Problems sharing printer using usb switch

davepowers · 05-08-2008, 12:00 PM

Please help I have tried the "experts" at dell and lexmark and they just want $$$.

I have 2 pc's that I am trying to share a printer and a scanner. I have a USB switch from Black Box that is designed to do this. The problem is the printer a Dell 720 and the first pc that is connected want to chat all the time and not shut up so the other pc can send a print to it. I have tried to find a new generic driver that is not so chatty but have had no luck.

Dave

hughem · 05-11-2008, 09:21 AM

The problem is USB. It's enumerated, and software-driven. Enumerated means that the system addresses a device not just by port, but by place in the order.

Software-driven is an obvious problem. In order to make the printer cheaper, virtually all the "smarts" are implemented in software running on (and slowing down) your computer.

Get a network-ready scanner, like one of the new "all-in-one" units from HP (J6480 is real cheap right now). Get a print server for your USB printer and forgo all the stupid bi-directional monitoring! Of course, if you get a network-ready all-in-one, you won't need that printer anyway.

**Terrister** · 05-11-2008, 01:03 PM

The other way to fix this is to hook up the all in one to one machine and share it over the network. Only the machine it is plugged into will be able to scan, but both will be able to print.

05-08-2008, 12:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
davepowers Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1 OS: xp svc2	Problems sharing printer using usb switch Please help I have tried the "experts" at dell and lexmark and they just want $$$. I have 2 pc's that I am trying to share a printer and a scanner. I have a USB switch from Black Box that is designed to do this. The problem is the printer a Dell 720 and the first pc that is connected want to chat all the time and not shut up so the other pc can send a print to it. I have tried to find a new generic driver that is not so chatty but have had no luck. Dave

05-11-2008, 09:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
hughem Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1 OS: XP Pro Sp2, VMware	Re: Problems sharing printer using usb switch The problem is USB. It's enumerated, and software-driven. Enumerated means that the system addresses a device not just by port, but by place in the order. Software-driven is an obvious problem. In order to make the printer cheaper, virtually all the "smarts" are implemented in software running on (and slowing down) your computer. Get a network-ready scanner, like one of the new "all-in-one" units from HP (J6480 is real cheap right now). Get a print server for your USB printer and forgo all the stupid bi-directional monitoring! Of course, if you get a network-ready all-in-one, you won't need that printer anyway.

05-11-2008, 01:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
Terrister Moderator Hardware Forum Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 6,742 OS: Xp	Re: Problems sharing printer using usb switch The other way to fix this is to hook up the all in one to one machine and share it over the network. Only the machine it is plugged into will be able to scan, but both will be able to print. __________________