networking on campus

tarheels4516 · 09-06-2006, 05:06 PM

My roomate and I each have our own notebooks computers. The problem is we only have one printer. I was wondering if there is any way to network the two computers using the schools internet and network so that we could both use the printer.

Thanks for your help

**Fox** · 09-06-2006, 06:44 PM

Hey tarheels

I actually went looking to do this exact thing today. Same situation, too- college campus has MS workgroups disabled on its network, and I spent (wasted) some time looking for a free software print server.

I'll keep you posted if I find anything, and I'll be watching it too to see if anyone else finds out how.

**Bill_Castner** · 09-07-2006, 06:27 AM

Are your notebooks wireless?
Configure them for ad-hoc connections and share the printer.

whardman · 09-07-2006, 07:05 AM

Fox: Two questions ...
1. What do you mean by they have MS workgroups disabled?
2. And how are they connected ... both connected seperatly to the network or are they conected using a hub?

**Fox** · 09-07-2006, 07:10 AM

Everyone on the floor is connected to a switch. UPnP is disabled, and MS networking doesn't work.

Ad-hoc could work as long as it doesn't interfere with the ethernet connction we use.

**Bill_Castner** · 09-07-2006, 01:28 PM

You can have both interfaces active. I am not sure what technical concerns you are raising about your ethernet connection.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...02april08.mspx

A technical note: Can you imagine the absolute disaster that can occur if you hang a wired or wireless router with DHCP enabled on a University or other network?

DHCP works with broadcasts. Your little $30 router would happily issue IPs to the first 50 (or more, whatever it is configured for) broadcasts it hears. Now instead of the Gateway being the university routers, it is a little Linksys in a dorm room.

Disaster.

**Fox** · 09-07-2006, 01:53 PM

I don't see what harm putting a router on the uni network would do- first of all, it's not going to start issuing internal IP addresses to other computers on the switch, since unless I'm mistaken, any router will sit behind my assigned IP address and act as a middleman only for computers I have connected to it.

I'm not sure if that's what you meant, or whether you were referring to the university itself using them...the only routed network here is the wireless, and you have to use a VPN anyway.

In any case, it looks like ad-hoc will work fine. I'll just have to make sure that I don't share the internet connection as well, as we have a 2GB/week bandwidth limit.

**Bill_Castner** · 09-07-2006, 02:34 PM

Quote:

I don't see what harm putting a router on the uni network would do- first of all, it's not going to start issuing internal IP addresses to other computers on the switch, since unless I'm mistaken, any router will sit behind my assigned IP address and act as a middleman only for computers I have connected to it.

It most certainly will start issuing IPs. Remember that DHCP requests are broadcasts. Unless you disable or block broadcast from the WAN side, a feature in some routers, the 255.255.255.255 request is answered by the router.

Quote:

I'm not sure if that's what you meant, or whether you were referring to the university itself using them...the only routed network here is the wireless, and you have to use a VPN anyway.

Impossible. There is no way a university network could exist without routers.

**Fox** · 09-07-2006, 03:25 PM

No, I'm pretty positive my building has no router. I have a direct connection to the internet through the switch- I have my IP defined in TCP/IP properties per the instructions given to me, and it matches that the internet sees. I don't know how a router would play into that. Could be wrong, but I'm under the impression that when the network adapter's ip and the external IP are the same, the machine won't be on a router.

**Bill_Castner** · 09-07-2006, 03:35 PM

And what is the switch connected to?

tarheels4516 · 09-07-2006, 07:30 PM

thanks for all the help so far

**Fox** · 09-07-2006, 09:47 PM

sorry tarheels

I found this today, maybe it'll help-

Go to add/remove programs, then windows components, go down to 'other network file and print services' and try installing 'print services for unix'. That should allow you to type in the IP address of your machine into the client machine to access the spooler service.

tarheels4516 · 09-08-2006, 10:47 AM

alright i'll give that a try, thanks.

**Bill_Castner** · 09-08-2006, 01:15 PM

How about a US$ 6 ethernet adapter and a US $3 cable to ICS on machine and network both, including printer sharing?

If you both have ethernet and wireless, my note above as to how to configure this setting works great.

Doing LPR over the university LAN strikes me as silly.

**Fox** · 09-08-2006, 02:04 PM

Why would it be silly? They could just run it on a high port. Even then, I highly doubt there are students even care enough to portscan an entire IP range, and even less that would even bother to try anything upon finding the printer port open.

Plus, ad-hoc leaves the machine completely vulnerable to other connections via the wireless. Even with encryption, these computers will be vulnerable to aircrack and other methods of cracking.

**Bill_Castner** · 09-08-2006, 03:09 PM

Two Words: WPA2 + MAC filtering.

OK, it was three words.

Why the fuss, FOX? If you do not want to do it the way I suggested, fine. Others might enjoy true networking, including file sharing, print sharing and gaming.

**Fox** · 09-08-2006, 03:14 PM

I'm not saying your way is wrong, I just don't understand why it wouldn't be easier to just use the campus network. I mean, if I could get the same thing done without buying another ethernet adapter and cable, and without the hassle of configuring Ad-hoc, then I don't see where the sillyness comes in.

**Bill_Castner** · 09-08-2006, 09:23 PM

I don't want to generalize, but most Campus networks support and many require wireless capability.

It was to the many with new notebook computers with both wired and wireless i was mainly directing my suggestions. Using wirelss Ad Hoc (which is easy to configure, by the way) you get additional features: file and printer sharing, gaming, .etc.

**Fox** · 09-09-2006, 12:08 PM

If file sharing is needed too, then I would definitely agree, Ad-Hoc would be worth setting up.

I guess my building is just outdated- we have no wireless coverage in the housing- mostly because it's not as easy to regulate bandwidth as it is with the wired connections in the dorms.

**Squashman** · 09-09-2006, 12:37 PM

Why not just buy a Printer switch. We had ones at school that had 4 computers attached to them and they were electronic so you didn't have to manaully switch it. Not like those old A/B switches.

09-06-2006, 05:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
tarheels4516 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 3 OS: xp	networking on campus My roomate and I each have our own notebooks computers. The problem is we only have one printer. I was wondering if there is any way to network the two computers using the schools internet and network so that we could both use the printer. Thanks for your help

09-06-2006, 06:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
Fox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 7,752 OS: XP Pro, CentOS My System	Hey tarheels I actually went looking to do this exact thing today. Same situation, too- college campus has MS workgroups disabled on its network, and I spent (wasted) some time looking for a free software print server. I'll keep you posted if I find anything, and I'll be watching it too to see if anyone else finds out how. __________________ Antec Neo Power 500W, ABIT IP35-E, Intel E2180@2.66Ghz, Corsair XMS2 2x1GB DDR2-800, PNY 8800GT, 320GB Seagate * lazy college student alert *- If I've inadvertently ignored a thread, please Let me know about it Have I helped you solve your problem? Donate to Techsupportforums Klart Skepp!

09-07-2006, 06:27 AM	#3 (permalink)
Bill_Castner Users Helping Users Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 1,029 OS: XP SP2 Vista Win2k	Are your notebooks wireless? Configure them for ad-hoc connections and share the printer. __________________ MS-MVP Windows Networking VSOP AUMHA Forums MVM BroadbandReports / DSLR MVP Tek-Tips

09-07-2006, 07:10 AM	#5 (permalink)
Fox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 7,752 OS: XP Pro, CentOS My System	Everyone on the floor is connected to a switch. UPnP is disabled, and MS networking doesn't work. Ad-hoc could work as long as it doesn't interfere with the ethernet connction we use. __________________ Antec Neo Power 500W, ABIT IP35-E, Intel E2180@2.66Ghz, Corsair XMS2 2x1GB DDR2-800, PNY 8800GT, 320GB Seagate * lazy college student alert *- If I've inadvertently ignored a thread, please Let me know about it Have I helped you solve your problem? Donate to Techsupportforums Klart Skepp!

09-07-2006, 01:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
Bill_Castner Users Helping Users Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 1,029 OS: XP SP2 Vista Win2k	You can have both interfaces active. I am not sure what technical concerns you are raising about your ethernet connection. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...02april08.mspx A technical note: Can you imagine the absolute disaster that can occur if you hang a wired or wireless router with DHCP enabled on a University or other network? DHCP works with broadcasts. Your little $30 router would happily issue IPs to the first 50 (or more, whatever it is configured for) broadcasts it hears. Now instead of the Gateway being the university routers, it is a little Linksys in a dorm room. Disaster. __________________ MS-MVP Windows Networking VSOP AUMHA Forums MVM BroadbandReports / DSLR MVP Tek-Tips

09-07-2006, 07:05 AM	#4 (permalink)
whardman Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 617 OS: Windows XP My System	Fox: Two questions ... 1. What do you mean by they have MS workgroups disabled? 2. And how are they connected ... both connected seperatly to the network or are they conected using a hub?

09-07-2006, 01:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
Fox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 7,752 OS: XP Pro, CentOS My System	I don't see what harm putting a router on the uni network would do- first of all, it's not going to start issuing internal IP addresses to other computers on the switch, since unless I'm mistaken, any router will sit behind my assigned IP address and act as a middleman only for computers I have connected to it. I'm not sure if that's what you meant, or whether you were referring to the university itself using them...the only routed network here is the wireless, and you have to use a VPN anyway. In any case, it looks like ad-hoc will work fine. I'll just have to make sure that I don't share the internet connection as well, as we have a 2GB/week bandwidth limit. __________________ Antec Neo Power 500W, ABIT IP35-E, Intel E2180@2.66Ghz, Corsair XMS2 2x1GB DDR2-800, PNY 8800GT, 320GB Seagate * lazy college student alert *- If I've inadvertently ignored a thread, please Let me know about it Have I helped you solve your problem? Donate to Techsupportforums Klart Skepp!

09-07-2006, 03:25 PM	#9 (permalink)
Fox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 7,752 OS: XP Pro, CentOS My System	No, I'm pretty positive my building has no router. I have a direct connection to the internet through the switch- I have my IP defined in TCP/IP properties per the instructions given to me, and it matches that the internet sees. I don't know how a router would play into that. Could be wrong, but I'm under the impression that when the network adapter's ip and the external IP are the same, the machine won't be on a router. __________________ Antec Neo Power 500W, ABIT IP35-E, Intel E2180@2.66Ghz, Corsair XMS2 2x1GB DDR2-800, PNY 8800GT, 320GB Seagate * lazy college student alert *- If I've inadvertently ignored a thread, please Let me know about it Have I helped you solve your problem? Donate to Techsupportforums Klart Skepp!

09-07-2006, 03:35 PM	#10 (permalink)
Bill_Castner Users Helping Users Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 1,029 OS: XP SP2 Vista Win2k	And what is the switch connected to? __________________ MS-MVP Windows Networking VSOP AUMHA Forums MVM BroadbandReports / DSLR MVP Tek-Tips

09-07-2006, 07:30 PM	#11 (permalink)
tarheels4516 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 3 OS: xp	thanks thanks for all the help so far

09-07-2006, 09:47 PM	#12 (permalink)
Fox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 7,752 OS: XP Pro, CentOS My System	sorry tarheels I found this today, maybe it'll help- Go to add/remove programs, then windows components, go down to 'other network file and print services' and try installing 'print services for unix'. That should allow you to type in the IP address of your machine into the client machine to access the spooler service. __________________ Antec Neo Power 500W, ABIT IP35-E, Intel E2180@2.66Ghz, Corsair XMS2 2x1GB DDR2-800, PNY 8800GT, 320GB Seagate * lazy college student alert *- If I've inadvertently ignored a thread, please Let me know about it Have I helped you solve your problem? Donate to Techsupportforums Klart Skepp!

09-08-2006, 10:47 AM	#13 (permalink)
tarheels4516 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 3 OS: xp	alright i'll give that a try, thanks.

09-08-2006, 01:15 PM	#14 (permalink)
Bill_Castner Users Helping Users Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 1,029 OS: XP SP2 Vista Win2k	How about a US$ 6 ethernet adapter and a US $3 cable to ICS on machine and network both, including printer sharing? If you both have ethernet and wireless, my note above as to how to configure this setting works great. Doing LPR over the university LAN strikes me as silly. __________________ MS-MVP Windows Networking VSOP AUMHA Forums MVM BroadbandReports / DSLR MVP Tek-Tips

09-08-2006, 02:04 PM	#15 (permalink)
Fox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 7,752 OS: XP Pro, CentOS My System	Why would it be silly? They could just run it on a high port. Even then, I highly doubt there are students even care enough to portscan an entire IP range, and even less that would even bother to try anything upon finding the printer port open. Plus, ad-hoc leaves the machine completely vulnerable to other connections via the wireless. Even with encryption, these computers will be vulnerable to aircrack and other methods of cracking. __________________ Antec Neo Power 500W, ABIT IP35-E, Intel E2180@2.66Ghz, Corsair XMS2 2x1GB DDR2-800, PNY 8800GT, 320GB Seagate * lazy college student alert - If I've inadvertently ignored a thread, please Let me know about it Have I helped you solve your problem? Donate to Techsupportforums Klart Skepp! Last edited by Fox; 09-08-2006 at 02:05 PM.*

09-08-2006, 03:09 PM	#16 (permalink)
Bill_Castner Users Helping Users Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 1,029 OS: XP SP2 Vista Win2k	Two Words: WPA2 + MAC filtering. OK, it was three words. Why the fuss, FOX? If you do not want to do it the way I suggested, fine. Others might enjoy true networking, including file sharing, print sharing and gaming. __________________ MS-MVP Windows Networking VSOP AUMHA Forums MVM BroadbandReports / DSLR MVP Tek-Tips

09-08-2006, 03:14 PM	#17 (permalink)
Fox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 7,752 OS: XP Pro, CentOS My System	I'm not saying your way is wrong, I just don't understand why it wouldn't be easier to just use the campus network. I mean, if I could get the same thing done without buying another ethernet adapter and cable, and without the hassle of configuring Ad-hoc, then I don't see where the sillyness comes in. __________________ Antec Neo Power 500W, ABIT IP35-E, Intel E2180@2.66Ghz, Corsair XMS2 2x1GB DDR2-800, PNY 8800GT, 320GB Seagate * lazy college student alert *- If I've inadvertently ignored a thread, please Let me know about it Have I helped you solve your problem? Donate to Techsupportforums Klart Skepp!

09-08-2006, 09:23 PM	#18 (permalink)
Bill_Castner Users Helping Users Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 1,029 OS: XP SP2 Vista Win2k	I don't want to generalize, but most Campus networks support and many require wireless capability. It was to the many with new notebook computers with both wired and wireless i was mainly directing my suggestions. Using wirelss Ad Hoc (which is easy to configure, by the way) you get additional features: file and printer sharing, gaming, .etc. __________________ MS-MVP Windows Networking VSOP AUMHA Forums MVM BroadbandReports / DSLR MVP Tek-Tips

09-09-2006, 12:08 PM	#19 (permalink)
Fox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 7,752 OS: XP Pro, CentOS My System	If file sharing is needed too, then I would definitely agree, Ad-Hoc would be worth setting up. I guess my building is just outdated- we have no wireless coverage in the housing- mostly because it's not as easy to regulate bandwidth as it is with the wired connections in the dorms. __________________ Antec Neo Power 500W, ABIT IP35-E, Intel E2180@2.66Ghz, Corsair XMS2 2x1GB DDR2-800, PNY 8800GT, 320GB Seagate * lazy college student alert *- If I've inadvertently ignored a thread, please Let me know about it Have I helped you solve your problem? Donate to Techsupportforums Klart Skepp!

09-09-2006, 12:37 PM	#20 (permalink)
Squashman Tech, Networking Forums Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: 1265 Lombardi Ave. Posts: 1,142 OS: All of the above	Why not just buy a Printer switch. We had ones at school that had 4 computers attached to them and they were electronic so you didn't have to manaully switch it. Not like those old A/B switches.