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Dejavaboom · Jul 8, 2007, 05:09 AM

I have two PC's that share a router for internet access, but I'm thinking maybe they could also use the router to share files and also share a printer. Is this correct? If so, how do I set it up to accomplish this.

For the record, it is a D-Link 2.4 GHz DI-514 Wireless router. So far I've not even tapped the potential for a wireless network, that just seems way over my head.

Thanks in advance.

benn11 · Jul 11, 2007, 03:23 AM

You should connect your printer to the router through a switch and it should be on the same network so that they are visible to each other. On each PC install the printer drivers and hopefully you can add the printers on both PC's...

Curlyben · Jul 11, 2007, 03:28 AM

Ben11, close, but you omitted the need for a network print server.
The added switch isn't required as connection directly to the router will be fine.
Once a printer server in attached to the printer you will need to allocate it a STATIC IP address for easy of use.
From there it's a simple case of installing the printer on each machine that requires access using the ststic IP address of the print server.

ScottGem · Jul 11, 2007, 06:35 AM

The router you have is actually three devices in one. It's a router which performs the function of managing the traffic between your broadband modem and your local LAN. It's a switch which provides 4 wired ports for your local wired devices. It's a Wireless Access Point (WAP) that allows you to connect WiFi devices into your LAN.

It's the Switch and WAP functions that allow you to network devices to share files and resources.

To share a printer, you have some choices. You can connect the printer to one of the PCs on your LAN then share it as a Resource (See File And Print Sharing in Windows Help). Or you can get a Print Server that connects to the Switch/WAP and connect the printer to that. Or, if you don't already have a printer, you can get one with a built in Print Server and connect it directly to a switch port.

ScottGem · Jul 18, 2007, 06:28 AM

Comments on this post

Dejavaboom agrees: Very helpful, but... if it helps clarify, one PC has a line going directly from it to the HP Laserjet 2300. So, if I understand... now all that's left is to set up sharing a printer?
If you have a follow-up, don't use the comments, use a Quick Reply.
Correct, just setup printer sharing on all PCs, Share the 2300 on the PC ists connected to, then install it on the Other PCs as a networked printer.

Dejavaboom · Jul 23, 2007, 04:51 AM

Very helpful. Now I'm up and running.