I’ve never done this before, and my hypothesis was pretty much correct from the get-go, but of course…all things techie doesn’t really go smoothly at first. This short how-to is for the ASUS WL-520GU (or all G-series?) router, tried and true on a rig running Windows XP SP3, and with an HP PSC1200. Keep on reading for the steps I took.
The first thing you want to do is install the printer on each computer you wish to use it with. In Windows, this is pretty simple, since all you need to do is plug in the printer (make sure its on!) and click some happy prompts.
After installing the printer’s drivers on each computer (I’m pretty sure you can do a network installation if you’ve one set-up), plug your printer into the WL520. ASUS states that most major printers are compatible with the internal print server, and specifically state Canon, HP and Brother. Once you’ve got the printer plugged in and powered up, you should be able to see that the printer is “Online” in the Router Admin screen.
Head back to your ‘Doze rig and open up your Printers and Faxes,right-click on the hp psc 1200 series printer and hit Properties. Now, go to the Ports tab and click Add New Port. You’ll want to make it a Standard TCP/IP port, with the Printer Name/IP Address as your router’s IP (default 192.168.1.1). When you click Next, if you get a prompt asking for “Additional Port Information”, most likely your printer, like mine, does not have a network card inside it. To get past this possible roadblock, choose Custom then click Settings, and use the following settings. For Protocol, I used RAW with the default listed port of 9100; I’ve also tried LPR, but only the test page printed for me. Click OK, Apply and Close – you should be back at the Printers and Faxes screen. Finally, right-click hp psc 1200 series again, but this time click User Printer Online – the printer status should now say “Online”.
You can see if you’re successful by right-clicking the printer and going to Properties and clicking Print Test Page while in the General tab. It took less than 30 seconds for the job to be sent to my printer, while we get a prompt telling us it could take between 1 to 2 minutes. You might also want to try making a text file in Notepad and printing it to further verify everything works.
Congratulations, you now have a working printer server! 😀
Update:
Based on some of the comments posted below, there is a need to discuss the possibility of this solution working with Linux and/or Apple computers. Firstly, as suggested by my friend Tim Ng, Apple computers uses a printing system known as CUPS, which should theoretically be similar to what Linux uses. With that being said, you could hypothetically install the Linux-based hplip drivers, as one cannot find the HP PSC 1210 in the list of CUPS drivers. Now, with THAT being said, I haven’t used variations of Linux (ie. Ubuntu) in ages…so you’re going to be on your own for the installation of hplip and/or CUPS. I’d strongly suggest following the instructions available at hplip and asking for additional support regarding it at its respective source.
Good luck! 🙂
the instructions is clear, but when it gets up to the IP address, i type it in “192.168.1.1” as followed and click next, it pops up “Additional Port Information Required” which follows with an addition information “The detected device is of unknown type. Be sure that the device is properly configured”
But my printer is CONFIGURED, it works when i directly plug in the cable.
I was wondering if you could please help me!!
JT:
I forgot to mention, but if the printer itself doesn’t have a network card (ie. PSC1200 doesn’t have an Ethernet connection port), the printer will not be detected properly and that “Additional Port Information” prompt will appear.
You can click “Custom” then “Settings” and use the settings I’ve listed above, [finish going through the prompt] and your set-up should be fine afterward.
Let me know if it works 🙂
Hi, I am trying to setup my HP DJ F2180 as shared printer, but I cannot see that the printer is “Online” in the Router Admin screen. Where it appears? My WL-520GU firmware is 2.0.0.8.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Przemas:
My router is on firmware 2.0.0.6, but I haven’t tried upgrading it yet. I’m not sure how to fix your problem, but I would first make sure the printer is in-fact connected to the router, then restart the printer.
My router has arrived with 2.0.0.8 onboard already. Could you tell me where you can see that the printer is connected to router? I cannot find this information on any page displayed by router in IE.
Przemas:
It might seem trivial, but ensure you have installed the printer’s drivers on your own computer first (and all computers that would be printing to it), and that you’ve set up the printer on your systems accordingly.
You should be able to find your printer info in the “Status and Log” page in your router, when it is plugged in and powered on. If it isn’t detected after a few tries, then I’m sorry to say that your model might not be supported.
Thank you so much. Worked like a charm!
I probably found a reason of my printer problems – the “Status and Log” page is broken – it ends with non-terminated tag with incomplete information of DNS servers. I presume that 2.0.0.8 firmware is corrupted and I’ll think about reinstallation with a copy downloaded from Asus support page…
Przemas:
Hope your endeavor with the flashing goes well, let me know how it goes!
pls help me.
I am trying to setup my printer as shared printer.
My router can see the printer, it writes “On-Line” and right types of printer on the screen, but I cannot see IP address of the printer.
Why?
Thx.
Gabor from Hungary
+
“but I cannot see IP address of the printer” = the router doesn’t write IP address.
thx.
works great! finally, someone who actually knows what theyre talking about. thanks!
I set up my printer on Vista (Brother HL-2140) from the Asus CD and installation was smooth. However, when I tried printing I keep getting a few corrupted lines. A problem with buffer overruns? I doubt it’s a bad wireless connection – the PC is in the same room as the router. In contrast, printing is perfect from my Linux box…
woah, easy to follow. simple steps. worked for me.
Huge thank you – great post. Popped up in search and worked perfectly.
The clowns at Asus put no info on printer setup with the hardware but sell it as a feature of the device!
Do you have guide for macbook users? especially when your printer driver isnt in the list. It is automatically detected if I connect it directly to my Macbook though.
Unfortunately I don’t readily have access to a Mac, poy. If I can get someone over with their MB though, I’ll see what can be done.
poy, I’ve updated the post with some additional information which can hopefully help you. No guarantees though; best of luck 🙂
Anyone tried it with a Zebra 2844Z Thermal?
Thank you for the tips.
I tried as described above for HP 5610 All-in-One printer. It went through smoothly.
Once again, thank you.
Does anyone know if this work around will work with HP deskjet D1300 series, specifically the D1320?
Thanks much
Thanks! And shame on Asus.
Works great with HP laserjet 2200
THANX a LOT FROM RUSSIA! Instructions work on Epson 3900
Thanks for creating this blog. Your information is very easy to follow, unlike Asus’ instructions.
I am running Vista32 and have the WL520GU with firmware 3.0.1.3
I am using a HP Officejet J4500 which was previously connected directly to my PC via USB.
I plugged the printer into the USB port on the router and the network map on the router displays the printer name correctly with text below the printer name being ‘ENABLED’ in red.
I setup the port as per your instructions but other than one time, it consistently fails to print producing a print error message on my PC instead.
I am hoping that you may be able to shed some light on the problem.
Great advice. I had a lot of problems with setting up the router, then had the additional problem of not being able to get the printer to work through the router. Did exactly what you said and everything worked fine.
Much thanks 🙂
i will try it but is not working i have used Hp laserjet 1022 printer as per Asus compatibilty list is not support plz suggest its working or not …
Can someone help me?
My printer prints when the cable is connected straight to the computer.
When I connect the cable to the router, and press print, the command goes through and it prints but it does not print what I sent there. It gives me the following error:
“INTERNAL ERROR – FALSE
POSITION : 0x2c24 (11300)
SYSTEM : h6fwsim_mono/xl_image
LINE : 132
VERSION : QPDL 5.04 04-25-2005”
I appreciate anyone’s help and thank you in advance.
I followed the above instructions but the printer was working even before I made those changes and the router recognizes it in the page.
I have firmware version 3.0.0.8
Through Google, I found something similar to what you’re experiencing… http://www.fixya.com/support/t122108-printer_doesnt_work
I’m not sure if that’s the fix you’ll be looking for though.
I ended up flashing the router with Tomato Teddy Bear Mod and the printer now works perfectly.
Thank you for your help
I solved the printing problem with my WL520g.
I stopped trying to get it to work and went out and bought a Digitec USB print server.
I plugged the print server in and it worked straight out of the box.
So my solution to my printing problem was not to use the WL520g as a print server and install a dedicated Digitec print server.
No more frustrations, only pure printing pleasure.
PLS help me on Epson T60. I followed all the instructions above but its not really working n my printer. pls pls help me on my printer
I have been trying to set the printer for two hours but Its not working still.
All the steps work fine and there is no issue with the installation but when i enter the keyboard command form printing the printer does work.The error it shows is “can not access” even i am login from admin account.
Wow Its easy steps. Its simple work and its easy to follow for the readers. Thanks.
спасибо!
Your instructions are still helping out folks like me! Thanks a lot. Worked like a charm.
THANK YOU!! I was having a hard time getting this damn thing to work, your information on adding that new port was exactly what I needed, thank you so much for your time 🙂
Thank you very much for your helpful tip. I folowed all instructions and my hp 1200 laserjet started printing being connected to the router. But after a while, i had a probelm with the internet, which i usually treat by unplugging the electricity cord from the router and plugging it back after five minutes.
Last time this action of mine caused failure of printer operation via router, so I had to go back to printing from computer scheme, knowing that sometimes my internet requires reseting the router. Is there any chance to somehow “save” printer settings in the router, so it would continue printing correctly after being reset?
Thanks in advancve,
Andrey Chervyakov
This is awesome!!! was able to set up and print my test page in 5 mns flat!! Thank you very much! 🙂
This set-up did not work for my Lexmark E238 printer? Any solutions??? Please post. Thanks.
Wow that was great!! Thanks so much. I had a lot of trouble with my printer and the ASUS router now it works.
[…] HOW-TO: ASUS WL520GU’s Print Server [UPDATED] – blogONE […]
These instructions did not work for me. I had the same problem as many of you who posted. I wasn’t able to print to the printer attached to the USB port of this router. While I was able to find a utility on the Asus website to help fix this issue (http://ca.asus.com/en/Networks/Wireless_Routers/WL520gU/#download) It would only work on a WinXP computer. The utility would crash when trying to use it on a Vista / Win7 computer. I contacted Asus tech support and they were able to give me these instructions which did work and can be used for Linux, Mac, etc. so long as you know how to create printer ports in whatever OS you are using and you know how to install the printer drivers. The piece I was missing was the printer port settings. The instructions above were wrong. Read below for the proper settings. The following instructions are for intermediate to advanced users.
Create a standard TCP/IP printer port using the IP address of the router. Do not use the automatic driver query option because it doesn’t work and just wastes 5 minutes of time. Some OS will try to query the TCP/IP address. When it returns the message that the device isn’t on the network, just ignore it and choose custom settings. For protocol use LPR and for the queue name use LPRServer (exactly as shown). Do not use RAW protocol, do not use LPR byte counting and do not enable SNMP. Add your printer and install your print drivers. That’s it.