Linksys Wireless Print Server 10/100 RJ-45 DB-25 Parallel Port

Linksys doesn't even know how this thing works...

Strengths: Reliable once you get it working. Small, neat looking. Works on older parallel printers

Weaknesses: Difficult set up. Manual misleading and inaccurate. The way they have you set it up is goofy. I wrote my own instructions below.

Summary: Configuring the WPS11 Wireless Print Server

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Setting Up the Print Server

The easiest way to set up the WPS11 is to use the web interface (Web GUI). This doesn't require the Linksys Bi-Admin software.

In order to access the Web GUI, you need to know what the IP of the PrintServer is. Upon first booting (if configured for DHCP), and booting after a hard reset (10 seconds holding the reset button while plugging in the power), the PrintServer will look on the first connected interface for a DHCP server to get its IP address from.

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How to Determine the IP Address

Holding the reset button while the PrintServer is running will generate a printout of the configuration of the printserver. The IP address will be listed here.

You can look on your router Web GUI to see what IP address has been assigned to the PrintServer.

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IP Settings

The best way to set up the IP on the print server is to use Static DHCP. This way you centralize network configuration in your router.

You can also use a static IP address. Just make sure the address is on the same subnet as the rest of your machines and that it is out of the DHCP assigment range of your DHCP server.

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Wireless Settings

Set the SSID of your network. It is case-sensitive. SSIDs with spaces should be okay.

Set the channel of your wireless network here. The PrintServer seems to scan all channels, but this option requires a setting, so set it to the best of your knowledge.

If your network uses encryption, enter the WEP key here. The WPS11 doesn't support WPA or other encryption/authentication methods.

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After Configuration

After finishing, go back to the setup page in the Web GUI, and click the RESET button. Unplug the Ethernet cable, and go about Joining the WPS11 to Your Wireless Network.

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Joining the WPS11 to Your Wireless Network

I've found that you need to bring the PrintServer near the wireless AP in order for it to associate at first. There is no way to tell that the device is associated except when the WLAN light on the PrintServer flashes.

Unplug the PrintServer and bring it well within range of the wireless network, and plug it in. Wait a few minutes and the PrintServer should associate. Confirm this by visiting the Web GUI of the router on the IP you assigned to it. If everything's okay, unplug and move the PrintServer to the location you want to use it, and connect the printer. Obviously it still needs to be within range of the wireless AP.

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Setting Up a Windows XP Client

1. Open Printers and Faxes in the Control Panel

2. Click Add a Printer on the left.

3. Click 'Next'

4. Select "Local Printer"

5. Click 'Creat a New Port'

6. In Type of Port, select Standard TCP/IP Port

7. Click 'Next', a new wizard will pop up

8. Type in the IP of the print server as configured above. The port name will automatically be filled in.

9. Select "Custom", click the 'Settings' button

10. Select "LPR"

11. Under LPR Settings, Type a name for the print queue. P1 is a good name.

12. Click 'OK', the window will close

13. Click 'Next'

14. Click 'Finish'. A new driver selection window will pop up.

15. The type of printer connected to the print server should already be detected, otherwise, choose the printer.

16. Follow the wizard to completion.

17. Go to Printers and Faxes in the Control Panel

18. Right click on the new printer and select Properties

19. Go to the "Ports" tab.

20. At the bottom of the window, uncheck "Enable bidirectional support". The print server does not report back to your computer when you print, so there may be delays if this is checked and your computer is waiting for a status report from the printer that will never come.

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Setting Up a Mac OS X Client

Setting up a Mac OS X machine should be pretty easy using IPP instead of AppleTalk. The important things to remember is the IP address and this is an LPR printer.

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Special Considerations

If wireless is connected upon bootup, wireless will be used. Ethernet upon bootup, Ethernet used.

It is necessary to restart the print server when switching from wireless to Ethernet and vice-versa.

You should turn off unnecessary protocols in the Web GUI such as AppleTalk, NetBEUI.

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The Wireless Printserver works as advertised. It i ...

Strengths: Works seamlessly with both a wireless router and a wireless access point. Easy installation process

Weaknesses: Documentation is a little weak on manual configuration within a wireless environment.

Summary: The Wireless Printserver works as advertised. It is easy to setup and the software installation process follows the instructions in the manual. However, the documentation is poor in telling how to setup the printserver with a static IP address with a Linksys Wireless DSL Router.

The wireless printserver works seamlessly in a all linksys wireless environment. I have not tried it with other brands of wireless devices.

A minor drawback is that when an HP printer connected to it is turned on or reset, the printer prints a page with a single character on it.

The footprint is small. However the power converter is too bulky and heavy for such a small device; and it has a short power cable.

All of this considered, this is a very useful product and is a great buy for the price and performance.

David -- Pasadena, CA

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I had this print server for 8 months now; still no ...

Strengths: small

Weaknesses: Does Not Work with wireless setup

Summary: I had this print server for 8 months now; still not able to get it to work. I have all linksys setup, with Wireless router with 4 ethernet ports, linksys PCI wireless adopters on all desktop computers. The wireless printer connector never works. The only way it can print is to connect a ethernet cable to this print server from the router. Since I had it for over 30-days, I can't take it back to the store. A visit to the store shows 99% of the Linksys wireless print servers on the shelf are returns.

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