| Author |
Message |
    
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 170
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, July 20, 2003 - 5:53 pm: | 
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Hello --
So I successfully installed a home network (wireless) today. But rather than spring for a wireless router with a print server, I figured I'd use the main desktop pc in the house with a laser printer as a print server for the other access points.
I know it can be done -- just can't make it work right now!
Anyone done this? Anyone know where to find online help for this?
THANKS!
Pete |
jrf
Citizen
Username: Jrf
Post Number: 335
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, July 20, 2003 - 9:28 pm: |
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Depending on the OS of your PC (with the printer), you can enable sharing of the printer in the control panel under printers or networks. |
jrf
Citizen
Username: Jrf
Post Number: 337
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, July 21, 2003 - 10:28 am: |
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One additional thought Pete....
If you are looking to use the printer in a true network fashion (without using the share feature built into Microsoft's OS) than you could probably download print server software that is either freeware or shareware from DOWNLOAD.COM. This will assign your network connected PC one address and the printer connected to that PC a seperate address and allow for full network access from any PC on your LAN.
http://www.download.com
Good luck. |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 171
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, July 21, 2003 - 11:33 am: |
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Thanks JRF!
Will try these tonight.
As an aside -- once I had the network hooked up, I went outside on the patio with my laptop (not that I needed to..but it seemed like a fun thing to do). I did a "scan" -- and found at least 3 other wireless networks.
All were set on the factory default settings, 1 did not have WEP enabled. So -- if my neighbors wouldn't mind -- I could have been using their networks and access rather than mine!
I hope none of them have bank account numbers or credit card numbers on their pc's!
Pete |
jrf
Citizen
Username: Jrf
Post Number: 338
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, July 21, 2003 - 12:01 pm: |
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It is not unusual to pick up other signals in a densely populated area. Older lynksys boxes would have a default SSID of TSUNAMI while the newer boxes use LINKSYS. It would not take a sophisticated hacker to figure those two out.
While I strongly encourage the use of WEP keys, there is not much damage a novice could inflict on your network unless there are file servers or other shared appliances on the network. Generally, if you are able to gain an IP address from a neighbor, it will only allow for the use of bandwidth and perhaps access to printers.
To be safe, always use a software based firewall (Zone Alarm, Symantec, ISS), utilize WEP, and force identification of MAC addresses (depending on whether your 802.11 device has this functionality) for an additional layer of protection.
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