Printer sharing on wireless network

[chefval]

I have a Dell laptop, Linksys G router, Dell desktop connected by USB to said Linksys G router, and an Oki C5800L color laser printer we just installed last night. ;) I can print from my laptop when connected by USB, but cannot figure out how to connect wirelessly. :( I'd LOVE to be able to share files with the desktop -- does connecting it to the Linksys G router via USB cable make that possible? Can you help me please?

[Whyzman]

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Does the router have wireless capabilities? Which model?

There are two options to be able to share a printer: One is if the printer is connected to a "dedicated" computer in your network. By dedicated, I mean, that this computer would need to be running at all times to be able to access the printer with another computer. The computer the printer is connected to is providing the connection to the LAN (local area network) you've established with your router.

A second way, would be to invest in what is known as a "print server." These devices allow the printer an independent LAN connection to your network. These can be both wireless and wired.

For example, I've two printers on my LAN; one is connected directly to the router by cable through its print server, and the other is fully wireless through its print server. Both can be accessed by any computer on my network without the need to communicate with them through a "dedicated" (always on computer).

So, the printer servers provide independence for each computer. Most printers today go into a sleep mode if not being used and will wake up when accessed.

[chefval]

I'm not very computer literate - I guess you could tell. When we bought the Oki yesterday, we were told that the printer was equipped with whatever was necessary to make it work wirelessly with my laptop if the printer were connected by network cabling to the Linksys G router. I'm just not smart enough to know what to do on my computer to make it communicate with the printer. Does that make sense to you?

[Rick]

From what I can see on the OKI site
that unit or at least the C5800Ldn is a hardwired network printer

That means you have to connect it to the router using a network cable
to get direct access from any computer on the network.

This allows you to print without having 2 or more systems running..

If you set it up as a shared printer an have it connected to one computer and want to use it from from another then BOTH computers Must be running

If connected to the router
You should be able to use the ADD Network printer in your Operating system and allow it to find the Printer
if not then you can use the supplied install disk on each system.
However you may have to remove the printer from each system that it was plugged into using the USB connection

[Whyzman]

Rick is correct with the printer directly connected to the router by cable. I was assuming that you wanted all wirelessly...in which case you'd need the print server. Thanks Rick for catching the other option! ;)