Originally Posted by
itwasme
If you read the instructions, it uses dhcp unless there is no dhcp server available. in which case it defaults to 192.168.0.10. It has to have an IP address, after all.
And it got one. I just had to tell the router. I've done that many times over the years. The router is also a wireless access point, so for security I don't have DHCP running on it.
If you're running Win 7 install as admin and once installed run in compatability mode for Vista SP1.
It ran itself, as soon as I inserted the CDlet. Four times. No idea why four rather than one or two. The question of mode didn't arise. I authorised it to run (4 times). When things quietened down, I closed all the boxes on the screen and clicked the (one) new icon on the desktop. I then authorised that to run. It did. It found the device and displayed two green blobs and one red-on-white cross.
"Snag one: the USB scanner wasn't in its vocabulary. That was an "oh bother". I didn't connect any of the other potential "shared USB devices" pending further investigation."
You're under a false impression here - it doesn't have a "vocabulary", library or database - it simply presents the connected USB device to the PC on a virtual USB port.
In its "Launch MFP" programme, it presented two (green blobs) printers and a device with a red X against it. I clicked on each of the printers and stuff happened. I successfully printed the test page to each. I clicked on the red X (which had to be the scanner, since it was the only other device connected) and got an error. Several times. I unplugged the scanner, the red X went away. I reconnected the scanner, red X returned. In my way of speaking, that's its "vocabulary".
It is up to you then to provide it with the necessary drivers, just as if you had attached the device directly to your machine. Obviously, you must do this after selecting "connect" in the software and on each machine.
That I could have understood, and even handled. It didn't get that far with the scanner.
This one really makes me wonder what sort of operation you're running - SOHO or enterprise?
I wonder, too. This is my study, where there are three PCs connected to a router on a "Work" network. One is the main desktop, a reasonably modern PC running Windows 7. One is the laptop, a fairly modern IBM Thinkpad running Windows 7 and used when out-and-about, and on a docking station when at home. The third is my "previous" desktop machine, running Linux.
There's a router "VPN in" connection for the laptop when I'm out and about, and RealVNC on the main desktop for the laptop to connect to it for various purposes.
Thus, I can print stuff off (in the study) from the laptop wherever I am, as long as I can find a WiFi or 3G connection. I can access the "data" drives on any machine from any of the others - including via the VPN. There's also a large hard drive up in the attic connected by USB cable, where backups etc go.
Whether you call that SOHO or enterprise I dunno. I call it "My Study".
Firstly, you can set the "MFP and Storage Server" utility to run at start up if you really think that a second or two for it to run is that bad.
Yes, lots of software on this machine runs at startup. Too much. I try to limit the stuff that does, because it slows the thing down.
Connecting takes a similar time, as does disconnecting. As for shutting the software down afterwards.....are your machines really so lame that this little exe can't be left running?
They are as lame as I am. There was this box on the screen saying stuff, that wouldn't go away unless I clicked "Disconnect". The box then disappeared. If I wanted to print again, I had to reopen the box and click "Connect".
As things are now, from any of the three machines and in any software package, I just click "Print" and printing happens. Unless I say otherwise, it's to the Laser (B&W) printer. I can with an extra click or so tell it to print to the colour printer instead. That's how I think things should be.
I must tell you that I'm most disappointed with your posts. I offered the OP a realistic and cost-effective solution for his requirement for a bi-directional print server. Despite a personal offer of assistance if required, you have sought to rubbish the product without taking the time to read and digest my post or the manufacturer's instructions.
I think you are being over-sensitive. I followed the manufacturer's instructions, and confirmed that the product does what it says in those instructions.
My disappointment was that I hadn't realised that the device is not "transparent" to the user, as is the "all printers connect to the desktop" method. I can see where it would be useful, but it's not for me.