Net use for printer not attached to a printer

[BillatRma]

We have an application for which we have been successfully using the NET USE \\computerName\ShareName command for some time. Now, however, we have had some customers attach a printer directly to the network and there is no \\computerName to use. The printer just has an IP address. How can we get a workstation (running XP) to print to LPT1 or LPT2 and have the output go to the network printer? I have looked at several threads, but did not see this problem mentioned, but it seems as if someone would have come across this before.
Thanks - Bill

 

[JockMullin]

Hi, Bill

Try: net use lpt1 \\<ip address>\<printername>

ie. just substitute the ip address for the computer name and the printer ID the network printer was configured with as the share name.

Jock

 

[TonHu]

Windows NT, 2K, XP & 2K3 are able to print directly to those types of printers, by just creating a new Printer (On XP from: Printers and Faxes, Add printer, selecting the correct protocol.) It can then be shared, if not directly 'emulating' an LPT port, and used in the same way as before: net use lpt1: \\server\sharedprinter

If that's not possible, then usually some software package comes with the printer (or can be downloaded from the net) to get that printer installed to some workstation 8)

Jock:
Most printer network interfaces don't support direct SMB connections, like Windows shares it's printers.

HTH
TonHu

 

[JockMullin]

Hi, Tonhu

Thanks for that. That's why I said 'try' it - I wasn't sure, but I have done similarly for print servers on Novell networks so I thought it might work.

So, if you install the printer on your own workstation under windows and share it, I guess you can then net use lpt1 \\mycomputername\sharename, assuming you have the MS loopback adapter installed?

You would also have to be a local admin if there is a physical LPT1 port.

Like using locally connected USB printers.

Jock

 

[BillatRma]

Hi Jock and Tontu,
We had tried the IP address (though I was at the other end of a phone line, so I'm not sure it was done correctly), but it appeared not to work. Trying to use \\myComputerName\printerName did not work either, so I guess it would have to be another computer on the network that shares the printer, then back at the computer with our application, we would use the NET USE command:
NET USE LPT1 \\OtherComputerName\Printer.
I will ask them to try that.
Thanks - Bill