idyllhands

Hello. I am trying to set up a printer so that my 2 computers (and possibly other laptops) can print to it. I am a total networking noob, could someone either explain the process, or at least help me get started?

My current setup up is a Motorola modem hooked to a wireless D-Link router which the 2 PCs connect to the internet with. After some research on google, it seems like I need a print server...but can one of the PCs function as a server?
Or can I hook the printer up to the router?

Sorry for the total noobish question, I just have no idea where to start.

One PC is XP, one is Ubuntu.

Thanks very much!

Cromewell

If your printer has a built in print server you can just connect it directly to the switch/router otherwise, sharing the printer on one of the PCs then mapping it on the other should do it.

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soda

Connect your printer to one of the pc's and share it. Then go on the other pc and click add printer, search for the printer name and click connect. Any laptop you want to connect to the printer, you have to join the network first...then do the same above...click add printer search for printer name and click connect. If you have trouble email back and I'll go into more detail..

ukulele_ninja

Not that simple soda if he doesnt already have an established network between them...

On both computers, go into netowrking options (from the control panel) and select setup a new network connection. It will ask you a few simple questions which you wont mess up. When you get to the screen asking you for a workgroup name, name your network. I used my last name but you could use 'home' or printer or whatever as well. Make sure both computers have the same workgroup name and your set.

Then take sodas advice and add a new printer via your network.

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idyllhands

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm gonna try and get it going today, hopefully this will be my last post in this thread.
BTW, nice thread you have linked in your sig, ukulele_ninja. One of these Days I'll have to go through and read the whole thing

idyllhands

Ok, running into some difficulties. On the Ubuntu box I created a new network, but I forgot to mention this network is partly wireless...not sure if that matters. Windows had me copy the network info to a pen drive (running the wireless network wizard) and said to plug it into any other pc I want to connect, but plugging it into ubuntu doesn't do anything.

Can anyone give me a step-by-step? I am new to both Ubuntu and networking, and don't really set up printers that often either. What am I missing here? Will I need to set up anything in the router, or is it all on the PCs?

Here's my setup
D-Link wireless router -> wired to Ubuntu box which is wired to printer
-> wireless to windows box
-> would like to be able to print from wireless laptops too