Computer Question !!!!

[Georghino]

Can anyone tell me how to share a printer with 16 computers? what hardware would I need? Router? Switch? Any special software?
This is not a network, just 16 individual computers sitting in a big room and I want to be able to print from any of them.
I would think that all I need is just one 16-port switch. Anyone?
Thank you very much.

[bah]

just make a network, install and share it on one computer, then install it as a network printer on each of the other computers, simple as cake in xp

[nikon]

like said by bah, but if you wanna do it the spiffy way, they make network printer controllers, you hook the controller up to the printer then that up to the network incase you dont want to have that one computer on all the time. But a network or a sort of network ie bluetooth is the only way to do it.

[asdf1234]

Format; Reinstall.

[SpeedingFirebird]

Originally posted by bah:
just make a network, install and share it on one computer, then install it as a network printer on each of the other computers, simple as cake in xp

Only certain printers will share this way. I have run into cases where this didn't work. but then, I think you can buy a special printer controller to plug into your network.

[MrCoffee]

no it should always work. As long as the computer with the printer. Once the printer is shared and the dirvers are setup on all the other computers you're set. All it does is send the document you want printed through the network and into the print queue of the computer thats physically attatched to the printer. which is why that computer must be on.

To answer the question. The simplest way to share a printer between 16 computers is with a network. A router would be the best thing, but you will more than likely need some switches. If a wired network seems too difficult then use wireless. It'll work the same. But wires are still more reliable and faster.

[Georghino]

Can anybody give me some more specific info? How would the connection go? Do the computers go connected to the router or to the switch?
I have a background in computer so I feel I can do it. I just need some directions to get me started.
Thanks.

[98Camaro3.8]

Network them with a router/switches, then use File & Printer Sharing.

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1596

[bah]

just get a cheap router and a 16 port switch off ebay, the only thing the router is going to do is assign ip addresses, you can set up a computer to do that, but a router will work better, get your network set up all the same on all the computers, install the printer on one of the computers, then go to printers and faxes, right click the printer, properties, sharing tab, share this printer and put in some easy name you'll remember, like printer. then on all the other computers click add a printer in printers and faxes, network printer, browse for a printer, and it should be there, do it on all of them and presto you can print from all the computers [img]graemlins/banana.gif[/img]

[InZane4all]

Wow, if you want to network 16 pc's to a single printer, you will need to purchase a pretty big switch or router. Whatever you do, don't get a hub because it will degrade your network speed.

I would strongly advise you not to purchase any used electronics from ebay. Make sure they are brand new and still packaged.

Make sure you place all the computers in the same workgroup.

You can:

1) Share the printer from a host computer or
2) Buy a USB Adpater that converst your printer into a network printer

Easiest thing to do is to share the printer from a pc.

From there, just add the shared printer to the other computers and you are all set.

[mwh27]

If you wanna get serious, and I think you should using 16 PC's then use windows domain's. Then you can add and subtract printers from the entire domain at once.

Or buy something like an HP B&W laser with a network card.

[bah]

dont worry about domains, you have to buy windows server and set up so much crap to make it work, and you have to always be fixing problems, i also didnt say used, i got a 16 port netgear on ebay brand new and it worked wonderfuly http://cgi.ebay.com/NETGEAR-JFS516-1...QQcmdZViewItem this combined with a cheap router to assign ip addresses is all you need, i worked in a computer store, i would hope i know what i am talking about

[SpeedingFirebird]

Originally posted by MrCoffee:
no it should always work. A

I have a computer and printer that disagree with you.

[MrCoffee]

then I contribute that to user error. Because if you can install the printer on a machine then it can be networked. Back in HS we networked a dot matrix printer to the lab with winXP and MacOS X machines printing to it. however I did say 'should' which means that I took into account that machines are in fact fickle and can be a pita to setup properly.

[InZane4all]

Originally posted by SpeedingFirebird:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by MrCoffee:
no it should always work. A

I have a computer and printer that disagree with you. </font>[/QUOTE]Neworking computers with physical wiring (using ethernet cables) should always work unless there are some sort of software isues, or in rare cases, network card incompatibilities. Computers trying to connect to a shared printer using wireless capabilities may and may not always work. Depends on the type of manufacturer for the Wireless NIC.