ELM 2007/11/9 09:30
How to convert an old PC (386 or 486 or Pentium) to a Network Print Server
This tutorial demonstrates how to build a low cost, stand-alone, professional quality
Network Print Server for a local area network. It uses the industry standard
Raw Socket API, a trend set by Hewlett Packard's JetDirect and JetDirectEX print servers;
also called "raw socket printing" (tcp port 9100). JetDirect is used in Hewlett Packard's, Xerox's, Lexmark's
business-grade network printers. Most business-grade network printers on the market today support the
Raw Socket (tcp port 9100) printing. Microsoft calls this "Standard TCP/IP port printing" (Windows 2000 and up).
This method of sharing a printer is much more elegant than the "Samba print sharing method"
because it can handle multiple OS, it can easily punch through routers and firewalls over wide area networks,
and it can be easily encapsulated (tunneled) under the strong cryptographic encryption of openssh or openvpn
for highly secure remote printing to remote offices.
This print server is 100% compatible with Windows 2000/XP native print facility.
(Microsoft calls it the Standard TCP/IP port for Windows 2000 and Windows XP).
g Brother 2070N and Dell 1720 printers are factory equipped with a print server ("network ready") that can handle TCP port 9100 raw socket printing! We will see more manufacturers following Brother Industry's leadership by making "affordable" printers with built-in "Ethernet network interface". g
Samsung now has an affordable "network ready" printer, they are models ML-2571N and ML-3051N
Okidata now has C3400N colour LED printer is also "network ready".
When this market segment fully matures, there is no need for this print server project.
Many printers (with parallel connections) are reported to work with this LRP Print Server.
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From: [url]http://members.shaw.ca/nicholas.fong/printsrv/[/url]