Re: [cobalt-users] Getting print server to work on mixed Mac/PC network

[Malcolm McLeary <mmcleary@xxxxxxx>]

Hi Mark,

on 22/7/02 3:04 AM, Mark Huth wrote:

> I've got a small home network and am running a Cube 3 as a mail
> server/firewall.  I've been attempting to get the printserver to run in a
> mixed mac/pc network and have been unsuccessful.  I'm running OS X and
> Windows XP.  I'd like to hook the printers to the USB port via a hub.
>
> Could someone give me an overview?

Its my understanding that the Qube3 will only support one USB printer.  It
can be a spooler for several printers but they have to be elsewhere on the
network.

Personally I have it working with a Lexmark M410 from MacOS Classic, MacOS
X, and W2K.

For MacOS you can access the printer via AppleTalk or LPR using the Standard
Apple Laserwriter driver (Desktop Printer Utility).  Hence its best to use a
postscript printer.

For W2K I use LPR, but there are some config issues ... a checkbox which
defaults to unchecked needs to be checked ... can't recall exactly what it
was called, but I think it had something to do with byte counting.

I have not been able to get it to work via standard Windows printing
although my Lexmark appears in the Windows Network Browser.

> I presume I have to have drivers for each printer on each client.

Yep. 

> Do I install drivers on the Qube as well?

Nope.  The Qube3 is just a spooler.

> One printer is an HP photosmart 1218, the other an HP 6p.

Are these postscript printers?  You will find that the Qube3 will only
support 1 USB connected printer.

I have some problems with a HP 1200 ... works fine until you print multiple
copies of a document ... then every subsequent print comes out as that same
multiple.  It would appear the the HP 1200 is retaining the "Number of
Copies" attribute or need to be "reset" between print jobs and the Qube3 is
not doing this.  Could be a HP thing ... my Lexmark works fine.

Cheers,  Malcolm