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Print server for windows clients


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Hi guys, my uncle got an old machine that he may throw away (It is something with pentium 4, and 512 RAM, 20GB Hard drisk). I got the idea of changing it to a print server, but one thing bothers me. As you know, in Windows I can share the printer and add the drivers to be used by any windows client either 64bit or 32bit.

As he lost his old windows xp CD and key, I am sure that linux can do the print sharing, but I not sure about the drivers to be provided to the clients.

Kindly advice me.

Note: Every one at his house uses Windows, no one uses Linux.

Thanks,

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Honestly your house does so much printing, has so many printers that a print server would be the best use of that box? Really? Where are these printers connected - are they on the network directly or connected to other machines?

Sure linux can be a printer server for windows machines - but I am having a hard time believing there would actually be a need for such a thing in a home setup.

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I'm guessing you just want to slap it on your network instead of plugging said printer into a single machine and therefore having to unplug and plug in USB to your laptop or desktop whenever you want to print. That or having to leave the desktop on to print from your laptop?

In that case then yeah I guess it could be utilized if it'll be using less power as well but i'd also just say get an actual print server ($40) and just plug it into the printer and plug that into the network. Either that or get a wireless printer even, (unless you've got a laser one where wireless laser color are expensive!).

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The problem with using Linux as a print server is that it hosts Linux drivers by default, so you have to install the Windows drivers on your client machines separately if it's one that isn't included with Windows out of the box.

If you really want to do it with Linux it's fairly good, with the exception of the drivers thing. CUPS offers a nice web interface once you get it set up so you don't even have to log into the server directly to manage printers and print jobs.

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