[KLUG Members] Networking Printer

[Adam Williams6]

>Dual Boot Win 98/Mandrake 8.1 System (personal desktop)
>Employer provided Win 98 Laptop
>Linksys BEFSR41 4-Port DSL Router
>Lexmark Optra Rn+ (Ebay pickedup $105!!)
>The Lexmark is not here yet, it's on the way.  The reason why I got it is 
>because the POS Canon LaserClass 1060P All-In-One my company gives me won't 
>work with Linux.
>The problem I have is I sometimes have my desktop and my laptop going at the 
>same time and I need to share the printer.  I got the Lexmark because it had 
>slipped through on Ebay and just so happens to have a built in 10baseT 
>ethernet connection.
>So then the wheels go spinning -- I should buy a hub or a switch and network 
>the printer since this my router has annoyed me as well when I want to share 
>files from the laptop to the notebook.  So I figured I get a Linksys 5-Port 
>switch for $50 (will look good and stack good with the router), connect the 
>PCs and the printer to it, connect the switch to the router (since I need the 
>router to do PPPoE and firewall for me since the Linux box is only part-time 
>Linux) and I should be in business right? 
>My question is, I'm assuming it's possible to just connect the Lexmark 
>directly to the switch and then print using TCP/IP?  Or am I completely 
>wacked?  Any alternative suggestions appreciated.

Your not whacked.  I've got lots of these network-enabled Lexmarks.  In 
Linux one just goes into redhat-config-printer-gui (you'll need to find 
the Mandrake equiv) and sets up a JetDirect printer.  Yes, it isn't an HP 
JetDirect, but it is.  Or you can use lpd with the printer's host name and 
the queue of "raw".  You'll probably want to setup the Linksys router, 
which contains a dhcp server to give the printer a specific address so you 
can always find it.

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Ximian GNOME, Evolution, LTSP, and RedHat Linux + LVM & XFS
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