Community discussions

MikroTik App
 
sorinbuda
newbie
Topic Author
Posts: 29
Joined: Sun Nov 14, 2004 6:27 am

use Microtik as print server as well

Thu Feb 23, 2006 9:48 am

that new feature would be good
 
cmit
Forum Guru
Forum Guru
Posts: 1547
Joined: Fri May 28, 2004 12:49 pm
Location: Germany

Thu Feb 23, 2006 9:57 am

And perhaps if you could make some coffee, please? Of course scriptable, so that if more than two wireless interfaces are down, it does make STRONG coffee automatically...

COME ONE, GUYS!

RouterOS is just that - a ROUTER (!) OS. Please let's keep it like that. If you want a printserver, purchase one or use a separate linux box for that.

Best regards,
Christian Meis
 
User avatar
jp
Long time Member
Long time Member
Posts: 609
Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2005 5:06 am
Location: Maine
Contact:

Thu Feb 23, 2006 5:43 pm

I just checked at newegg. A print server is $35-100 U$. That seems a better way to go than mikrotik. Besides, most of my MTs don't have parallel or USB.
 
cibernet
Long time Member
Long time Member
Posts: 610
Joined: Fri Jan 28, 2005 7:22 pm
Location: Marcos Juárez, Córdoba, Argentina
Contact:

Re: use Microtik as print server as well

Thu Feb 23, 2006 6:21 pm

that new feature would be good
:shock: :roll:
 
eflanery
Member
Member
Posts: 376
Joined: Fri May 28, 2004 10:11 pm
Location: Moscow, ID
Contact:

Thu Feb 23, 2006 9:32 pm

Expanded USB support would be nice, but for things like NICs, GPSs, and UPSs, not printers.

--Eric
 
pedja
Long time Member
Long time Member
Posts: 684
Joined: Sat Feb 26, 2005 5:37 am

Fri Feb 24, 2006 10:51 am

Now, when you mentione, I wonder, what is purpose of GPS suppoer in MT? I have GPS and use it constantly, but I cannot imagine why would I connect GPS to MT?
 
User avatar
NetTraptor
Frequent Visitor
Frequent Visitor
Posts: 76
Joined: Tue May 17, 2005 4:12 pm
Location: Athens Greece
Contact:

Fri Feb 24, 2006 10:53 am

It's for those ugly days when you loose a router... :lol:
 
pedja
Long time Member
Long time Member
Posts: 684
Joined: Sat Feb 26, 2005 5:37 am

Fri Feb 24, 2006 10:58 am

I duscussed ti with my AP's. They showed no intention to wander around. I guess that is because they are all nailed to something (poles, walls.. etc...)

8)

I also thought about Wardriving, but it seems to me that it is much easier to move laptop with NetStumbler instead of MT.
 
User avatar
normis
MikroTik Support
MikroTik Support
Posts: 26322
Joined: Fri May 28, 2004 11:04 am
Location: Riga, Latvia

Fri Feb 24, 2006 11:00 am

GPS gives you precise time. Also you can find your router's position better :) If you forget where it is :)
 
pedja
Long time Member
Long time Member
Posts: 684
Joined: Sat Feb 26, 2005 5:37 am

Fri Feb 24, 2006 11:11 am

Well, thats, quite expensive watch :)

I already have GPS measured locations of all devices (incuding clients), but in my experience, it is enough to make measurement once, so one GPS can do the job fopr all AP's and clients :)
 
uldis
MikroTik Support
MikroTik Support
Posts: 3446
Joined: Mon May 31, 2004 2:55 pm

Fri Feb 24, 2006 11:28 am

GPS is usefull when the router is attached, for example, to a truck/train/car, you can check where the router is currently located :)
It could be useful for mesh kind network or something like that...
 
sorinbuda
newbie
Topic Author
Posts: 29
Joined: Sun Nov 14, 2004 6:27 am

Fri Feb 24, 2006 3:19 pm

print server option is good when you are using Microtik in a small office up to 20 PCs
 
User avatar
normis
MikroTik Support
MikroTik Support
Posts: 26322
Joined: Fri May 28, 2004 11:04 am
Location: Riga, Latvia

Fri Feb 24, 2006 3:27 pm

what is the problem to use simple printer sharing in this case?
 
eflanery
Member
Member
Posts: 376
Joined: Fri May 28, 2004 10:11 pm
Location: Moscow, ID
Contact:

Fri Feb 24, 2006 8:42 pm

GPS is usefull when the router is attached, for example, to a truck/train/car, you can check where the router is currently located :)
It could be useful for mesh kind network or something like that...
It would be _really_ useful if you guys implemented a true TDMA MAC (not polling), hint hint.... :-)

--Eric
 
OpiumDream
newbie
Posts: 30
Joined: Fri May 22, 2009 6:44 am

Re: use Microtik as print server as well

Tue Mar 02, 2010 9:07 am

I have same request from my customer.
Customer is national wide distributing company.

Customer wants EV-DO router with integrated print server.

I think this solution will be very actual for distributing company and others who need vehicle communication and printing systems.
 
edlman
just joined
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2010 11:41 am

Re: use Microtik as print server as well

Mon Dec 20, 2010 11:54 am

I don't see a reason why not to use MT as a print server. There is a DHCP, FTP, ... servers in RouterOS so why not print server.
I would like to have this feature very strong. I have Asus WL500gP which I use as a print server with my USB HP printer. As I look for a new router with more ports and Gigabit ethernet, I'd like to try RB 493G which is almost ideal solution. It has a USB port so it would be great if I can connect a printer to it. Print server is quite simple application using JetDirect protocol, there's no need for queueing or something like that, just simply redirect data from TCP port 9100 to USB port.
Of course I can keep my Asus together with MT, but that's what I don't want. It's redundant and it consumes power.
I think that many office users would be grateful for this feature.
 
hellweiss
newbie
Posts: 35
Joined: Thu Sep 02, 2010 10:36 am

Re: use Microtik as print server as well

Wed Dec 22, 2010 11:19 am

There are printers with network card/print server included. We've those.
 
Edified
newbie
Posts: 37
Joined: Thu Sep 16, 2010 9:02 am

Re: use Microtik as print server as well

Wed Dec 22, 2010 7:31 pm

Sounds like a job for MetaRouter! It will be nice when things are better supported and the Wiki is up to date with examples.
 
alfanet
just joined
Posts: 15
Joined: Sun Jun 12, 2005 10:54 am

Re: use Microtik as print server as well

Sun Jan 27, 2013 7:22 pm

Print Server and sharing file is great feature for : office , network cafe , organizations and it`s very important , I know alot of routers come with this features , but mikrotik have more options for networking , firewall ,....
please if can be possible that will be great and usefull and it will be a package for who really need to have this option to select or deselect it

thank you
 
User avatar
janisk
MikroTik Support
MikroTik Support
Posts: 6263
Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2006 9:46 am
Location: Riga, Latvia

Re: use Microtik as print server as well

Mon Jan 28, 2013 4:21 pm

Sounds like a job for MetaRouter! It will be nice when things are better supported and the Wiki is up to date with examples.
for what features you want examples for on the wiki? Please name features that need more attention and we will see to improve those.

As suggested at the moment IP capable printers should be used at the moment as SMB service does not support printer sharing.
 
jandafields
Forum Guru
Forum Guru
Posts: 1515
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2005 6:12 pm

Re: use Microtik as print server as well

Sat Feb 02, 2013 8:18 pm

Why should Mikrotik include print server?

THIS IS WHY:

Most off-the-shelf routers with a USB port INCLUDE A PRINT SERVER!

Why can Cisco, DLink, Netgear, etc implement a print server, but mikrotik NOT implement a print server?

If nothing else, do it just to stay on par with the competition.
 
User avatar
TheWiFiGuy
Member
Member
Posts: 351
Joined: Thu Nov 24, 2011 7:26 pm
Location: UK

use Microtik as print server as well

Sat Feb 02, 2013 10:40 pm

-1 from me.

Its bad enough that we have smb in a router, let alome print sharing. Strip out all the crap and get ROS back to a lean mean routing machine!
 
jandafields
Forum Guru
Forum Guru
Posts: 1515
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2005 6:12 pm

Re: use Microtik as print server as well

Sun Feb 03, 2013 7:16 am

-1 from me.

Its bad enough that we have smb in a router, let alome print sharing. Strip out all the crap and get ROS back to a lean mean routing machine!
-1

So, turn off what you don't want. Should they remove wireless, and let you use a separate wireless access point? Should they remove scripting, so it is just a lean routing machine? What about hotspot and user manager... should they be eliminated too?

Just because there is extra stuff doesn't mean you have to use it.
 
User avatar
TheWiFiGuy
Member
Member
Posts: 351
Joined: Thu Nov 24, 2011 7:26 pm
Location: UK

use Microtik as print server as well

Sun Feb 03, 2013 1:06 pm

Printing is not a routing feature. Smb is not a routing feature. Hotspot is. These are routers after all.

Drop usermanager, theres 3rd party tools for that in free radius.

Stop packing the mikrotiks full of other home router crap, if you want that , get a tp link. If there were less frivolent features, then the features that remained would work better, as development team would concentrate on key features.

With regards to removing wireless, hell yes. The most reliabe routerboards are those without embedded wireless. Our 1100 and 1200s, rb450 etc all have much longer uptimes and less issues than those with wireless.
 
jandafields
Forum Guru
Forum Guru
Posts: 1515
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2005 6:12 pm

Re: use Microtik as print server as well

Sun Feb 03, 2013 8:46 pm

With regards to removing wireless, hell yes. The most reliabe routerboards are those without embedded wireless. Our 1100 and 1200s, rb450 etc all have much longer uptimes and less issues than those with wireless.
You make no sense at all!

Mikrotik is a WISP product provider. Their biggest customer base is WIRELESS ISP's. Remove Wireless, and you remove all their customers.

If you would read the documentation, then you would know that you can DISABLE and even COMPLETELY REMOVE wireless if you don't use it. There are MANY things that you can enable, disable, and even remove completely.
 
Sob
Forum Guru
Forum Guru
Posts: 9119
Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:11 pm

Re: use Microtik as print server as well

Mon Feb 04, 2013 1:12 am

MikroTik introduced whole line of home routers, so clearly they want to compete on that market too. And it means they have to add features for home users. You may not like it, but if they are really serious about home products, SMB should be only beginning.

But it should not be a problem for anyone. Currently it's probably just few hundered kilobytes of binaries taking flash space and no other resources if not enabled. And if they decide to add more "crazy" stuff, they can always move it to separate package. It's also not hard to imagine hiring few more developers to not slow down work on other features.

As for print server, which current topic is about, I'm surprised it's not there right from the beginning when first home router with USB was released. It does not make sense to limit target audience by not including something so simple. It really doesn't have to be anything fancy, no queues or anything. Just simple JetDirect-like sharing (like open source p910nd does) would be enough.
 
User avatar
TheWiFiGuy
Member
Member
Posts: 351
Joined: Thu Nov 24, 2011 7:26 pm
Location: UK

use Microtik as print server as well

Mon Feb 04, 2013 1:30 am

With regards to removing wireless, hell yes. The most reliabe routerboards are those without embedded wireless. Our 1100 and 1200s, rb450 etc all have much longer uptimes and less issues than those with wireless.
You make no sense at all!

Mikrotik is a WISP product provider. Their biggest customer base is WIRELESS ISP's. Remove Wireless, and you remove all their customers.

If you would read the documentation, then you would know that you can DISABLE and even COMPLETELY REMOVE wireless if you don't use it. There are MANY things that you can enable, disable, and even remove completely.
I know what I can disable. I bothered to sit the mikrotik exams. As a wisp , I can tell you that mikrotik are no longer brilliant at wifi - just look at all the threads regarding wifi issues. I've seen wds bridge loops first hand and HWMP still does not work.

Possibly because the dev teams go for quick fixes and new features. I very much doubt you'll be seeing embedded wifi in the CCR!

why get so annoyed when some one else wants something different to you?
 
User avatar
samir494
Member Candidate
Member Candidate
Posts: 236
Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2009 11:27 am
Location: India

Re: use Microtik as print server as well

Mon Feb 04, 2013 6:56 am

There are printers with network card/print server included. We've those.

any one checked e-print option ?
 
Vitaly
just joined
Posts: 21
Joined: Tue Feb 25, 2014 3:13 pm

Re: use Microtik as print server as well

Wed Feb 26, 2014 1:09 am

Hello.
Printer support request / Print server mikrotik / Printer mikrotik
Please add your voice for printer support request http://forum.mikrotik.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=82284&e=0
Thank you
 
ditonet
Forum Veteran
Forum Veteran
Posts: 835
Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2009 12:52 am
Location: Europe/Poland/Konstancin-Jeziorna
Contact:

Re: use Microtik as print server as well

Thu Feb 27, 2014 2:25 am

Bad idea.
Every USB Print Server has 'printer compatiblity list'.
Not every printer is supported, only mentioned on that list.
It's a endless work for developers adding support for new printers.
Just my two cents.

Regards,
 
jandafields
Forum Guru
Forum Guru
Posts: 1515
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2005 6:12 pm

Re: use Microtik as print server as well

Thu Feb 27, 2014 3:26 am

Network printers are so easy to find now, and very inexpensive... why would anyone still need a usb print server?

Also, you can get a very tiny usb print server for less than $20. Hardly takes any extra room.
 
Vitaly
just joined
Posts: 21
Joined: Tue Feb 25, 2014 3:13 pm

Re: use Microtik as print server as well

Thu Feb 27, 2014 9:37 pm

Bad idea.
Every USB Print Server has 'printer compatiblity list'.
Not every printer is supported, only mentioned on that list.
It's a endless work for developers adding support for new printers.
Just my two cents.

Regards,
Developers not thinking about adding new printers, drivers for printer on the end-user machine. With cups end-user thinks about drivers also.
 
Vitaly
just joined
Posts: 21
Joined: Tue Feb 25, 2014 3:13 pm

Re: use Microtik as print server as well

Thu Feb 27, 2014 9:41 pm

Network printers are so easy to find now, and very inexpensive... why would anyone still need a usb print server?
Yes, you are right. But this feature will be usefull for some peoples, I seen many questions about this option. Plus one reason for buy mikrotik.
 
ditonet
Forum Veteran
Forum Veteran
Posts: 835
Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2009 12:52 am
Location: Europe/Poland/Konstancin-Jeziorna
Contact:

Re: use Microtik as print server as well

Fri Feb 28, 2014 2:02 am

drivers for printer on the end-user machine
If we are talking about drivers, there is also need to provide driver for 'Virtual USB Port' for every operating system.
This is another extra work for developers :) .
Many manufacturers offer USB print servers and every comes with 'Printer compatibility list' and 'Virtual USB Port' driver.
Download user guides for few models and read about necessary printer installation steps.
Some of them suppots only Windows OSes, no 'Virtual USB Port' driver for Linux or Mac.
IMHO, for reasons mentioned above, MT probably will never implement printer server functionality in RouterOS.

Regards,
 
Vitaly
just joined
Posts: 21
Joined: Tue Feb 25, 2014 3:13 pm

Re: use Microtik as print server as well

Fri Feb 28, 2014 4:01 pm

drivers for printer on the end-user machine
If we are talking about drivers, there is also need to provide driver for 'Virtual USB Port' for every operating system.
This is another extra work for developers :) .
Many manufacturers offer USB print servers and every comes with 'Printer compatibility list' and 'Virtual USB Port' driver.
Download user guides for few models and read about necessary printer installation steps.
Some of them suppots only Windows OSes, no 'Virtual USB Port' driver for Linux or Mac.
IMHO, for reasons mentioned above, MT probably will never implement printer server functionality in RouterOS.

Regards,
Hi, virtual usb not needed, they can use IPP http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Printing_Protocol
 
ditonet
Forum Veteran
Forum Veteran
Posts: 835
Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2009 12:52 am
Location: Europe/Poland/Konstancin-Jeziorna
Contact:

Re: use Microtik as print server as well

Fri Feb 28, 2014 5:13 pm

Hi, virtual usb not needed, they can use IPP http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Printing_Protocol
OK, but in this case all necessary conversion 'IPP -> USB' must be done by router software,
because we are talking about printers without network interface.
This conversion is printer specific, thus need to be implemented for every supported printer.
And we are back with 'Printer Compatibility List' :D
I am not against this feature, but IMHO maintenance of 'print server' module and adding support for new printers is time-consuming task
and due to this MT probably will never implement it in RouterOS.

Regards,
 
vortex
Forum Guru
Forum Guru
Posts: 1092
Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2013 6:10 pm

Re: use Microtik as print server as well

Fri Feb 28, 2014 5:59 pm

In some countries it is hard to get a good network MFP at a reasonable price.

And having to keep one computer running for print sharing is not the idea, specially with many people foregoing desktops now.

And home routers suck, even some inexpensive "business" routers do. That's why I went Mikrotik.

But a print server that just prints is basically useless in a home.

And extra box clutter at home is no go.

It should somehow support full multifunction capability, if it's going to be done. Now THAT would be interesting.
 
Vitaly
just joined
Posts: 21
Joined: Tue Feb 25, 2014 3:13 pm

Re: use Microtik as print server as well

Fri Feb 28, 2014 9:06 pm

Hi, virtual usb not needed, they can use IPP http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Printing_Protocol
OK, but in this case all necessary conversion 'IPP -> USB' must be done by router software,
because we are talking about printers without network interface.
This conversion is printer specific, thus need to be implemented for every supported printer.
And we are back with 'Printer Compatibility List' :D
I am not against this feature, but IMHO maintenance of 'print server' module and adding support for new printers is time-consuming task
and due to this MT probably will never implement it in RouterOS.

Regards,
Hi, I think basic printing supports by the generic driver. http://www.usb.org/developers/devclass_ ... 021811.pdf If needs supporting for every device(maybe?) they can make directory for drivers where user can put printer specific driver, something like file/printer/Samsung-MLspl.ppd etc.
But I'm not versed in this area. Dlink can make this for cheap router, why MikroTik team can't implement that I don't know.
 
Vitaly
just joined
Posts: 21
Joined: Tue Feb 25, 2014 3:13 pm

Re: use Microtik as print server as well

Fri Feb 28, 2014 9:41 pm

In some countries it is hard to get a good network MFP at a reasonable price.

And having to keep one computer running for print sharing is not the idea, specially with many people foregoing desktops now.

And home routers suck, even some inexpensive "business" routers do. That's why I went Mikrotik.

But a print server that just prints is basically useless in a home.

And extra box clutter at home is no go.

It should somehow support full multifunction capability, if it's going to be done. Now THAT would be interesting.
Hi, please add your voice for printer request if you interested in this feature.
http://forum.mikrotik.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=82284&e=0

Thanks
 
nosovk
Frequent Visitor
Frequent Visitor
Posts: 63
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2012 11:25 am
Location: Ukraine
Contact:

Re: use Microtik as print server as well

Sat Mar 01, 2014 9:08 pm

we dont need that feature at all.
New printers have wi-fi and google cloud print. Just buy them. It's the future. They are allready cheap.
No need in print serrver functionality in RouterOS
 
Sob
Forum Guru
Forum Guru
Posts: 9119
Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:11 pm

Re: use Microtik as print server as well

Sun Mar 02, 2014 1:26 am

Just because you find something useless, does not mean it's useless for everyone.

Imagine someone coming to thread where you voice your support for Hyper-V network drivers (I noticed it accidentally, because I opened it right after this one), and writing e.g. "Network works with VMware. Just get ESXi. And it's free!" It isn't much different, is it? ;)
 
Vitaly
just joined
Posts: 21
Joined: Tue Feb 25, 2014 3:13 pm

Re: use Microtik as print server as well

Sun Mar 02, 2014 8:49 pm

we dont need that feature at all.
New printers have wi-fi and google cloud print. Just buy them. It's the future. They are allready cheap.
No need in print server functionality in RouterOS
Why apple, dlink, asus and others include print server functionality in their devices? I think it is useful for some. First router is network device and this is priority, but when device have possibility to support printing why not add? It's expand functionality and it's extra reason to choose mikrotik.

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot], kevinlukas, mada3k, muona, pe1chl, TheCat12 and 96 guests