For $10 after rebate, it's just fine
Pros:
Cheap, easy to setup for most users.
Cons:
Not compatible with multi-function printers. (This is a limitation of ALL generic external print servers.)
The Bottom Line:
For what it costs (after rebate), it is a fine product. Make sure it works with your printer before cutting out any barcodes though.
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Author's Review
There is really not much to say about this little box. It does exactly what D-Link says it does.
The unit is compact (about 4x4x1.5) and it comes with a small power supply that only takes a single outlet space, unlike some of the bricks shipped nowadays with small network products.
The included "Quick Installation Guide" was clearly written, and showed screenshots for the whole setup process. It is required that you know SOMETHING about how your home network is set up (mainly, what network your computer is on), but other than that, it was a piece of cake.
Once I set it up, it seems to print just fine with my Samsung ML-2010. (That printer isn't in D-Link's list, but they can't test everything.)
Linux and Mac users will be intersted to know that this product uses LPR for printer-sharing, meaning it will be a piece of cake to use with Linux machines, as long as you have the appropriate printer driver. Most other low-end print servers require you to use Windows printer sharing, which is a little tempermental with other operating systems.
Some hints for those considering this product:
It isn't going to work with Multi-function printers. This is a print server that uses standard print-queueing protocols. There is no way for those protocols to provide a "scanner server". If you want a network-enabled Multi-Function printer, you are going to have to buy one with it built-in. (Windows printer sharing should still work fine, but you still can't share the scanner.)
The Bi-directional features of your printer aren't going to work. This means no low-ink warnings, paper-jam warnings, etc. All this thing will do is print. If you are a REALLY advanced user, I suppose you could setup the SNMP monitoring features buried deep in the configuration software, but that won't apply to any but the most hardcore users.
Easy implementation instructions:
For Windows XP/2000 Users: Before plugging in the box, go to a command prompt and enter the commmand "ipconfig". If the IP address that comes back is 192.168.0.XXX (where XXX is any number 2-255), you are probably good to go. Next, enter the command "ping 192.168.0.10" If it says "no response" (or something like that), then it will take you about five minutes to configure the unit using the included instructions. (Skip the part where it tells you to assign an address to your computer. Just go to the bit where it tells you to enter 192.168.0.10 into your browser.)
If your IP address is NOT 192.168.0.XXX, then follow all the instructions, including the bit about assigning a new IP address to your computer.
If the ping to 192.168.0.10 comes back with a response before you plug the device in, you have a little bit of work to do. The instructions aren't real easy to find, so I'll save you some time... The instructions are in the "PS Admin" book on the CD, under the Appendix "Telnet Interface Administration", subsection "Setting an IP Address without PS Admin". Set the IP address to something 192.168.0.XXX that does NOT respond to a ping.
Nu-Image Corporation
