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Question

Print servers - Multiple Printers - Two Operating Systems

Jun 25, 2012 3:17AM PDT

I have two systems, a Mac and a Win system as shown below and am trying to get this set up to where I can print to either Printer from either System.

MAC Mini w/OS X 10.6.8 & 4 GB Ram
HP Pavillion P6000 Series w/WIN7 Pro & 8 GBd Ram
HP Officejet 6310 All In One (on Ethernet presently)
Brother HL-2170W Laser Printer (on Ethernet Presently)

I've been struggling with one system corrupting the print routine of the other system when I try a Print job. I either wait a very, very long time to get a simple page printed OR I get many garbage partial pages, all starting at the beginning of the first page, over and over again.

I have come to the conclusion that a Print Server might be the answer to my problem - but, I don't know much about them either.

I know I'll have to set at least one IP address, which is no problem. I just don't want something that is going to take weeks to get up and running.

Would anyone out there have a suggestion for having these systems and printers to work together without too much of a problem AND that will not break an old retired dude's budget?

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
I have answered your email and
Jun 25, 2012 8:37AM PDT

added a few pointers regarding IP addresses for your printers

P

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Answer
My dad had that issue.
Jun 25, 2012 3:24AM PDT

Since the printers are on the LAN all he needed to do was install the printer drivers and printer apps on each machine.

He also had issues of selecting the wrong printer driver but never had another PC/Mac interrupting the print job. He was the only user.

I think a print server would be a non-solution.
Bob

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Drivers on both OS's - Still problems
Jun 25, 2012 9:30AM PDT

I do have the latest Printer Drivers installed on both machines. The problems come up when I print from one of the systems, say the MAC, to one of the printers, say the laser writer and then want to print from the other system, WIN7, and the printer is bound up in this routine of very, very long waits to print a simple page of Text or a small graphic. OR, I get the several pages of the same print starting over and over again.

Both Printers are set up with the Proper LAN settings also.

That is why I thought a Print Server would solve some of the problems. Maybe not!

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In my opinion...
Jun 25, 2012 9:41AM PDT

It will only add complexity. If you wanted to connect the printer to some Apple or PC then share that, THEN that apple/pc would "spool" the print job until it was complete and print 'one job at a time.'

But most folk can simply wait a bit for the one print job to finish before sending another from another machine?
Bob