Recommendations for a wireless print server supported on Linux?

[lindsey]

I have found it difficult to research a wireless print server which will be supported on Linux. I use Debian 6 and Ubuntu 10.04 (also Windows 7 64 bit, Vista, and MACOS Snow Leopard). Everyone in my household using uses a different OS, so it is all the more difficult to ensure interoperability across so many OSs.

Where can I find a definitive, authoritative and complete list of supported print servers?

Also, I want to keep things simple as possible. This is an important criterion for my choice of wireless print server. GUI mediated setup/install is much preferred over complex configuration files and command line. I know of CUPs, but I don't know if CUPs will regulate the wireless print server and what's involved.

The print server is to enable sharing of Brother HL-4050CDN printer.

I'm seriously considering F5L049au (see Belkin : Home Base). But the customer support people tell me it does not support Linux. But this is true of the majority of the print server market... Anybody, help?

Must support N network standard, the printer above, be wireless, and be Linux compatible.

[Rubberman]

The printer probably presents itself as a Windows shared printer, which should be accessible using normal Linux printing tools.

[lindsey]

The printer probably presents itself as a Windows shared printer, which should be accessible using normal Linux printing tools.

That's a good start. But does that mean the F5L049au will allow my Linux machines to access my printer wirelessly?

[Mudgen]

If it's presenting as a Windows shared printer on the wireless network, then yes, your Linux machines should be able to access wirelessly. That's basically what Rubberman is telling you.

This line of Belkin devices appears to be based on GNU Linux, BTW. You should be able to get firmware source code from Belkin.

[lindsey]

If it's presenting as a Windows shared printer on the wireless network, then yes, your Linux machines should be able to access wirelessly. That's basically what Rubberman is telling you.

This line of Belkin devices appears to be based on GNU Linux, BTW. You should be able to get firmware source code from Belkin.

What is the significance of being able to get firmware source code from Belkin? Without any knowledge of programming, can this be helpful to me?

[apeekaboo]

Sorry, I don't have any experience with the particular hardware you had in mind, but here's my 10 cents.

But the customer support people tell me it does not support Linux. But this is true of the majority of the print server market... Anybody, help?

This usually means that the company doesn't support this, but the product itself may very well work with Linux. A networked print queue is generally the way to go to ensure compatibility between several different OS.

I'd suggest you buy the Belkin print server and return it if it doesn't work as expected. OpenPrinting.org suggest that your printer works perfectly with Linux and OSX, and it probably works in Windows too. You can always connect the printer to another computer and share it, if you'd consider this an option.

[Archiviste]

I don't know about any dedicated wireless print server hardware, but any ol' PC running Linux can be turned into a print server by installing CUPS (cups.org) and Samba (samba.org) on it.

This is the set up I have at home:

- 1 Custom-built Desktop PC running Windows 7
- 1 Dell Laptop running Windows Vista
- 1 Acer Netbook running Windows 7
- 1 IBM T41 Laptop running Lubuntu Linux

- 1 IBM M50 desktop (my old desktop PC as it is) running Ubuntu Linux, with CUPS and Samba installed on it, and with a HP 5440 printer connected to it. That PC runs 24/7 (I removed the monitor, keyboard and PC from it, only plugging them in if needed.)

- 1 wireless router to connect them all.

CUPS is the print server application
Samba is the SMB sharing server application
- which means that any computer that can access my network (*) can see the printer on the network and connect to it as long as they can connect to "Windows shared resources" (SMB protocol).

(*) of course I've put restrictions on who can access my network...

[lindsey]

I don't know about any dedicated wireless print server hardware, but any ol' PC running Linux can be turned into a print server by installing CUPS (cups.org) and Samba (samba.org) on it.

This is the set up I have at home:

- 1 Custom-built Desktop PC running Windows 7
- 1 Dell Laptop running Windows Vista
- 1 Acer Netbook running Windows 7
- 1 IBM T41 Laptop running Lubuntu Linux

- 1 IBM M50 desktop (my old desktop PC as it is) running Ubuntu Linux, with CUPS and Samba installed on it, and with a HP 5440 printer connected to it. That PC runs 24/7 (I removed the monitor, keyboard and PC from it, only plugging them in if needed.)

- 1 wireless router to connect them all.

CUPS is the print server application
Samba is the SMB sharing server application
- which means that any computer that can access my network (*) can see the printer on the network and connect to it as long as they can connect to "Windows shared resources" (SMB protocol).

(*) of course I've put restrictions on who can access my network...

I can't really use an old computer as a print server - it's energy inefficient, and creates a lot of noise. Also, I needed a wireless solution, because I want to reduce the amount of cables running through my house. Hence I'd been looking to dedicated print servers - tiny little boxes that do nothing but print serving. The model Belkin : Home Base is supposed to do this, but doesn't officially support Linux. Does anyone know if it can be easily made to serve Linux computers?

[lindsey]

I don't know about any dedicated wireless print server hardware, but any ol' PC running Linux can be turned into a print server by installing CUPS (cups.org) and Samba (samba.org) on it.

This is the set up I have at home:

- 1 Custom-built Desktop PC running Windows 7
- 1 Dell Laptop running Windows Vista
- 1 Acer Netbook running Windows 7
- 1 IBM T41 Laptop running Lubuntu Linux

- 1 IBM M50 desktop (my old desktop PC as it is) running Ubuntu Linux, with CUPS and Samba installed on it, and with a HP 5440 printer connected to it. That PC runs 24/7 (I removed the monitor, keyboard and PC from it, only plugging them in if needed.)

- 1 wireless router to connect them all.

CUPS is the print server application
Samba is the SMB sharing server application
- which means that any computer that can access my network (*) can see the printer on the network and connect to it as long as they can connect to "Windows shared resources" (SMB protocol).

(*) of course I've put restrictions on who can access my network...

I can't use an old computer as my print server - it's too energy-inefficient and noisy. Does anyone know if this print server:
Belkin : Home Base can be made to serve Linux machines? You can't count on the market catering to Linux. There is no Linux market out there - manufacturers don't want to commit themselves to supporting Linux users because it's a very niche userbase and it isn't economically feasible for them. I hope in practice the Home Base Belkin print server cited above can be made to serve Linux machines and that the manufacturer just doesn't want to provide technical support so they dissociate themselves with Linux.

[Mudgen]

What is the significance of being able to get firmware source code from Belkin? Without any knowledge of programming, can this be helpful to me?

BTW: By The Way

Just pointing it out in case you care to develop some knowledge.