I am trying to install a print server on my home network. It would be
nice to print remotely from the laptop, etc.

You would think this would be easy.

I first tried Apple Airport Express. But for some reason it did not
like my Belkin 54g wireless router (even with an ethernet connection).
The Airport Express liked to disappear and be unfindable forever.

OK, so that went back to the Apple store. IMHO Apple needs a major
software rewrite for Apple Express for this and other reasons.

I bought a Belkin wireless print server on the theory that should talk
to the Belkin 54g router.

True enough, but the Belkin print server refused to take print jobs from
a Macintosh (G4, running OS 10.3.6). Tech support said sorry, Belkin
won't talk to Macs.

I bought a LinkSys WPS54G. LinkSys claims they do talk to Macs.

I install the printer using System Preferences:Print & Fax, using
AppleTalk, IP printing, anything, everything. I connect a PC to
configure the print server as well. No dice for the Macontosh.
Although, the PC prints to the print server just fine and dandy.

One exception: Macintosh IP printing to a generic postscript printer
will print through the print server from the Macintosh. Sadly however
the USB printer (Epson Stylus C62) just prints postscript garbage.

LinkSys tech support says that they don't support Macintosh whatsoever.
LinkSys will talk to Macs, they just don't have a clue how it might
happen.

Why do print servers and Macintosh hate each other?

Any solutions to this frustrating hair puller appreciated.

Thanks.

On 26-Dec-2004, Marv Frandsen <frandsen@legalfreedom.com> wrote:

> I am trying to install a print server on my home network. It would be
> nice to print remotely from the laptop, etc.
>
> You would think this would be easy.
>
> I first tried Apple Airport Express. But for some reason it did not
> like my Belkin 54g wireless router (even with an ethernet connection).
> The Airport Express liked to disappear and be unfindable forever.
>
> OK, so that went back to the Apple store. IMHO Apple needs a major
> software rewrite for Apple Express for this and other reasons.
>
> I bought a Belkin wireless print server on the theory that should talk
> to the Belkin 54g router.
>
> True enough, but the Belkin print server refused to take print jobs from
> a Macintosh (G4, running OS 10.3.6). Tech support said sorry, Belkin
> won't talk to Macs.
>
> I bought a LinkSys WPS54G. LinkSys claims they do talk to Macs.
>
> I install the printer using System Preferences:Print & Fax, using
> AppleTalk, IP printing, anything, everything. I connect a PC to
> configure the print server as well. No dice for the Macontosh.
> Although, the PC prints to the print server just fine and dandy.
>
> One exception: Macintosh IP printing to a generic postscript printer
> will print through the print server from the Macintosh. Sadly however
> the USB printer (Epson Stylus C62) just prints postscript garbage.
>
> LinkSys tech support says that they don't support Macintosh whatsoever.
> LinkSys will talk to Macs, they just don't have a clue how it might
> happen.
>
> Why do print servers and Macintosh hate each other?
>
> Any solutions to this frustrating hair puller appreciated.

How are you trying to configure it? My kids' macs, running OSX, print fine
to my server. They work either wirelessly or wired to the network, I use a
HP Jetdirect but it should work with any print server that uses appletalk or
that can have a fixed ip address. I use a linksys router.

I can also print from windows and linux. My print server's ip address is
192.168.1.10. The laserjet is on port 1 or 9100 in linux while the
officejet is on port 2 or 9101 in linux. The macs using appletalk found the
printers w/no setup.

My father in law runs OS9 and prints to a networked laserjet using
appletalk. I can access the printer on the network wireless from a windows
laptop. I don't know what kind of router he is running.

sam@somewhere.com wrote:
> On 26-Dec-2004, Marv Frandsen <frandsen@legalfreedom.com> wrote:
>
>
>>I am trying to install a print server on my home network. It would be
>>nice to print remotely from the laptop, etc.
>>
>>You would think this would be easy.
>>
>>I first tried Apple Airport Express. But for some reason it did not
>>like my Belkin 54g wireless router (even with an ethernet connection).
>>The Airport Express liked to disappear and be unfindable forever.
>>
>>OK, so that went back to the Apple store. IMHO Apple needs a major
>>software rewrite for Apple Express for this and other reasons.
>>
>>I bought a Belkin wireless print server on the theory that should talk
>>to the Belkin 54g router.
>>
>>True enough, but the Belkin print server refused to take print jobs from
>>a Macintosh (G4, running OS 10.3.6). Tech support said sorry, Belkin
>>won't talk to Macs.
>>
>>I bought a LinkSys WPS54G. LinkSys claims they do talk to Macs.
>>
>>I install the printer using System Preferences:Print & Fax, using
>>AppleTalk, IP printing, anything, everything. I connect a PC to
>>configure the print server as well. No dice for the Macontosh.
>>Although, the PC prints to the print server just fine and dandy.
>>
>>One exception: Macintosh IP printing to a generic postscript printer
>>will print through the print server from the Macintosh. Sadly however
>>the USB printer (Epson Stylus C62) just prints postscript garbage.
>>
>>LinkSys tech support says that they don't support Macintosh whatsoever.
>> LinkSys will talk to Macs, they just don't have a clue how it might
>>happen.
>>
>>Why do print servers and Macintosh hate each other?
>>
>>Any solutions to this frustrating hair puller appreciated.
>
>
> How are you trying to configure it? My kids' macs, running OSX, print fine
> to my server. They work either wirelessly or wired to the network, I use a
> HP Jetdirect but it should work with any print server that uses appletalk or
> that can have a fixed ip address. I use a linksys router.
>
> I can also print from windows and linux. My print server's ip address is
> 192.168.1.10. The laserjet is on port 1 or 9100 in linux while the
> officejet is on port 2 or 9101 in linux. The macs using appletalk found the
> printers w/no setup.
>
> My father in law runs OS9 and prints to a networked laserjet using
> appletalk. I can access the printer on the network wireless from a windows
> laptop. I don't know what kind of router he is running.

I have a linux box running fedora core 2 that I use most of the time.
It has two nic cards in it, and acts as my gateway, firewall, and print
server. We bought an eMac last year mostly for my wife and kids. I
simply enabled CUPS to share the printer with the mac, and since the Mac
speaks CUPS (Common Unix Printing System), it found the printer on the
linux box right away. My computers are networked with wall plugged
ethernet bridges from Netgear. They us the power lines in your house,
and since there are several outlets in every room, I don't have the
coverage problems you run into with wireless access routers.

I occassionally use the Mac and love it. With the exception of some
minor problems, it just works.

On 12/26/04 9:50 PM, in article
iMKzd.151610$8G4.50855@tornado.tampabay.rr.com, "Marv Frandsen"
<frandsen@legalfreedom.com> wrote:

> I am trying to install a print server on my home network. It would be
> nice to print remotely from the laptop, etc.
>
> You would think this would be easy.
>
> I first tried Apple Airport Express. But for some reason it did not
> like my Belkin 54g wireless router (even with an ethernet connection).
> The Airport Express liked to disappear and be unfindable forever.
>
> OK, so that went back to the Apple store. IMHO Apple needs a major
> software rewrite for Apple Express for this and other reasons.
>
> I bought a Belkin wireless print server on the theory that should talk
> to the Belkin 54g router.
>
> True enough, but the Belkin print server refused to take print jobs from
> a Macintosh (G4, running OS 10.3.6). Tech support said sorry, Belkin
> won't talk to Macs.
>
> I bought a LinkSys WPS54G. LinkSys claims they do talk to Macs.
>
> I install the printer using System Preferences:Print & Fax, using
> AppleTalk, IP printing, anything, everything. I connect a PC to
> configure the print server as well. No dice for the Macontosh.
> Although, the PC prints to the print server just fine and dandy.
>
> One exception: Macintosh IP printing to a generic postscript printer
> will print through the print server from the Macintosh. Sadly however
> the USB printer (Epson Stylus C62) just prints postscript garbage.
>
> LinkSys tech support says that they don't support Macintosh whatsoever.
> LinkSys will talk to Macs, they just don't have a clue how it might
> happen.
>
> Why do print servers and Macintosh hate each other?
>
> Any solutions to this frustrating hair puller appreciated.
>
> Thanks.

First, I am not familiar with the particular Linksys product you used.
However, in my home I use a Hawking parallel print server with an HP
LaserJet 6P for internet protocol printing from my Macs (OS X, 9, 7.5), my
PCs (Windows XP and 98SE) and also when I'm running Linux (Red Hat 9). It
just works--the parallel print server support internet printing protocol,
AppleTalk, and a bunch of other protocols. It just plugs into one of the
unused Ethernet ports on my router. The print server is about the size of a
matchbook and plugs into the back of my printer.

Before someone corrects me--yes, I really *did* mean the LaserJet 6P. I
mention this because HP's materials say its not Macintosh compatible without
a $150 postscript print server card. I just use CUPS for postscript
support.

A second option is to use a router or switch with a built-in print server.
Earlier today I set up an SMC router with a print server for my sister.
She's using it as a print server for an iMac G5 and her Windows 98 laptop.
Again. no problem. I got the instructions for how to configure the router
(a Barricade 7004BR-now obsolete and discontinued) from the SMC web site at
www.smc.com.

I think you just got some bad advice.

- Mike

I have a Belkin BT acess point with print server. Belkin says it
supports macs under IP protocol. Ok, no prob, other then I don't see a
spot to change the port. I tried 192.168.2.3:515 but came up invalid
or incomplete.

Go easy, I'm a new convert from winblows (You'll also need to type
slowly, since I can't read fast :)
TIA
Dave

On 2004-12-27 00:26:57 -0500, sam@somewhere.com said:
> How are you trying to configure it? My kids' macs, running OSX, print fine
> to my server. They work either wirelessly or wired to the network, I use a
> HP Jetdirect but it should work with any print server that uses appletalk or
> that can have a fixed ip address. I use a linksys router.
>
> I can also print from windows and linux. My print server's ip address is
> 192.168.1.10. The laserjet is on port 1 or 9100 in linux while the
> officejet is on port 2 or 9101 in linux. The macs using appletalk found the
> printers w/no setup.
>
> My father in law runs OS9 and prints to a networked laserjet using
> appletalk. I can access the printer on the network wireless from a windows
> laptop. I don't know what kind of router he is running.