Add a stand-alone printer with print-server to Guest WLAN?

5 Feb 2009 10:15 PM

Mike in Nebraska

I've got a spare HP LaserJet 4P with a JetDirect print server. I was going
to try selling them, but had a thought that maybe I could hang them off of
an Access Point on our Guest WLAN so they could print to it. We host
several meetings and conferences per year and this would fill a need. Never
tried it, or thought of it. Just asking if it's reasonably do-able.

TIA,

--
Mike Webb
Platte River Whooping Crane Maintenance Trust, Inc.
a conservation non-profit (501 (c)(3)) organization
Wood River, NE

5 Feb 2009 10:40 PM

Dave

"Mike in Nebraska" <Mike_in_Nebraska@newsgroup.nospam> wrote in message
news:2D0CBA15-9124-4BB0-A6ED-421887E6F6F9@microsoft.com...
> I've got a spare HP LaserJet 4P with a JetDirect print server. I was
> going to try selling them, but had a thought that maybe I could hang them
> off of an Access Point on our Guest WLAN so they could print to it. We
> host several meetings and conferences per year and this would fill a need.
> Never tried it, or thought of it. Just asking if it's reasonably do-able.

i say, plug it in and try it, sounds like it should work.

5 Feb 2009 10:50 PM

Mike in Nebraska

Thanks.

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"Dave" <no***@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:%23zRExK%23hJHA.3444@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>
> "Mike in Nebraska" <Mike_in_Nebraska@newsgroup.nospam> wrote in message
> news:2D0CBA15-9124-4BB0-A6ED-421887E6F6F9@microsoft.com...
>> I've got a spare HP LaserJet 4P with a JetDirect print server. I was
>> going to try selling them, but had a thought that maybe I could hang them
>> off of an Access Point on our Guest WLAN so they could print to it. We
>> host several meetings and conferences per year and this would fill a
>> need. Never tried it, or thought of it. Just asking if it's reasonably
>> do-able.
>
> i say, plug it in and try it, sounds like it should work.

6 Feb 2009 12:57 AM

Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]

Dave <no***@nowhere.com> wrote:

> "Mike in Nebraska" <Mike_in_Nebraska@newsgroup.nospam> wrote in
> message news:2D0CBA15-9124-4BB0-A6ED-421887E6F6F9@microsoft.com...
>> I've got a spare HP LaserJet 4P with a JetDirect print server. I was
>> going to try selling them, but had a thought that maybe I could hang
>> them off of an Access Point on our Guest WLAN so they could print to
>> it. We host several meetings and conferences per year and this
>> would fill a need. Never tried it, or thought of it. Just asking if
>> it's reasonably do-able.
>
> i say, plug it in and try it, sounds like it should work.

Plug it in to what?

6 Feb 2009 12:42 AM

Jack (MVP-Networking).

Hi
It depends on how you Guest's WLAN is configured.
If you just plug the printer into an Access Point that is set to a regular
infra structure mode, the guests would need a separate logon to the Access
Point's SSID in order to print.
If the Access Point is configured as a Wireless Client, then the printer
through the Access Point can be connected to the guest general Wireless
service and they could print while logged to the same SSID. That said, the
guest also need the HP drivers on their computers as well.
Jack (MS, MVP-Networking).

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"Mike in Nebraska" <Mike_in_Nebraska@newsgroup.nospam> wrote in message
news:2D0CBA15-9124-4BB0-A6ED-421887E6F6F9@microsoft.com...
> I've got a spare HP LaserJet 4P with a JetDirect print server. I was
> going to try selling them, but had a thought that maybe I could hang them
> off of an Access Point on our Guest WLAN so they could print to it. We
> host several meetings and conferences per year and this would fill a need.
> Never tried it, or thought of it. Just asking if it's reasonably do-able.
>
> TIA,
>
> --
> Mike Webb
> Platte River Whooping Crane Maintenance Trust, Inc.
> a conservation non-profit (501 (c)(3)) organization
> Wood River, NE

6 Feb 2009 12:56 AM

Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]

Mike in Nebraska <Mike_in_Nebraska@newsgroup.nospam> wrote:

> I've got a spare HP LaserJet 4P with a JetDirect print server. I was
> going to try selling them, but had a thought that maybe I could hang
> them off of an Access Point on our Guest WLAN so they could print to
> it. We host several meetings and conferences per year and this would
> fill a need. Never tried it, or thought of it. Just asking if it's
> reasonably do-able.
> TIA,

If the guest network is truly wireless only, you'd need a wireless print
server for this. There are many third party ones, but I've had problems with
the ones I've tried (Netgear and others I can't recall). They're
inexpensive, though, so it may be worth a shot. If you have a natively
wireless-capable printer, you would be better off.

Regardless, as Jack mentioned, the users would need to install the drivers
for it on their workstations.

6 Feb 2009 1:56 PM

Mike in Nebraska

All good points, thanks.

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"
<lanwe***@heybuddy.donotsendme.unsolicitedmailatyahoo.com> wrote in message
Show quoteHide quote

news:%23erK3h$hJHA.996@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Mike in Nebraska <Mike_in_Nebraska@newsgroup.nospam> wrote:
>> I've got a spare HP LaserJet 4P with a JetDirect print server. I was
>> going to try selling them, but had a thought that maybe I could hang
>> them off of an Access Point on our Guest WLAN so they could print to
>> it. We host several meetings and conferences per year and this would
>> fill a need. Never tried it, or thought of it. Just asking if it's
>> reasonably do-able.
>> TIA,
>
> If the guest network is truly wireless only, you'd need a wireless print
> server for this. There are many third party ones, but I've had problems
> with the ones I've tried (Netgear and others I can't recall). They're
> inexpensive, though, so it may be worth a shot. If you have a natively
> wireless-capable printer, you would be better off.
>
> Regardless, as Jack mentioned, the users would need to install the
> drivers for it on their workstations.
>