USB Print Server Configurations

A USB print server can be configured in 3 different ways, all of these have pluses and minuses

1. Using a pc as a printing server
When a USB Printer is connected to a computer it can simply be shared with any other computers on the same network. Range is not an issue as the actual connection is shared through a network technology such as RJ45 type cable or WiFi, which offers more flexibility than a USB cable. On the downside the computer sharing the printer has to be left on when you need to print from any other computer.

2. USB print sharing/server box
From here you can generally connect up to 3 computers to one printer, the boxes then switches to any computer wishing to print. This type of printing setup does enable us to print independently of other computers, but you are limited by the USB cable restrictions, plus it’s an extra cable, unless you already have a USB type network in place.

3. USB to RJ45 Jet Direct box
This offer the best of all worlds, no restrictions on cable lengths as it allows you to connect your USB printer into an RJ45 type network, you can print independently of any other computers.

Whatever printer you need to share it’s worth making sure exactly what can be shared, many PSC or printer scanner copiers will lose a lot of the functionality to other computers when shared, and may only offer pure printer functionality.

If you are looking for a printer and you would like to network it, the easiest solution is to look for one with a dedicated RJ45 network port, it may cost more in the short term, but it will offer more in terms of shared functionality.