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Two Fios Lines, Two Routers 1 Printer query

I do work for a non profit, two of them, in the same building....they switched over to FIOS. There are two fios networks each with a different speed, plus an installed phone system. Both network are completely independent of each other, both have actiontec M1424 routers and both assign their own ips......there is, however, only one network printer on, say network a, how do I get the people on network B to access the printer on network a......I found one solution at this url:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/33909-42-lans-sharing-printer

frankly, I'm a litle lost...I still don't see how it can be done.

any help, anything, appreciated.

ken

Comments

walt178

If you have a wireless printer, I think the easiest solution would be to set up mobile printing. With some printers that is fairly easy. And it would enable you to print from anywhere.

PJL

@walt178 wrote:
If you have a wireless printer, I think the easiest solution would be to set up mobile printing. With some printers that is fairly easy. And it would enable you to print from anywhere.

+1 If it's an HP printer the HP ePrint systerm would be a good solution.

jumpin68ny

If the printer supports Wireless LAN, could you plug the wired connection into network A and connect the Wireless LAN on network B???

smith6612

@jumpin68ny wrote:
If the printer supports Wireless LAN, could you plug the wired connection into network A and connect the Wireless LAN on network B???

Good thought. Wouldn't most printers disable the Wireless interface, if a Wired connection is present? Many of the consumer HP printers I've seen do that.

Another possible idea, if LAN bridging is not exactly do-able in this case (due to lack of capable hardware, knowledge, etc), is to consider setting up a USB connection to a small print server device for one network (A PC, a dedicated device which can be purchased for usually $100 or less), and using the printer's built-in networking for the other network. A combination like this should work with any printer to the best of my knowledge.

gs0b

While you may be able to get this working with some additional equipment and a complex networking configuration, the simplest solution may be to just buy another printer. You can get a fast, duplex, WiFi laser printer for about $100 these days. A bit more gets you scanner. Unless the current printer is something special, this may be easiest approach.

If you need suggestions for laser printers, check out Brother. They make a very good line of inexpensive laser printers. I've had one for a couple of years now and it's been rock solid. Brother toner is reasonable priced, too.

Good Luck.

kendoggert

Unfortunately, the powers to be, took this track on their own without consulting anyone. I didn't know about the two networks until the installers left and the organization called me....there had always been one network,

Getting another printer isn't an option, the printer in question is a toshiba e studio4540. Orginally they were all on the same network, then when they went to fios they split the networks, for what ever reason, and now the printer issue.

Also the printer is wireles by virue of the wireless nework in te building, it has no builtin wireless card, in fact that option is grayed out in the printer's control panel.

Can anyone direct me to a possible solution, if I can read I can figure it out, at this point...I'll take anything.

thanks for the comments, appreciated.

ken

PJL

@kendoggert wrote:
Unfortunately, the powers to be, took this track on their own without consulting anyone. I didn't know about the two networks until the installers left and the organization called me....there had always been one network,
Getting another printer isn't an option, the printer in question is a toshiba e studio4540. Orginally they were all on the same network, then when they went to fios they split the networks, for what ever reason, and now the printer issue.
Also the printer is wireles by virue of the wireless nework in te building, it has no builtin wireless card, in fact that option is grayed out in the printer's control panel.
Can anyone direct me to a possible solution, if I can read I can figure it out, at this point...I'll take anything.
thanks for the comments, appreciated.
ken

I looked up the specs on this unit. It has both WiFi and ethernet connectivity. Can you use WiFi for one network and ethernet for the other?

smith6612

The solution I suggested earlier would likely be your best bet here. Make use of the printer's ability to print via Ethernet or print via USB. Connect the printer to one network using an Ethernet cable ideally, or leave it the way it is currently set up network-wise. For the other network, purchase a USB print server or set up an old PC as a print server, configure the print server, and connect the printer to the server via USB. Connect the Print server up to the second network using an Ethernet cable (preferably using a different color patch cable or by labeling the cable on both ends).

===ETHERNET - Network 1 === [ PRINTER ] --- USB --- [ PRINT SERVER ] === ETHERNET - Network 2 ===

This should work fine, assuming you don't run into any funny compatibility issues on the USB end, and assuming the printer will still accept print jobs via a USB connection while connected to, and handling jobs from the Ethernet connection.

Like I mentioned before, though. Most printers will disable Wireless if you connect the printer to the Wired network. This is to stop IP Address space waste, configuration issues that come along with two network interfaces being enabled, and possibly software bugs causing traffic to be handled improperly, or driver problems on the client end. This is likely why this option is grayed out for you, if there is in fact a wireless radio installed somewhere.

armond_in_nj1

@kendoggert wrote:

... the printer in question is a toshiba e studio4540 ... the printer is wireles by virue of the wireless nework in te building, it has no builtin wireless card, in fact that option is grayed out in the printer's control panel ...

According to the online brochure for this model, there is a wireless LAN card adapter available, so if that option is not presently available, it is at least possible. You might want to consider adding this card and trying one or more of the wireless connection suggestions made by PJL and others elsewhere in this thread.

Aside, the question was raised about whether having a wired connection automatically disables the wireless mode, or vice versa. My HP 8500 allows both to be active simultaneously so you would have to check the owners manual for specifics.

kendoggert

I like this solution of the usb and the printer server setup on the second network....I'll give this a try Sat and advise.....within budget and simple enough for anyone to maintain......thanks everyone

ken

kendoggert

Just to update the problem I orginally posted:

There was a delay in the process....theprinter has been down for repairs more than it's been up for printing, however, that said: I followed one of the suggestions posted and the concept works like a charm, at least as far as I can tell given the printer down time.

As i mention we have two completely seperate networks that need to share the same MFP e-studio. The printer is on network A, so the people on network B can't access the printer unless I do some port forwarding and VPN...didn't want to go this route. So I ran a new cat5 line to the print room, hooked it up to the network switch for network B, then got an old xp machine, installed the Toshiba software, created a share printer and hooked the old xp to the MFP thru a USB cable. The share printer is available for everyone on Network B.....works like a charm!

I want to thank everyone for their input....it's all appreciated.

Again thanks

Just as an aside, why is it that Verizon changes so much for a static IP....$20/month is, well, steep.......

ken

gs0b

@kendoggert wrote:
Just to update the problem I orginally posted:
As i mention we have two completely seperate networks that need to share the same MFP e-studio. The printer is on network A, so the people on network B can't access the printer unless I do some port forwarding and VPN...didn't want to go this route. So I ran a new cat5 line to the print room, hooked it up to the network switch for network B, then got an old xp machine, installed the Toshiba software, created a share printer and hooked the old xp to the MFP thru a USB cable. The share printer is available for everyone on Network B.....works like a charm!

Thanks for sharing your clever solution!

Have a great day.

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