PC constantly dropping connections to network printers

I assume these printers are connected to the network via cat5.

Do a ping test to the printers and the server.
ping PRINTER -t

this will run continuously, until you end it manually

This way you can tell if its just the printers that are losing connectivity or the server.

Are they all on the same switch?

Also how do you know that you are losing your connection to the printers?

are the printers STATIC IP assigned?  if not, make them so.

Hi,

It is actually affecting a number of pcs now....they are unable to connect to printers in the windows printers dialogue box.

They are assigned static Ip addresses, and one is on one server (windows 2000 prof), the other is on another server (windows 2003 standard).

The two servers are in an office where they, and a few other pcs, connect to the network through a DEs D-Link 1016-D 12 port hub.

Am I silly having the servers connecting to the network through a hub? Should they be on their own connection to the network?

Other query - I know they areoff the network cause the people can't print and call me!

Question.

Are the printers available when an administrator logs onto the PCs?

but you haven't isolated if it is anetwork issue. Sure they cannot print, but what about say internet access, or other network operations. Just because tthey cannot print, it could be the network connection to the printer, from the printer to the server, or their box to the server.

Don't use the server has a print server. Just do straight IP printing.

i'm thinking

server (review event viewer & services for anything that looks out of the ordinary)

and

hub (how about a SWITCH instead)?