Connecting an Epson Stylus Color 900 directly to 2 computers, possible or not?

[Epsil0n00]

Hey,

I would like to know if it is possible to connect two computers directly to my Epson Color Stylus 900. The printer has USB1, Parallel, and serial connections. I am wondering if it would be possible to hook one computer (running WinXP-Pro) up to the USB connection and hook my older Win98 machine up to the parallel connection, at the same time. Would this work? Or do I need to use one computer as a print server (the two computers are networked together via router). Let me know what you think... thanks!

Epsil0n

 

[Epsil0n00]

bump, anyone

 

[freebee]

You have a swtich box-type thing (not sure what the actual thing is called)?.....its basically allows you to connect two computers to the printer via a regular printer cable. The there is a switch on the box that you select to indicate which computer you want to print from. This way you don't have to deal with a print server (and can print from each computer individually.)

 

[Mark R]

This certainly didn't work reliably with my Epson Stylus 740. It seems as though the printer detects which port is used when you switch it on, and needs a power cycle with the unnecessary port disconnected before it will work.

It will be easier simply to set up a print server.

 

[Epsil0n00]

by print server that can mean one of the computers being attached to it and "sharing" it with the other computer, right? I don't actually have to get a dedicated print server do I?

 

[astroview]

I'd say create a small lan by just running crossover ethernet cable between the two computers and sharing the printer.

Look on the bright side, this way you get to learn networking and you can even share an internet connection among the two computers using Windows' Internet Connection Sharing.

 

[Leokor]

<< Hey,

I would like to know if it is possible to connect two computers directly to my Epson Color Stylus 900. The printer has USB1, Parallel, and serial connections. I am wondering if it would be possible to hook one computer (running WinXP-Pro) up to the USB connection and hook my older Win98 machine up to the parallel connection, at the same time. Would this work? Or do I need to use one computer as a print server (the two computers are networked together via router). Let me know what you think... thanks!

Epsil0n
>>


Easy. Just create a home network (LAN), with your two computers and the printer. Configuring the printer for the network connection might be tricky, depending on the printer. But it can be done.

Leo

 

[WebDude]

<< by print server that can mean one of the computers being attached to it and "sharing" it with the other computer, right? >>



Right. The PC that's attached to the printer and "sharing" it in effect acts as a print server. Since you've already got a network setup via your router, this should be a piece of cake.

WebDude

 

[acejj26]

yep....just share it using your network....it works great...i'm sharing 2 of my printers currently, both of which are epson's....they don't seem to mind

 

[Epsil0n00]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the advice! I would totally try the crossover cable and internet connection sharing, but I invested in a $90 cable/dsl router that does the job very nicely. I will try the "pritner sharing" method and see how that works. Thanks again.

Epsil0n

 

[Mavrick007]

If both computers are connected to the network and the printer is connected to one computer then you can share it with the other computer using file/print sharing. You just have to make sure that the other computer has the drivers setup for that printer and that if you are going to print something, then you have to have the computer connected to the printer on when printing anything.