GUIDE TO ETHERNET PRINT SERVERS

NETGEAR PS121 USB 2.0 Mini Print Server

Manufacturer : Netgear
In Stock : 44

List Price:	$85.00
Price:	$25.99
You Save:	$59.01 (69%)

Features

Print server lets you share a printer with multiple users on a network
USB interface is compatible with most printers from HP, Canon, Epson, Lexmark, and others
10 Mbps Ethernet port and on-board memory makes for quick printing
Backed by a 1-year warranty
Device measures 3.4 x 0.96 x 2.32 inches (WxHxD)

Product Description

Netgear USB Mini Print Server PS121 - At home or office, several computers sharing a printer can be a frustrating experience. With Netgear PS121 multi-user access to your printer is now simpler than ever. NETGEAR's USB Mini Print Server does away with the hassles of sharing your printer among multiple PCs. Its easy external USB connection links one USB printer to as many as three PCs, so different network users can run multiple print jobs at the same time from anywhere on a home or office network. The attractive case design looks great in any environment, and its compact size allows you to place it close at hand or out of the way to open up your work area. Easy setup with NETGEAR's Smart Wizard Install Assistant saves you time and effort so you're up and running in minutes. Since no parallel printer cable is needed, it saves you money, too.

Amazon.com Product Description

The NETGEAR PS121 USB 2.0 Mini Print Server offers:

An easy way to share a printer with multiple users on a network.
A USB interface that is compatible with most USB printers.
10 Mbps Ethernet connection for fast data transfer.
A 1-year warranty.

The NETGEAR PS121 USB 2.0 Mini Print Server makes it easy for multiple users on a network to share a printer, letting you place the printer at a convenient spot for the entire office or out of the way altogether.

Multiple users on the network can share one printer with the PS121 Print Server. View larger.

Easy Setup with USB 2.0
The PS121 works with most USB port printers from HP, Epson, Canon, Lexmark, and others, and it supports all major Windows operating systems.

Simply plug in the PS121 to your printer with the included USB cable on one end and connect it to your network via an Ethernet cord on the other. The print server features a 10 Mbps Ethernet connection for quick data transfer and an easy-to-use web-based management tool.

Save Time, Energy and Money Using the print server eliminates the need to have a dedicated PC always-on acting as a print server, thus conserving energy and saving money. The print server supports simultaneous print jobs and an on-board memory buffer keeps prints coming out quickly.

The NETGEAR PS121 USB 2.0 Mini Print Server is backed by a 1-year warranty.

What's in the Box
PS121 USB Mini Print Server, resource CD, power adapter, 5-foot USB cable, installation guide, and warranty/support information card.

Customer Reviews

Average Rating of 3.00 out of 76 reviews

Rating :
easy network solution - T. Sleboda, Oct 26, 2008

I spent 6 hours trying to share my printer attached via USB to my vista machine with other XP systems on my home network. I tried EVERYTHING - allowing ports, setting security, sharing options. I was at wits end! I broke down and bought the print server. 15 min of install and all machines can print! I wish I could get my 6 hours back.

Install on the first machine was easy. Directions for install on other machines took a little more time to figure out. Basically, add a network printer on your other machines and carry around the printer driver CD with you so it will have the proper drivers for your printer.

The best upside, now the PC which used to host the printer can sleep and not affect the other computers. Downside? I can no longer see ink level status (big woop!).

Now I can go off and ditch the "part-time-IT-cause-no-one-else-in-the-house-can-do-it" hat and do stuff I enjoy.

Rating :
works fine, don't install the netgear software - sam I am green egge and ham, Oct 16, 2008

-this product works great with a Samsung ML-2510 laser printer. even complex graphics, multi-page jobs sail through.

I uninstalled the Netgear software on the PC - you don't need it and it only slows stuff down. The only reason you would want that software is if you can't do the alternate method.

Here's the tip:
1-you have to know the address your router assigned to the ps121. you use your web browser to configure the ps121 to a fixed IP address. you will need to read the manual for the password to log in to the server.
2-you will have to create a TCP/IP printer port, either by adding a new network printer, or by adding a new port to your existing printer.

It took about 5 minutes per pc to set up and run a test print with this method.

For the Vista Laptop that connected via wireless to the WLAN, I used the add printer function, selected network printer, typed in the IP address, and Vista found the correct printer driver and installed it.

Rating :
Poor Supporting Software and Lack Of Technical Support - L. Spencer, Oct 07, 2008

For the price, the PS121v2 is a good deal. The hardware works as expected but the supporting software may give you a USB error. And if you get this error, NetGear support may have you going in circles. I am running two machines - XP Pro and Vista. The printer is an all-in-one. The PS121v2 requires you install it's client software on each machine - no problem. And to access the non-printer functions (e.g. scan, fax,...), the user reserves the printer (locks access) through this software - no problem for me but possible annoyance for others. But on Windows Vista the software installation produced errors. The software still ran but never allowed me to reserve the printer. And after a week of playing e-mail tag with NetGear, I washed my hands of this device. I gave it away and got a printer with ethernet/wifi built-in.

Rating :
netgear - Richardlee Balser, Sep 28, 2008

The item was delivered as stated and is working as is supposed to.

I would deal with the company again when needing that kind of items.

I give high rating.
Richard

Rating :
Total garbage - Michele, Aug 24, 2008

I have a degree in computer science and have been working with networks since the days of the Arpanet so I know something about this stuff. After many hours of trying to get this unit installed, I just gave up in disgust. I never was able to get it to work. This is a V1 unit - maybe the V2 is better - it sure can't be any worse. And Netgear's customer "support" is just a joke. Save your money and buy a network-ready printer. This server is total junk. It's not even heavy enough to make a good paperweight. It might make a good firestarter though - in operation it gets almost too hot to touch. I rate it one star only because Amazon doesn't have an option for handing out negative stars.

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