Printer Sharing 5-6 users

PN14

Hi Guy's
This has probably been asked & answered before but I'm looking for the best option on how to operate 5 or 6 users on a multifuction copy,scan printer machine, (an OKIES Series), in a small office.
We don't have a central server in the office and we're looking at the best options available to set up the multifuction machine so we can all use it and get rid of the small desktop printers we have at the minute.
None of us in the set-up are very IT litterate so any advice is welcome.
Regards
Paul.

chin_grin

Install the printer locally (via usb) on one pc.

Right click on the printer and select Share.

Then get the IP address of your pc. (Start - Run - type 'cmd' - press enter or ok - type 'ipconfig' in the black window that opens then press enter, this will list the ip address of your pc).

On the other machines that you want to share the printer you'll need to go to Start - Run and type the ip address of your pc with two backslashes before it.

EG: \\192.168.1.1

Then press ok (or enter).

When the window opens it should list the shared printer. Right click and select 'connect'.

Also if the printer is set to scan you can share the scan folder out on your pc to everyone the same way.

Hijpo

You can use windows built in sharing feature.

On the PC thats directly connected to the printer right click on the printer and click share. right click on the My Computer then properties to find the computer name.

Got to the other PC's and click start> Devices and Printers> Add Printer and select network printer then in the search field type
//nameofcomputerdirectly connectedtoPrinter/Printername

I think that should work


Chin grin got there before me

ITDept

If you don't have a server you can either set it up on one PC and share it, or set it up on all PCs.

The first option is OK if you have one PC that's always on, but if you don't then you won't be able to print when the PC where you set up the printer is turned off.

The option of installing the printer on each PC is probably best. You lose some of the benefits of having it on a print server but in general it should work fine.

Torqay

All computers using the same operating system?

If not the drivers may have to be installed manually on the clients with operating systems different from the sharing computer.

PN14

Cheers guys thanks for the info. Will try these suggestions and see what works best. Waiting for two new laptops and a PC to arrive so will wait to set-up the lot together. The PC will be in reception so can be left on as the host computer. All machines will be Windows 7.

fionny

Is the printer not a network printer in itself? It might be able to work away on itself own on the network without being connected to another computer / server. Whats the Make / Model?