Networking USB 2.0 Print Server - Black

I set up this print server to work with a Brother HL-2240 printer. Although my model is not in the list of compatible printers, the print server has worked reliably for me. First, connect everything up as follows. Printer -> (USB cable) -> (Print Server) -> (wired network cable) -> Router The print server will request a dynamic IP address from the DHCP server within your router. For reliable printing to this print server, it is best to configure your router to always provide the same dynamic IP address to the print server. This is done by creating an address reservation in the DHCP settings of your router. Each router model and manufacturer will have its own way of doing this, but the procedure is generally similar. Consult your router's user manual to determine the exact steps. Log into your router and look for a list of devices that have requested an IP address. Within that list, you should see a device with a "MAC" that begins with 803F5D (it may be listed as 80:3F:5D or 80-3F-5D in your router). This is the print server. For the next step, write down the print server's full 12-character MAC as well as the IP address it was assigned by your router. Now, create an Address Reservation in the DHCP settings, which tells the router to always assign that same IP address to that same MAC. (If your web interface provides a box for specifying the device name or description, you can use something generic like "printer" or whatever you like.) You will probably need to click a "Save" or "Apply" button in the router web page to save your change. Next, unplug the print server's power plug. Wait a few seconds, then plug it back in. Wait a minute, then refresh the DHCP settings web page on your router to confirm that the print server is listed and has the same IP address. I should point out that this print server provides 2 different protocols that computers can use to print to it -- Bonjour and LPR. I have found Bonjour to be unreliable for me. Therefore, I have opted to use LPR, which works best when the print server is assigned a reserved IP address. It is assumed that you previously used this printer as a local USB printer, attached directly to your computer. If so, your computer should already have the printer driver installed. If not, you may need to download and install the printer driver from the manufacturer's web site, before proceeding. In Mac OS, add the printer using the LPR protocol. 1. Go into "System Preferences" > "Printers & Scanners". 2. At the bottom of the list of printers, click the "+" icon. 3. On the Add screen, click "IP". 4. In the "Address" field, enter the IP address of the print server. (This will be the DHCP reserved IP address you configured above.) 5. In the "Protocol" drop-down list, click "Line Printer Daemon – LPD". 6. Change the "Name" field to something more descriptive of your printer (e.g. Brother HL-2240 LPR). 7. I left the Queue and Location fields empty. 8. In the "Use" drop-down list, select the driver for the printer attached to the print server. You will probably want to choose "Select Software", then select the manufacturer and model of printer attached to the print server, then click OK. 9. Finally, click the "Add" button. To test the printer you have just added, select it in the list of Printers, click "Options & Supplies", choose the "Utility" tab, click "Print Test Page", then click "OK". If all went well, a test page should print. Some additional tips and bits of information follow. I did NOT install any software from the CD that came with the print server. The software is not required on MacOS. The user manual that came bundled with the print server is pretty much useless. I think the manual tries to cover both this "USB LPR Print Server" (Monoprice #5342) and the "USB Server - 4 USB Devices" (Monoprice #5344), but it's mostly written for the latter (#5344). And so, the manual will probably confuse most people. This print server makes only the printing function of a printer accessible over the network. If your printer has a built-in scanner, the scan function will NOT be accessible over the network. The print server does NOT make your printer into a wireless printer. The print server must be physically connected into the back of your router with an Ethernet cable. However, computers that connect to your network over WiFi will be able to print to the printer over wifi. This print server is tiny (2" x 2"). I keep my Brother HL-2240 turned on all the time, but it goes into a low-power sleep mode after about 10 minutes. I have NOT had any issues with the printer waking up from sleep mode for printing. Some caveats: I only send small print jobs to this print server (approximately 20 pages or less). I cannot say how well it performs with large print jobs (e.g. 100 pages). Only one user accesses this print server at a given time. I have not tried to send multiple print jobs from multiple users at the same time.

I had an older Brother HL-L2320D laser printer that I needed to convert to a network printer to use with my Windows 10 computer. I followed the instructions and used the included installation software. It took me about 15 minutes to make sure that all the pieces were talking to each other, and the printer has worked flawlessly as a wireless printer ever since. This Monoprice Networking Print Server helped me to upgrade a perfectly good printer.