10 Tips for Networking Printers

April 5, 2011 Computer Tips And Tricks

When working in an office environment with more than one PC requires that you have the ability to share a printer over a network. Otherwise the entire office will have to incur unnecessary costs in order to furnish each employee with his or her own printer. Besides the cost aspect space and money need to be taken into account and will be saved if one printer can be shared over a network. The size of the office needs to be taken into consideration for the way the network printer is installed and set up. When considering using a printer over a network, you also need to decide which features are required for the needs of the office. Nearly any printer can be shared over a network once connected to a print servier or a computer which tells the operating system that the printer is to be shared.

Network printers on the market come with built-in network interface cards (NIC) which has an Ethernet connection. Taking that into account the printer you use should also be compatible with the operating system used. Some network printers are also come with built-in web pages which allow the user to change settings and check printer status through a browser. This is a very beneficial feature for companies which have IT support staff in different areas than where the PC is located.

There are important steps to adhere to when dealing with networking printers. Purchasing the correct type of printer to go with your office environment is the difference between being constantly frustrated and being at ease with the printing.

Should you work in a home office, it may not be required that you use a network enabled printer. Connecting the printer through Windows to computer sharing will be sufficient for your needs.
If you find yourself in an environment other than a home office ensures that the printer has the correct user interface. There are many other choices beyond an Ethernet connection.
Make use of a fully automated network setup unless you have a thorough understanding of the process of network printer setup. If you choose to manually setup a network printer, you will be required to assign an IP address and create a new port, among other things.
Select a system which will allow you to check the printer status and make the necessary changes to the settings from built in web pages. Check the printer information from a work desk. This will be easier than scrolling through menus on the printer, even if the printer is located next to the workstation or office.
It may happen that some departments handle sensitive information which is not for general viewing. Invest in a network printer with a private printing feature. This will enable you to send documents to the printer which will not be printed until you enter a sensitive code.
Should the office rely on duplicate printing, you can streamline this process with a network printer which includes a duplexer. Manually duplexing of printing on one side and reinserting the pages can quickly become tedious.
Choose a printer with input trays which hold adequate amounts of paper. The goal of investing in a network printer is to be smarter so as to increase convenience. Constantly loading paper can affect productivity and slow down the entire office.
Nearly every office has an accumulation of printing jobs. It is therefore good to select an output tray which can accommodate the typical print jobs which remains at the printer for a few hours.
Remote management software works optimally in a medium to large office. With dozens of network printers connected throughout the entire office building the correct program will save you money and time.
There are various options when it comes to choosing a network printer to consider such as advanced paper handling. Stacker and sorter options might not be an immediate need but you could be required at a later date.

Buying and setting up a network printer is really not all that complicated as it may seem when smart decisions are made. The options available to you will determine the right printer for your office.