network newbie

[cathy wise]

how do i setup a laserjet4 with jetdirect...with a windows 2000 pc?

i have a linksys router. i have installed tcp and ipx and appletalk. i have the drivers loaded. not sure what to do next.

if you could outline the basic steps that would be great - i don't know much about telnet, dos, or setting IP addresses.

[Ernest Ford]

If you only have 1 PC don't bother with the jetdirect, connect it directly to the parallel port on the PC.

If you have a network, you can still attach the printer to the PC and share it on the network, so the only compelling reason to use the JetDirect is if the printer is not going to be close enough to the PC for a parallel cable to connect it, or you need to print when the PC the printer is attached to is switched off.

What I'm suggesting is that you keep it simple.

Now - let's assume that you DO have more than 1 PC and they are connected by network cables to the linksys router, and that the linksys router is one of those with a builtin hub or switch. Let's also assume that your JetDirect still has the factory default configuration - IPX is enabled by default and you said you loaded it on the PC so you should be able to communicate with no further changes in the network configuration.

You'll need the CDs that came with the printer and the JetDirect - first use the printer CD to install the printer as if it were directly attached to the PC. Put the JetDirect CD in the drive and then right click the printer, select properties then select ports, add port and new port type and then browse to locate the Win2K software folder on the CD.

It should let you create an HP port (sorry I can't give the exact name - I don't have the CD or a JetDirect nearby) and point it to the JetDirect - you should see it identified by it's MAC address (network hardware address)

You'll need to do this on every PC that's going to print to the printer, and while it's not difficult, it can be more headache than it's worth in a small network, which is why I prefer direct attach.

Here at home my two network printers are directly attached to my W2K server, I used to have one of them on a JetDirect 300X, but I took it down to the office so I could put a dot matrix printer in parts delivery for printing pick lists. In the office I also have 3 lasers - 2 4000TNs and a 4MV with internal JetDirects all driven from an NT4 server.

[cathy wise]

THANKS for the detailed reply!

I got it to work, with a trial and error of the IP addresses that I couldn't quite figure out which one went where.

but now that it's done, and the port is all setup...i will move on to bigger tasks...settingup my Mac OS X to share it....hmmmm....

cathy

[Ernest Ford]

You shouldn't have needed to fiddle with ip - the ipx should have been sufficient - anyway, it works and that's what's important.