Comments on: A Print Server to Avoid: the Linksys WPS54GU2 http://practical-tech.com/operating-system/a-print-server-to-avoid-the-linksys-wps54gu2/ for practical people. Tue, 27 Jul 2010 01:48:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: ewoodnet462 http://practical-tech.com/operating-system/a-print-server-to-avoid-the-linksys-wps54gu2/comment-page-1/#comment-587 ewoodnet462 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:52:42 +0000 http://practical-tech.com/?p=365#comment-587 My experience with the Linksys WPS54GU2 could not have been more different. But based on your story, I would done the same as you. Sometimes it's not worth the hassel. I've had my WPS54GU2 about 5 years. It has worked perfectly from the day I installed it. It services 2 printers -- a bonus compared to most non-commercial print servers. One of the printers it services has both a USB and parallel port. This setup allows me to connect the printer to the WPS54GU2 parallel port, freeing the printer's USB port for use as a local connection for maintenance or for a guest computer connection without connecting to my secure network. My system is not large -- about 4-5 computers depending on who is on at any given time. Having the WPS54GU2 print server allows all users access to 2 different printers from anywhere. Typcially I'll set one printer with standard 8x11 white paper and the other with photo paper. Laptop users select the printer based on what paper they want. I will admit it's been 5 years since I read the installation instructions, but I don't recall any particular difficultly in the initial install or setup. Using both the USB and parallel ports might be a bit confusing, but the setup for the server performed the necessary port assignments without any issues. Every device on the network that will use the print server needs to have this setup performed on it, along with the drivers for each of the printers attached to the server. My backbone network uses a 108 super G router with 4 wired ports. I recommend connecting both the router and the print server to a small UPS. Prior to using a UPS, I would have to reset both the router and print server after a power failure - even one for just a second or two. Apparently the sequence of which device comes on line first can confuse the secure communications between them. I installed a UPS 3 years ago and have had no issues since. If fact, I believe I've not reset either since installing the UPS. For my system and how we use it, the Linksys WPS54GU2 seems to be a good fit. Unlike your experience, installation was simple and quick, and the unit has performed flawlessly for about 5 years with practically no attention. I'm curious what others have experienced -- was I one of the lucky ones to get a good one from the factory? My experience with the Linksys WPS54GU2 could not have been more different. But based on your story, I would done the same as you. Sometimes it’s not worth the hassel.

I’ve had my WPS54GU2 about 5 years. It has worked perfectly from the day I installed it. It services 2 printers — a bonus compared to most non-commercial print servers. One of the printers it services has both a USB and parallel port. This setup allows me to connect the printer to the WPS54GU2 parallel port, freeing the printer’s USB port for use as a local connection for maintenance or for a guest computer connection without connecting to my secure network.

My system is not large — about 4-5 computers depending on who is on at any given time. Having the WPS54GU2 print server allows all users access to 2 different printers from anywhere. Typcially I’ll set one printer with standard 8×11 white paper and the other with photo paper. Laptop users select the printer based on what paper they want.

I will admit it’s been 5 years since I read the installation instructions, but I don’t recall any particular difficultly in the initial install or setup. Using both the USB and parallel ports might be a bit confusing, but the setup for the server performed the necessary port assignments without any issues. Every device on the network that will use the print server needs to have this setup performed on it, along with the drivers for each of the printers attached to the server.

My backbone network uses a 108 super G router with 4 wired ports. I recommend connecting both the router and the print server to a small UPS. Prior to using a UPS, I would have to reset both the router and print server after a power failure – even one for just a second or two. Apparently the sequence of which device comes on line first can confuse the secure communications between them. I installed a UPS 3 years ago and have had no issues since. If fact, I believe I’ve not reset either since installing the UPS.

For my system and how we use it, the Linksys WPS54GU2 seems to be a good fit. Unlike your experience, installation was simple and quick, and the unit has performed flawlessly for about 5 years with practically no attention. I’m curious what others have experienced — was I one of the lucky ones to get a good one from the factory?

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