Looking for a USB switcher for printer

[Compgeke]

Re: Looking for a USB switcher for printer

I'd assume you can set a static IP on the print server itself. Usually you set a static IP device side rather than DHCP server side, Sometimes you can tell a DHCP server to always give one IP to a specific mac, most don't support it though.

[keeney123]

Re: Looking for a USB switcher for printer

I'd assume you can set a static IP on the print server itself. Usually you set a static IP device side rather than DHCP server side, Sometimes you can tell a DHCP server to always give one IP to a specific mac, most don't support it though.

I would think that Ethernet side of the printer server needs a static IP address, Therefore the Ethernet switch that goes to the printer server has to have the same address.

[keeney123]

Re: Looking for a USB switcher for printer

.I think you should get a cheap P3 computer, put linux on it and use CUPS because if two computers try to print to the computer server at the same time, it can cause issues.

When you talk about the same time how many nanoseconds are we taking about? Why would they not have an interrupt handler to be able to tell which computer interrupted it and whether that computer is done with it interrupt routine?

[diif]

Re: Looking for a USB switcher for printer

The IOgear print server has a default IP but during setup it can be changed.

[Uranium-235]

Re: Looking for a USB switcher for printer

actually, come to think of it, the server will probably have a network name (although not all support that), figure that out, you can print to that

You're dealing with simple IP-based printing, I don't think it supports communication back to the computer to deal with an interrupt, nor, in this case, has storage to queue jobs

All it's doing generating a postscript file (based off the drivers) and uploading it to the print server, which would probably take only a quick amount of time, assuming they're not massive jobs

[keeney123]

Re: Looking for a USB switcher for printer

They must have something that feeds back otherwise the minute another computer would want to print it would take over printing when the communication between the computer and printer is but on hold to perform another operation between another computer and the web. I would think the printer server would remember which computer it was talking to. The problem would come in the switcher. If the switcher can address dynamically to the computers while always doing a static address to the printer. I think this is where the problem might happen. The switcher would have to have the same capability it would have between the computers being dynamic to the static address on the input line from the web only instead of a output to the web it would be outputting to a fixed Ethernet address.

[diif]

Re: Looking for a USB switcher for printer

The answers are in the manual.
It's not the switch Keeney that manages the IP addresses, it's the DHCP server.

[keeney123]

Re: Looking for a USB switcher for printer

The answers are in the manual.
It's not the switch Keeney that manages the IP addresses, it's the DHCP server.

If one reads up on Ethernet switches it says that the Input address comes into the switch from the outside world. The switch then converts that to an address to one of the computers that are connecting to that address on the web. The switch then keeps track of the computer requesting that address. In a dynamic setup the switch is constantly changing the address of the computers because the response to the web site the computer is connected to is responding asynchronous in time. The dynamic set up is quicker to respond to what is happening at that given time instead of a static switch setup that only has the same behavior no matter what is the best why to handle it. Instead of look up the address of a particular computer and then keeping track of that computer by that address the dynamic switch only keeps track of which computer is addressing which web site in the external world. The dynamic switch can drop a address to that computer and assign that address to another computer so one gets out of looking up only one address ,the same address, to one computer. This happens in the version IP4 because when IP4 was set up the designers did not anticipating how many devices would be connecting to the internet. Version IP6 is different. It was made after IP4 and would allow for all know devices to be on the internet. The problem comes in because many people do not have or use IP6 equipment and old equipment is still out there. The solution is to have the external address to one site and then a switcher or router converts that one address into many internal addresses. Now, I am not a Software Engineer, and I do not what to be, but I do know this basic concern of the Router and Switcher.

[diif]

Re: Looking for a USB switcher for printer

Every networkable device on a network has an IP address, on every network there is a DHCP server that hands them out. If you are part of a big network that might be a dedicated server or servers, if it's just a small home network then it will usually be the router that usually does the DHCP.

The switch just routes that traffic. They are dumb, unless they are managed and even then they do not assign IP addresses. IP addresses can be static or dynamic, there is no difference in speed whichever way they are set.

[stj]

Re: Looking for a USB switcher for printer

why not use a broken-screen laptop or something?

[keeney123]

Re: Looking for a USB switcher for printer

why not use a broken-screen laptop or something?

love it!

[keeney123]

Re: Looking for a USB switcher for printer

Every networkable device on a network has an IP address, on every network there is a DHCP server that hands them out. If you are part of a big network that might be a dedicated server or servers, if it's just a small home network then it will usually be the router that usually does the DHCP.

The switch just routes that traffic. They are dumb, unless they are managed and even then they do not assign IP addresses. IP addresses can be static or dynamic, there is no difference in speed whichever way they are set.

So Read this and get back to me. http://computer.howstuffworks.com/lan-switch.htm

I believe page 16 talks about layer 3 switches which will talk about address like the router. Anyway, it is something I will not memorize because I have other more important things up in my brain and with only one brain cell it is hard to remember all things.

[diif]

Re: Looking for a USB switcher for printer

So Read this and get back to me. http://computer.howstuffworks.com/lan-switch.htm

I believe page 16 talks about layer 3 switches which will talk about address like the router. Anyway, it is something I will not memorize because I have other more important things up in my brain and with only one brain cell it is hard to remember all things.

No need for me to read, i've been doing this stuff practically for years.
Page 16 I guess is referring to some Cisco layer 3 switches that can do DHCP.

[keeney123]

Re: Looking for a USB switcher for printer

The switch just routes that traffic. They are dumb, unless they are managed and even then they do not assign IP addresses. IP addresses can be static or dynamic, there is no difference in speed whichever way they are set.
So switches are not necessarily dumb? In fact they can do a lot depending on the switch. Even though you have been doing this for years does not mean that you have seen it all. I myself never think I know it all. There is to much to know. I try not to discredit a persons knowledge because it is different then mine. I have basic concepts that I leave wide open. Even though I may not agree with another person I do not try and shut that persons beliefs out. Of course you are different than I so I do not expect you to hold the same beliefs. I do know what I have read perhaps I can get that jumbled up in my mind with time and of course I do have dyslexia and I see things much different than most people. One thing I believe would help you would be not to be so quick to judge. By judging quickly you overlook a person who may have creative ideas that looks at things from a different perspective than yours. See I do not care if you or I am right or wrong. That really does not matter to me. I do expect to be respected as a person.

[diif]

Re: Looking for a USB switcher for printer

I have never claimed to have seen it all or or know it all, you were referring me to a webpage for your knowledge, i was recounting my real world experience.

Neither do i judge, but if i see something that is incorrect, surely it's right to correct it ? We are on a knowledge sharing forum after all.

[SteveNielsen]

Re: Looking for a USB switcher for printer

I'm not sure but I don't think a layer 3 swx does DHCP, but it does have an address table. I never like the stupid OSI model. Network engineers I've known didn't either.

[diif]

Re: Looking for a USB switcher for printer

I'm not sure but I don't think a layer 3 swx does DHCP, but it does have an address table. I never like the stupid OSI model. Network engineers I've known didn't either.

They don't normally, but some of the Cisco ones can do DHCP.

[keeney123]

Re: Looking for a USB switcher for printer

I have never claimed to have seen it all or or know it all, you were referring me to a webpage for your knowledge, i was recounting my real world experience.

Neither do i judge, but if i see something that is incorrect, surely it's right to correct it ? We are on a knowledge sharing forum after all.

Correcting something is not wrong. If you jump on some statement and say it is wrong without knowing the context in which it is made that I believe is a improper way of dealing with the statement. I can still go back to my concept of a switch and show the correctness of my statement. This is simply because no one is entirely right or wrong on anything. I could get in a deep philosophical elaborate examples of why this is the case, but I would rather not. One of the things you have said is the site I read was for my knowledge. Actually, it was to check your knowledge. I can show you were your statement is in error. This concept that a switch is dumb would be misleading if I take it out of context of how you were implying it. If you go back through my statement the concept of my statement is understandable given the context. You see I do not care for the endless abbreviations in the electronic industry. I only care of the basic concept of the function of the electronics. If I dare to delve into a problem I will learn all the various intricate functions that are involved and then quickly forget them. Simply because the intricate functions of mathematics, electronics and engineering principle bore me. So when I say a basic concept that a new student would understand it is just that basic. The terminology I use, you may know to be incorrect while the concept is somewhat correct. First we are way off of what I was looking for a USB switcher for a printer. I still think this is the way to go. When I say that I mean for future design. The reason is that simply one less operation on the Ethernet Line, which means the line from one computer to the rest of the world. The world, means what ever network you may have, although it would be easier for a beginner to understand a computer to the output line that connects to Comcast. So understanding all that context. I had proposed a basic switcher circuit. with manual switches. This is a basic design to be built on. Of course know one took that up. So what I am saying to the design Engineer not having to worry about the interruption of the Ethernet Line would I think with just basic knowledge be less troublesome and quicker. I am sure there is a break point at which the number of computers on a UBS switcher would not work. I would think that would be in conjunction with how many computers share one printer. All of what I have said is now becoming to complex.So I will stop. I guess were it went south for me with you is when you claimed I was looking for problems where there is none. See that is something for me to decide and not you. Up to that point I was listening to you.

[diif]

Re: Looking for a USB switcher for printer

No offense was meant Keeney. I shan't bother responding further if you have stopped listening. Your problem wasn't a tricky one and is easily sorted.

I've yet to find more than a 4 port USB switch, probably due to the USB length restriction of 5m and if there are more than that many PCs then they are usually networked, so it makes more sense to have some kind of print server connected over ethernet.

[keeney123]

Re: Looking for a USB switcher for printer

No offense was meant Keeney. I shan't bother responding further if you have stopped listening. Your problem wasn't a tricky one and is easily sorted.

I've yet to find more than a 4 port USB switch, probably due to the USB length restriction of 5m and if there are more than that many PCs then they are usually networked, so it makes more sense to have some kind of print server connected over ethernet.

I thank you for saying no offense was meant. Perhaps I am a little defensive because I was told what and how to think by may Father all of my childhood and into a good portion of my adult life. He did it in that Military Drill Sargent way. Perhaps we can rearrange our relationship as me being a student and You being a teacher. So, your answer is simple and complete. There are no more than a 4 port UBS switcher that you have seen. This is my experience too. Also, you said that the answer is some type of Ethernet printer server. So do you think the IO gear printer server connected to a Ethernet Switcher would actually work without problems with seven HP Windows 7 computers?