DI 704UP Router

For a change I am asking first

I am looking at the Specs for the item in the title.

Router with 4 port Swirch + USB Print Server.

We have several Nieces and Nephews that use it PCs for school work and right now my Printer ( HPDeskjet 5550 ) is Parallel and hooked to this machine. So that means that this machine must be on for the other machines to use it. But it is USB capable.

If I added the DI 704UP would that mean that this machine would not need to be on for the other machines to use the printer ?

Would it work even though the other machine ( at least one ) does not have USB. ?

Or does the Print Server take over the USB part ?

Also can I assume that the DI 704UP is a DHCP server ( asigns the addresses to the NICs ) for the LAN the same as my Linksys does ?

My own answers to these questions are all yes. But I have been wrong before.

BillyBob

 

I forgot to add that this machine is running XP Pro.

The other two are 98SE.

BB

 

BillyBob,

I looked over DLink's website and it seems like the DI 704UP is a router very similiar to your Linksys with the added benefit of a printer sharing function.

The printer sharing function of the DI 704UP relieves one of your computers of that task. As long as the printer is on and connected to the DI 704UP any computer on the network (assuming the printer is setup on that machine) will be able to print regardless if the other machines are on or off.

The only part that requires USB is the printer you wish to use. You stated that your HP 5550 already has that - so you should be set.

The printer uses the USB port on the DI 704UP - your computers hook up to the LAN Ports just as they do on your Linksys.

From my reading it appears every much as bit a DHCP server as your Linksys Router.

Sounds like a great device to allow others to print without sticky fingers tapping away on your computer!! Hope my reply addressed your concerns.

Cheers,

ICE

 

iceolated

Thank you very much for taking the time to do some checking.

The Router part is more than likely the same ( or close to ) my Linksys.

The Print Server is the part that I am most interested in as when I am not here this machine is not on.

The one last question that I do have is, will the D-Link Router work with my Linksys NICs ?

Well I guess there is only one way to find out. The age old story of Try it and See.

Things have been going quite well . I am getting bored so it is time for me to have a go at messing things up AGAIN

BillyBob

 

Billybob,

I don't see any reason why the router wouldn't work with your Linksys cards.

In my Linksys setup I have a different brand Ethernet card in each computer - never any problems.

Network devices should confim to the IEEE 802.3 standard. I'm sure that DLink's and Linskys' devices all do in which case you shouldn't have any major problems. I can't imagine any company that doesn't make compliant devices being around for long.

Cheers,

ICE.

 

Well Let me say this about the subject.

I check in 4-5 different stores around here today and nobody had one. In fact some of them had NO IDEA was I was even talking about.

So I just ordered one online and it should be here mid/late week.

BillyBob

 

As already mentioned, Router should/will work with any NIC's. Print Server is independendent from any computer or work station and if set up properly will run with computers or work stations off - ie shut down totally. Am running 2 linksys hardwired 2 port printservers and one USB wireless print server, each with fixed IP address - doesn't require any machine to be running or powered on - thats the whole concept of a print server.

 

Thanks Rockster2U for the added info.

Keeping the printer independaent of any one machine is what I am after.

I will now just have to wait till I get it and take it from there.

BB

 

D-Link Model DI 704UP has been ordered.

Arrival date/time ? When it gets here

New Printer drivers have been downloaded and installed. ( on this machine any way )

The Printer ( hpdeskjet 5550 ) hooked to this machine is now on USB. And has been tested from the other machines.

Maybe I will get the newer drivers onto the other machines today.

Any suggestions as to any possible problems or just plain WHAT TO DO are welcome.

This note is coming from the restless, impaitant can't wait for new toy and tackle something new

BillyBob

 

I do not have my new toy ( DL-704UP )yet but do have a question.

I do have 14 pages of install instructions. ( downloaded )

The Router part looks like just switching a bunch of cable from the old to the new ( in a certain order )

It does have Print Server setup instructions for XP & 98.

Now am I correct in assumming that the Print Server Software must be installed on each machine that will be using it.

My wild guess is YES. And by doing so my idea of keeping each machine independent will be met.

Now that I think about it ( as I write ) it would have to be. Otherwise the machine would not even know the Print server is there.

The slightly confused
BillyBob

 

So far so good

New toy arrived at 2:30 PM.

Installed and working with at least the Internet and LAN parts at 3:10 PM

Printer tested as is. Seems to be faster.

But I exchanged two 25' cables for two new 4" cables so that may help.

I won't get to the Printer part today. I do not want to have to quit and leave it the middle of the process and then have to TRY to remember tomorrow what I did or did not do today. I would rather wait till I can go start to finish.

BillyBob

 

Mission accomplished ( I hope )

At 10:55 PM this date all systems seem to be GO

Unless something hits the fan and messes things up I no longer need to share the printer on this machine. I had it turned off ( powered completely down ) and printed tests pages from the 98SE machine.

I had to install the Print Server Software to the other machine and re-install the printer software but as of the moment IT WORKS

NOW I have to read the book which in a .PDF file on the CD.

A Happy ( for the time being anyway )
BillyBob

 

Well folks this has been a very interesting project. It has had some bad language creating moments but over all it has turned out VERY WELL.

Before I got things figured out I showed for printers on this machine. But by removing all and starting over I now have ONE ligitiment Printer.

I found that all that the Print Server Software does is add a D-Link LPT port ( print server ) And once I got that figured out and set up properly all is giong well.

And installing the Print server software to the 2nd machine did indeed separate it from this one.

The BIGGEST surprise was when I had to grant permmission for the spooler to get past the Kerio Firewall.

I have one more machine to fix.

To Administration

I think the title of this thread should be changed to something that refers to the project in full.

The DL-704up is deffinetly MORE than just a Router.

BillyBob