Print server issues

Question

I have a Trendnet TE100-p2u1p print server that is not playing well with Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit.  The server worked well with my network, Win XP sp3 32bit and the HP PSC950xi.  Run the server install cd and I can print test pages like crazy.

I connected the HP to the Win7 machine w/ USB and loaded the windows update driver and it works well.  Reconnect the HP to the server, run the server install cd and Win7 finds the server and sees the HP.  It asks to reuse the exsisting driver and I say yes.  I send off the test page and Win7 does not show any errors but nothing is printed.

The local printer port is created and the IP address is correct, looks the same as in XP, but can not get it to print.  Tried to install new printer and create the same port config but that causes print errors in queue.  so there are two different problems.

I have installed printers in the past useing these methods but not with Win7. 

Any suggestions on where to correct my issues with printing?

I almost forgot, I searched this forum for help with the key word p2u1p and found"http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/GettingReadyforWindows7/thread/bc837a7a-768c-41c5-85a7-9c89a556511f " but it does not allow me to view the replies.  This forum getting ready for windows 7 must have been removed.

Answer 1

Well it turns out not to be all that hard after all. 

I followed the recommend manual printer install for XP and it works fine. The key is the Queue name.  TrendNet tech support gave me the wrong information on this name. Tech support said it would start with a “PS-“ some number and end with “-1”. I was guessing on this number because there is no hint on where to find it. I could not find the information in the XP install because the port the install wizard creates is not configurable hence I could not view it.

I found an older TrendNet FAQ pdf that called for the Queue name to be simply lp1 for the parallel port, lp2 for the first USB port and lp3 for the third USB port on the print server.

Now Windows 7, TrendNet TE100-p2u1p and HP PSC950xi print very well together.

I would think that a TCP/IP print server would not care what computer OS you are using. Despite what OS the install wizard is designed for.  The printer driver is loaded on the computer so it knows the protocol to talk to the printer, the OS just directs this to the port (lpt, USB, Com or IP) you tell it to. The print server is receiving standard TCP/IP, pulling out the print information, converting it to USB or parallel and directing it to the proper queue that the printer is connected to. The print server does not care what the print information is, it just passes on to the printer to figure out. The trick is to be able to tell your OS the proper print server queue name so the print server knows where to send. This information may not be readily available.

At least that is my simplified understanding of how it may work.

Steps:

Add local printer

Create new port. Standard TCP/IP

Add IP address

Custom port

Protocol LPR

Queue Name (lower case) LP1 or LP2 or LP3 depending on what port you are sending to.

Finish with installing printer driver.

Answer 2

Hi

The p2u1p is circa 2005 with USB v1 ports, I cannot find any reference that it is compatible with Windows 7.

This page states clearly that it is a discontinued product.

http://www.trendnet.com/products/proddetail.asp?prod=155\_TE100-P2U1P&cat=26&status=view

In the Features tab, you can see that it does not even mention Vista.

If you cannot afford newer hardware, connect the Printer (as you did) directly to a computer and Share from there.

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Jack, MVP-Networking. EZLAN.NET

Answer 3

Well thanks for the advice Jack, but a new printer is not an option right now.  I would like to work with exsisting hardware.  I have seen some flacky things myself, thinks that would run for a week and need reseting but this server has been rock solid for three stright years.

I was really hinting that maybe a moderator could open the link to see how the other guy fixed his issue with the server and Win7.

Forgoing mod help, does anyone have a suggestion on why this isn't working?  The XP machines on the network print and Win7 can see the printer on the server and it is TCP/IP after all, that is standard, but what config am I missing?  HP PSC950 driver problems, local port problems or something else?

Answer 4

Hi

In general the stand alone 3rd party Printer Servers are problematic to begin with.

It is much better to use Network ready Printer.  http://www.ezlan.net/prtserver.html

There is a lot of 3rd party hardware that simply cannot be adapted to newer OS’, either the chipset is too old, or the vendor (for his own reasons) would not develop new drivers.

Contact TrendNet support and ask about this specific device.

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Jack, MVP-Networking. EZLAN.NET