OK guys, here is my problem. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I have four computers in my home, all on a network. I have a router (connected to my cable modem) and a 5 port hub. Two of my computers are connected to the network using a D-Link wirless access point and wireless network cards. This means that my 5 port hub has one open port.

I have two printers that are connected to my main computer. By main computer, I mean the computer in my office. One printer (HP OfficeJet R-80) is connected through the parallel port and the other (HP LaserJet 1100) is connected using a Belkin USB/Parallel adapter. This computer has Windows 2000 and Mandrake 8.1 one it. The parallel printer works great in Linux but I can't get the Laser printer to work using the USB/Parallel adapter. Both printers work great in Windows.

One of the problems with this set up is that if my computer is down (or in standby) we can't access the printers from the other computers in order to print something. I'm thinking that I can solve this problem by getting a print server that plugs into my network hub. Then I can plug my printers into the print server instead of my computer. Do they make a print server that you can plug in more that one printer? If so, what is a good brand? What brands work well with both Windows and Linux?

If this idea will not work, what would you suggest to solve this problem?

Thanks,
freezinbutt

well, linux to the rescue.....

just use samba, and set up each printer of samba, and you'll be able to use them wherever. If you want to have them both on one machine, you could always just buy an extra parallel port card... cups (in mandrake) is particulary easy to set up for samba

[printer]
printable = true
printing = cups

easy.

I don't think that solves his problem though... he's wanting to have access to his printers regardless of what the machine he's using as his main is doing.

Unless you want to setup a dedicated PC to be a print server, the hardware print server is the way to go.

I'm not sure what is available, but I know tigerdirect.com has a lot of that stuff. You might also try blackbox.com.

That should work from either Windoze or Linux since I believe you can use either FTP or LP to talk to the printers.

well windows can share printers too...

Yes, but he specifically said:

One of the problems with this set up is that if my computer is down (or in standby) we can't access the printers from the other computers in order to print something.

Hi guys,

Thought I'd give you an update on my problem.

Right after I posted the original message, I continued to do my research on print servers. I ended up calling both Linksys and D-Link to ask them if a print server was what I needed to solve my problem. They said yes, and told me that their print servers were Linux friendly. I ended up buying a Linksys and just installed it. I have it up and running with Windows 2000 and will now try to configure it to work with Mandrake 8.1.

I'll let you know how it works out.
freezinbutt