I have used my Belkin N1 router for several months and the two connected computers are working well. One with MS XP (laptop) and the other desktop running Vista. I have been using my printer connected to the XP machine via a USB port multiplier with no problems. I wanted to add the capability to print from the desktop when the laptop is not connected to the network so I added a Belkin USB Hub.
The installation went fine, the hub is visable, the printer is visable, I can ping the hub but the print jobs fail every time I attempt to print. Got ideas on where to start, beside Belkin customer support?
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I am still in the dark here... Am I missing something, but is there now a way to assign an IP Address to a USB device? Did something happen in the last year that I missed?
Now, if this USB Hub is actually a Print Server, such as this 2-Port USB Print Server (http://www.sprysoft.com/2
FE
OK. As a networking neophyte, I might have made statements about changing the IP address to a static number wrongly. I was going on second hand info from a friend who worked with my setup for about an hour and threw his hands up in frustration. I THINK he said he changed the IP address, but not sure. In any event, the hub shows up installed and can be addressed throught the Belkin software. The printer works using a standard USB port or port multiplier. The issue is it will not work with the new Belkin Network USB hub.
The Belkin item is shown in the link: http://www.belkin.com/netw
Thanks for bearing wth me....
hutchc
Ahhh.. it is basically a print server! Now this is all starting to make sense! (It is not considered a Hub in reality... Belkin should rethink their naming strategy here..:) As a print (device) server, and connected via a Cat5 wire, it probably does get an IPAddress, and that address allows print jobs to be sent via the network..
Normally, the proper way to setup a shared NETWORK printer using a print server (like the one you have here) is this:
PC1 <>Router or Switch <> PC2
|
Network USB Print Server
|
Printer (connected via the USB port of the Print Server)
Everything should be connected via CAT5, except for the USB Printer. The Belkin Software is 'supposed' to be able to discover the Print Server (Network USB Hub ), which has an IPAddress. You will use TCP/IP to print.. you can also probably create a TCP Printing Port and print that way, but I would stick with the Belkin software for now..
So, do you have your network setup this way?
FE
Yes, your example is correct. The laptop is connected to the Belkin wireless router via CAT5 direct connection as is the USB print server. The desktop is connected to the router via wireless connection. Neither machine can print unless I directly bypass the print server and connect to an onboard USB port.
Ok, here is what I recommend.. The best thing to do with a print server is to make sure you have a static address assigned (as your friend originally did).. Once you have it assigned, make sure you can ping it from both systems... I would also turn OFF all firewallls at this time for testing! This includes the XP Firewall, Zone Alarm, Norton, or any other ones you have running on the systems.. (In fact, even though ZA or Norton is turned off, sometimes they will interfere with traffic.. lol, eh?)
Now, with the Belkin Utility installed, it should have an option for Automatic Discovery of the Print Server. If it finds it, you can install the printer with the assigned address... If it does not find it, then there is something wrong with the Belkin Print Server or the utility.. These devices really are Plug and Play.. (I use Jetdirect USB Print Servers and have successfully installed 100's of them.. but I have never used a Belkin).. If the software cannot find the Print Server, then I think it may very well be defiective, and a refund or replacement is in order..
Now, one other thing you might try, and this is only IF a ping to the device's IPAddress returns successful pings, is to try creating a TCP Port and printing through that (instead of installing the Belkin software).. Here are the easiest instructions that I could find for doing this:
http://helpdesk.umd.edu/os
FE
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by: Fatal_ExceptionPosted on 2007-12-26 at 14:37:11ID: 20531284
So, the USB Hub is connected to the Laptop, and the printer is attached to the HUB. Are you saying that you cannot print from the Laptop now? Or you cannot print from the networked Desktop?
BTW: how do you ping a HUB? By definition, they do not have IPAddresses...