This is a step-by-step tutorial of setting up regular printers on a printer server.

D-Link wireless printer server: DPR-1260

The printer server I use for this demonstration is a DPR-1260, D-Link RangeBooster G™ Multifunction Print Server. It can be both a wireless or a wired server which can connect up to 4 printers using USB connection.

The printer I use for this demonstration is a HP Color LaserJet 2600n. This printer is NOT in the compatible list of printer server, DPR-1260. That means the setup wizard from the printer server does NOT work on this printer. However, this tutorial will provide a much more general way of setting up any printer on a printer server.

The operating system I use for this demonstration is a Microsoft Windows® XP.

I assume that you

• know how to setup a single printer to work with your computer
• know how to connect and configure the printer server to the router (That requires a little bit TCP/IP knowledge or just read through the user manuals of the printer server and router. It shouldn’t be very difficult.)

Let’s get started.[sniplet link h5]

1. Click on the “start” button, then choose “Printers and Faxes”.
2. In “Printers and Faxes” dialog box, choose ”Add a printer”.
3. In “Add Printer Wizard” dialog box, click on “Next” button.
4. In “Add Printer Wizard” dialog box, choose “Local printer attached to this computer”, and uncheck “Automatically detect and install my Plug and Play printer”, because this auto-detection is a waste of time. Yes! We are not choosing “A network printer, …” here. Read on.
5. In “Add Printer Wizard” dialog box, choose “Create a new port:”, then go to the pull down menu and choose “Standard TCP/IP Port”, then click on “Next” button.
6. In “Add Standard TCP/IP Printer Port Wizard” dialog box, read those 2 points and get them ready. It basically says that, turn on your printer; use a USB cable to connect the printer and printer server; make sure the printer server is configure correctly and accessible(Tip: ping printer server’s IP address in the Windows command line).
7. In “Add Standard TCP/IP Printer Port Wizard” dialog box, enter the IP address of your printer server. (The IP address most likely looks like 192.168.0.x, which x could be any number between 1 to 254). While typing the IP address, the “Port Name” field is being filled simultaneously. The port name can be changed to any name your want, something like IP address, the printer model#, or even “slave”. I name it “myNetworkPrinter”. To have an idea what this name is, just look at the most popular port names: “LPT1″, “COM1″, “COM2″, etc.
8. In “Add Standard TCP/IP Printer Port Wizard” dialog box, choose “Custom”, then click on “Settings” button.
9. In “Configure Standard TCP/IP Port Monitor” dialog box, choose “Raw” as protocol. The “Port Number” is “9100″ by default. Referring to the printer server’s configuration, it assigns a “Raw TCP port”, 9101, to this printer. So, input “9101″ for “Port Number”, then click on “OK” button.
10. In “Add Standard TCP/IP Printer Port Wizard” dialog box, it summarizes the TCP/IP printer port settings. Click on “Finish” button.

So far, the network port setting part is done!

The following steps are the same as setting up a regular printer connected directly to a computer. Let’s move on.

1. In “Add Printer Wizard” dialog box, click on “Have Disk” button.
2. In “Install From Disk” dialog box, click on “Browse” button.
3. In “Locate File” dialog box, navigate to the printer setup CDRom or where the printer driver is located, then click on the “Open” button.
4. Now, it returns to “Install From Disk” dialog box. Click on “OK” button.
5. In “Add Printer Wizard” dialog box, select the printer driver needs to be installed, then click on “Next” button.
6. If the printer driver is previously installed, it will show a “Add Printer Wizard” dialog box, choose “Replace existing driver”, then click on “Next” button.
7. In “Add Printer Wizard” dialog box, a default printer name appears. It can be edited to any name you want. If this is a default printer, choose “Yes”,  Otherwise, choose “No”. Then click on “Next” button.
8. In “Add Printer Wizard” dialog box, choose “Do not share this printer”, then click on “Next” button.
9. In “Add Printer Wizard” dialog box, choose “Yes” for a test page, then click on “Next” button.
10. In “Add Printer Wizard” dialog box, another printer setup summary appears. Click on “Finish” button to finish the setup program.

Check out the test page. Isn’t it beautiful?

If reading pictures are more pleasurable, the following pictures will help.[sniplet img ad]

network_printer_server_setup_01_start

add_a_printer

add_printer_wizard_dialog1

add_printer_wizard_dialog2

add_printer_wizard_dialog3

add_standard_tcpip_printer_port_wizard_dialog1

add_standard_tcpip_printer_port_wizard_dialog2_1

add_standard_tcpip_printer_port_wizard_dialog2_2

add_standard_tcpip_printer_port_wizard_dialog3

configure_standard_tcpip_port_1

DPR1260_interface

configure_standard_tcpip_port_2

add_standard_tcpip_printer_port_wizard_dialog4

add_printer_wizard_dialog4

install_from_disk_dialog_1

locate_file

install_from_disk_dialog_2

add_printer_wizard_dialog5

add_printer_wizard_dialog6

add_printer_wizard_dialog7

add_printer_wizard_dialog8

add_printer_wizard_dialog9

add_printer_wizard_dialog10

test_page

printers_and_faxes

printer_properties_general

printer_properties_ports

This key is simply a DOS version of “Lazy Susan”. It saves you a lot of typing. Especially, it rescues you from typing errors and frustration. 

If you get used to use “doskey.exe” under DOS console, you might also love to use “Tab” key.

Doskey is a default function loaded under Dos console in MS Windows XP. You can use up and down arrow key to roll back and forth from a list of commands you have entered in the past. 

Tab is also a default function loaded under the same environment. You can use the “Tab” key to roll through the names of the files and directories (folders) under your current directory.

Before I show you an example, let’s locate this useful key first.

Here are some screen shots from my computer:

1, use “dir/a” to display all files and directories under my root directory of C drive, including H & S attribute files & directories.

2, press “Tab” key once. The 1st item appears.

If I press “Enter” key, it will execute file AUTOEXEC.BAT.

3, press “Tab” key again, The 2nd item appears. Note that boot.ini has S, H, R attributes.

If I press “Enter” key, it will open boot.ini file with Windows Notepad.

4, when there are more than one word within the name of a file or directory, the file or directory name will be double quoted.

5, use “Tab” key to get into a long-named directory is a piece of cake. Type in “cd” and a space, then Tab to roll to the right directory. The directory name is autofilled. Press Enter. I’m in. No typing hassle!

The worst case scenario, if hundreds of files and directories need to be roll through, it will be a nightmare.

To solve this problem, here is a nice hint.

I know a directory call “document” something. I just need to type the first letter or the first few letters of this directory.

Then I press Tab. The name that matches the first letter(s) is auto completed.

This is nice & neat!