipment and it's available on Mac OS X. So download it from http://mozilla.com/ and try configuring the device again. Call Linksys back if you continue to have problems. Don't tell them you are running a Mac. It will work just fine with FireFox. I had to do this with a Linksys 54G Router a couple of weeks ago, Safari just didn't work with the Linksys Routers web configuration screens. FireFox worked. If you have a PC, you can configure the device with Internet Explorer as well.
It is still my opinion that you have the wrong device for the task at hand. The Xerox printer has a sophisticated print server already built in that actually supports the Apple Bonjour/Rendezvous service which will make it automatic and easy to setup. You paid for an expensive high quality fast (24ppm) color solid ink printer, you might as well use it's built-in feature set. It is better to actually use the ethernet then the USB interface whenever possible.
It would be more difficult to program the Wireless-G Print Server to join your wireless network, attach the USB printer and configure the printer queue and then configure the Mac's to connect to the Wireless-G Print Server and install their own print queue and driver. Using the bridge device instead of the Print Server will save you a ton of time and headaches. You just have to tell it to join the network then attach the printer and the Mac's should suddenly be able to see the printer automatically. It effectively replaces the ethernet cable with a wireless connection.
petersuter - Mar 19, 2006 - 5:37 pm
Thank you very much for your advice. Your information is very helpful to me. I know now, what to do.
Best regards
Peter
Best regards
Peter
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