Hawking HMPS2U print server
 

So, this is one of those multiport wireless devices one plugs a USB device into and the device is available on the network, albeit if you run the utility program on a client computer (Windows or Mac). Only one person can use the device at a time, ie there's no print queue, and the client gets a virtual USB port.

Anyone have any experience accessing one of these from linux? Google and the HCL don't seem to have anything yet.

http://hawkingtech.com/products/hawk...rs/HMPS2U.html

I've never heard of that particular device, but have had luck in the past with other, similar devices. The virtual USB port may be something that Windows gets, in order to get around some of Windows limitations. It also appears that they have other devices that do work with Linux...it might be worth a call to their tech-support folks.

Since HP started years ago with the JetDirect, most remote printers these days use port 9100 for printing. Have you tried just setting up a network printer with the IP address of that box, on port 9100? Or just letting the print setup utility just scan your local network for a new printer? It may just show up. You can also try using lpr, which isn't uncommon for a printing device to support, since it's been around a good while:
and see what happens.

Thanks, I'll give that a try; the thing is, it's a multifunction printer/scanner that I'm trying to access so it'd be nice if hplip recognizes it. Supposedly you can plug speakers into it for Airplay, or a backup disk, just as many routers support... so I suspect a number of ports are open on the thing... or that it does something different than its predecessors. I'll let everyone know how it works out and (hopefully) post to the HCL.

No experience either and I agree that there is nothing to lose but according to the documentation the basic description is USB protocol over IP. There is also nothing in the specification that indicates this server supports any network protocols lke IPP or lpd like the HMPS1U.

My guess is that this device is not supported.

Good guess, but I figured there was no harm in trying.

So: I tried ipp, lpd, port 9100, the HP setup program that scans for printers (installed by hplip, I think, under Ubuntu 12.04), CUPS scanning and finally, of course, the Windows setup program under WINE.

You can ping the thing successfully, but even Windows (XP,7) doesn't find it as a network printer unless the Hawking program is running and you are "connected". If you are "connected", only you, and no other network user can connect. It appears on your machine as a USB port. Essentially it is as though you plugged the printer into the client machine. You have to disconnect before anyone else can use it, with a IM-like dialog between Win clients. Ugly.

The WINE installation ran successfully, albeit with a number of winefixmes, but at the end the program contradicted itself and said the installation failed.

BTW, the program fails to uninstall even under Win 7.

Recommendation: avoid.
Action: returned to store.