Re: [Hampshire] Print servers

Rob Malpass wrote:
> Hi all
>
> A bit of a convoluted one this so please bear with me...
>
> I spend most of my time on 3 machines: XP, Ubuntu and Vista. Last year
> I installed a netgear PS121 print server but for various reasons I've
> only just started to test it in earnest. My main box (XP) prints fine
> through it (attached to an Epson Stylus Colour 1400). Recently I've
> tried to make that printer (via the print server) work with both Vista
> and Ubuntu and had dreadful results. So much so that the only sense I
> can get out of it is when I use XP - in which case it might as well be
> local!
>
> So XP prints fine. Both Vista and Ubuntu send umpteen pages of garbage
> to the printer if using the server - even if the document I send is a
> one sided test page. I have just connected each box to the printer
> locally (i.e. usb straight into each PC) and it's printing fine on each.
>
> The curious thing about all this is, contrary to the way I expected the
> print server to work - you have to redirect a port [1] - it doesn't just
> appear as another network device.
>
> Given it prints fine through XP - I deduce there's nothing wrong with
> the print server.
> Given both Ubuntu and Vista can print locally (i.e. bypass the print
> server) I deduce there's no issue with the printer or the driver on each
> box. The problem only occurs when I go Ubuntu -> PS -> Printer or
> Vista -> PS -> Printer.
>
> The PS manual says it's a driver issue but I think I've proved otherwise
> and it's obviously not a printer issue because it works (like a dream)
> without the server.
>
> So having got through all that preamble - should I look for another
> print server and if so - any recommendations? Or is there another
> possible option I might try?
>
> Cheers
> Rob
>

The Netgear manual looks useless for Linux. I suggest on Ubuntu setting
up CUPS and configure it with a PPD file that matches your printer or a
similiar one (if you can find one. Not all printers work with Linux
AFAIK). CUPS will probably want a URL to your printer, something like this;

lpd://your.printers.ip.address/print_queue_name

That should hopefully get you closer to it working.

Simon C.