6 computers that need to network to 1 printer. What equipment I need. Will not be accessing the internet?

Question

This is going to be in a classroom. So dont want a bunch of wires running all over the place. None of the computers are going to be surfing the net. I just need the computers to connect to 1 printer. Not sure of what equipment to buy to network them all to the printer. The easiest way to network them. I know how to network them once I find what the equipment I need to buy.

Thank you for your answers. The computers all have network cards already. THESE COMPUTERS WILL NOT BE ACCESSING THE INTERNET. They are basically going to use to printer and computers to print out their work that they have done. I just need info on equipment to use. I want to go wireless.

well no one has answered my question. i know how to network computers etc. I NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT EQUIPMENT 2 BUY TO NETWORK 6 COMPUTERS TO 1 PRINTER. NO INTERNET AVAILABLE 4 COMPUTERS. I WANT TO DO WIRELESS NETWORKING IT IS A CLASSROOM. YOU ALL NEED 2 READ THE WHOLE QUESTION B4 ANSWERING. I HAVE 6 COMPUTERS WITH NETWORK CARDS (THEY WONT GET ONLINE) NEED TO NETWORK THEM TO ONE PRINTER. WE HAVE NOTHING EQUIPMENT WISE TO DO THIS SO NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT I NEED TO DO THIS. I WANT TO GO WIRELESS SO KIDS WONT TRIP ON ALL THE CORDS.

Answer 1

The easiest way could be buying one 8-port hub (Dlink or 3com) and 6Xcat-5 net cables, then you should connect all PCs to HUB and Printer to one of the computers.
Then you have to define a workgroup between all computers, you should leave the computer connected to printer on everytime you want to use it by network (from other computers)
Let me know if you needed anymore helps

Answer 2

All six computers require network cards (10/100) All computers need a network cable (Cat5e) a 10 port hub (Nothing fancy, don't even need an up-link port but find one if you ever want to access the Internet)

That's about it. All Computers if XP will use the default IP Address and detect each other through the Hub. The Printer will be connected to one of the computer and it will share it to the rest.

Pretty simple, Good Luck.

Answer 3

You could get a wireless access point with a built in print server. In this configuration the access point would mostly likely have a usb port to attach a printer. You could then install wireless network cards in all the pc's and you have yourself a wireless network and the printer being shared. Have a look in your local computer store or on-line, they are quite common.

Answer 4

a wireless router, 6 wireless pci adapter cards and a wireless print server come to mind first, there will be no wires, but it will be a bit pricey. If the computers are laptops and are wireless ready, it would be less of an expense, as you wouldn't need the pci adapter cards. For a hard wired system, you would need a 6-8 port router with a print server built in

Answer 5

Hi; You can use a network hub cables and local area network adapter for each computer if they don't have already, but if you don't want to use wires, you can use a wireless router and wireless local area network adapter for each computer, off course the wireless network will be more expensive, in either cases one computer in the network must be connected to the printer, I hope that will help you.

Answer 6

Hmm as yous ay that you need 6 computers and a printer to communicate, i would suggest you to buy a 8 port good quality switch, remember iam saying switch and not a hub, That wont cost you more than 3k-4k INR could be less or more than that and you need Cat5 cables and RJ45 connectors, or you can get readymade Straight Thru cables, make sure the length you require, it should be a cake walk to setup this network actually, and you can connect The printer to any one machine and then share it on the same network. rest job is to assign the IP address range, which could be 192.168.0.1-10 and subnet 255.255.255.0 and i think you should be good to go if you need more help mail me.

Piyush

Answer 7

for printer sharing, u need nothing more device.
Install driver in 1 computer and make printer as shared

afterall, the printer can be accessed from any computer within network. while printing from other computers, get path from shared computer address and send print to the shared printer.

Answer 8

Print Server!

Answer 9

this is what you need 1 router and if the other pcs are desktops 5 wireless usb adapeter's you can run 2.50+ computers off one router
its wireless network
and this is how you set all that up

you conncet the ethernet cable to the back of the router on the port that is marked ethernet then you take the other end of the cable to the ethernet card on on the back of your pc you conncet it to the port marked ethernet

then you conncet the other cable to the back of the ruter port that is marked DSL then you take that cable to the fillter box conncet it to the port marked on the fillter marked DSL
then you conncet the filter cable box to your phoneline box
conncet the power cable to the router and put the power on
now you put in the cd driver that came with your router
and you install the network drivers
now you need to set up a network id & password on the router
you will be told how to do all that when you install the drivers & software for the router
when you have install the drivers and software fo r the router
your need to restart the pc
when your back at the desktop
you will see a network icon in the taksbar by the pc time
if it has a red X on it right click it and click on enable
if you dont see a network icon in the taskbar
click on start/control panel
click on
network and internet connections
icon
then click on network connections icon
now right click the
local Area connection
icon and click on properties
tick the box
show icon in notification ares when connected
tick the box
notify me when this connection has lkimited or no connectivity

now click on
then authentication tab at the top

tick the box
enable IEEE 802.1x authentication for network
tick the box
authenticate as computer when infomatiion is available
then right click
local Area connection
and click on enable
now your router internet will log online with in 45 seconds
when your router is online you conncet your phoncable to the filter marked
phone

now when your router is online

then you need to get in the router home page and click on the wireles lan icon
and you set up a network id for the laptop
and a security wpa key not a wep key dont use that one use wpa key
then you put a wireless usb adapter on the laptop you install the network drivers on the laptop for the wireless usb
then you click on the network icon in the taskbar by the time on the laptop right click on it go to properties then you click on view wireless networks then you click on advanced tab you put in the network id and security key that u set up on the router home back then you click apply & ok then you click on view wireless network's your see your network id click on that then click on conncet


if you have a wireless card in the laptop just

click on the network icon in the taskbar by the time on the laptop right click on it go to properties then you click on view wireless networks then you click on advanced tab you put in the network id and security key that u set up on the router home back then you click apply & ok then you click on view wireless network's your see your network id click on that then click on conncet

if you cant set that up

your be better off if you get you (isp)server to help you set all that up


also get this done


TO STOP ALL THAT FROM GOING ON your network

you do make sure you call your (isp) or this will happen
is your pc still slow & your internet you have done a full system scan
with your anit virus /anti spyware you even defragmenter your hard drive
done a scan disk but your pc is still slow and your internet is not as good
then you need to check your router it dont mater what router you have

people in the vicinity is on your network

you call your (isp)
GET THIS SET TO DISABLED

(GAMES & APPLICATION SHARING )
it dont matter what router you have you need to get
(GAMES & APPLICATION SHARING ) set to disable

is your router safe?
you need to call your (isp) server
they have to get you in to your router home page
then from there ..copy & paste the router home page
into a notepad then save that to a back up cd

now from there they have to take you to the part
where (GAMES & APPLICATION SHARING ) is
then you click on ( GAMES & APPLICATION SHARING) icon
then at the top of the page on the right your see
configure.. you click on configure
then you .. UN-TICK .. the box ( GAMES & APPLICATION SHARING)
that is ticked there ...
then you click look down the page your see
<<<
if you have a wireless router
and then ask them where you set up a wpa-security key dont use a 128bit wep key ask to use a wpa- security that is your router security key and you pick the wpa-security key not your (isp)server . just ask them where you set one up they will say use a wep-key ..ignore them you say your going to use a wpa.key and want to know how to set one up and remember you pick the wpa-key not your (isp)server or they will use your network

now you close off the page
and clean out your internet address bar