Customer Reviews

Cisco-Linksys PSUS4 PrintServer for USB with 4 Port Switch

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(44)

 

 

Like a number of the other reviews mentioned, the PSUS4 works fine as a printserver but the included setup software isn't worth even removing from the box. I am by no means a networking expert but I had the time to tinker with the device and found that you really need to be ready to configure the PSUS4 directly using your browser and then configure each computer for local printing by creating a new TCP/IP port using the IP address of the unit and configuring it for printing to "USB1". If this sounds complicated it really isn't and with a bit of searching you can find quick and easy instructions from an article on the Linksys website (note the lack of mentioning USB1 in the article).

Long story short, don't buy this if you want plug and play but if you have a basic understanding of networking you will find this works fine after a bit of a painful initial setup. I found that it took much longer just to find the information I needed than actually setting up the unit.

It's operation is flawless, once it's set up properly. I use this to add ports to my existing router, it's just plug and forget for that.

Setting up a printer wasn't so easy, but, after two attempts, it finally installed the network printer driver properly. It might be the way the software automatically loads from the CD - but I was getting errors, until I reinstalled it manually from the disk.

But now that it's installed, it handles an HP Officejet v40xi. Since I have a new scanner, the loss of scanning capabilities isn't missed, so bear in mind you won't be able to scan.

The print queuing is a little strange. You will get messages if another print job is being fed to the printer, but it does handle the jobs in order.

I payed about $56 here at Amazon. Watch those price variations. It's tiny, blue, warm, and has been working with no trouble for two months. It comes with a power supply, cat 5 cable, and a usb a-b cable, and an install CD.

I really wanted a print server for my home network. It's a perfect fit. Install was easy. With all the complexity of modern networking it only had one hitch - my HP Laserjet 1200 wouldn't print after the install. I went into control panel/printers and deleted the printer. Got my HP cd and did a fresh install. When the HP install got to "Where is the printer connected" I noticed a new option "Lblahblah" so I picked that and it worked perfectly.

I don't notice an printing speed differences. There has been no odd behaviour.

Really I'd give it about 4.5 stars. I recommend it for home networks that need a print server.

To install the print server successfully, you will need to install your printer driver on your computers first. Before the printer driver trying to search for the printer, just exit from the printer driver installation. That will have a copy of printer driver on your machine.

To install on the local network, on the first computer install the complete print server setup utility so that you can set it to a static IP address. It will installed easily, since you already have the printer driver installed on the last step.
On other computers, you only need to install the print server driver, not complete setup utility. Once that is installed, you will be able to get the printer working.

Another method can be used for printing over VPN or on the local network, that is by using Windows install local printers with automatically detect plug and play printer box checked. It will say no printer found. Click on the next, it will allow you to select "Create new port", screw down to select "standard tcp/ip port". In that new window, specify the IP address of the print server, then select LPR in next window. Then select the proper printer driver you installed on the first step.

You are done! What a great product, I wish Linksys put these steps in their user manual, so that many people would know how to install it.

First things first. Verify with Linksys that your printer is compatible with this device. They are not known to be upfront about this but press the point. I found out after many hours of trouble shooting that my HP "All In One" was not. Having said that, I am very satisfied with this device now that I have it working with an HP 960c. Not only is it a print server but it gives you an additional 3 ports to connect to your network. Did I mention it's fast? It's just like having a printer connected to your pc. Over all, I am very satisfied - I just wish Linksys would publish which printers are known to work well with it (and don't work at all) as Netgear does.

I buy a lot of Linksys products and have been very happy with them, so I did not hesitate to pick up one of these for my HP Photosmart 7550. However, after a couple days of not being able to print, I called tech support at Linksys and was informed that the PSUS4 is NOT compatable with my printer. Interesting, Linksys knows this, but does not provide this information on their website (the tech support technician said it was an "internal-only document").

After calling in a (computer knowledgable) friend to help me install this print server; and spending 6 hours trying to install the Linksys PSUS4, we gave up and called Linksys Service. This unit got two stars for the polite and hard work the service person gave to this situation. After one hour with Mark at Linksys, we were told that this PSUS4 WILL NOT WORK WITH ANY MULTI FUNCTION PRINTER. Linksys gets zero stars for not printing this info on their box, installation papers, or the enclosed CD. Linksys knows this will not work on most multi function printers, the most common today, but will not tell their potential customers. Save yourself a lot of time and DO NOT do what I did, ordered this for a Multi funtion printer. You owe me a beer for this.

I found conflicting opinions about how easy the PSUS4 would be to set up with Linux. My environment has RedHat Linux 9.0, HP PSC2110 w hpijs and I wanted a fixed IP address for the PSUS4.

I found that there is no need to use the provided set-up programs or documentation by doing the following:
The default IP address is 169.254.25.233 netmask 255.255.0.0
You may need to change your host network settings to the same sub-net.
Use ping to see whether you can see the PSUS4.
Browse http://169.254.25.233.
The default user name and password are admin admin.
In setup optionally disable Appletalk and NetBEUI.
In protocol set the IP address and netmask you would like to use.
Save and switch the router off and on to reboot.

On workstations select system settings/printing.
Set up a new queue with any name and description you like.
Select Networked UNIX (LPD)
Specify server as the IP address, queue lpd.
Select the printer from the pull down on the "Generic" box.

Apply the changes and print a test page.

It is possible to telnet into the PSUS4, but commands seem to be limited to help, monitor and exit!

Linksys is run by morons. I first went through the install process on my Canon printer by myself. It wouldn't work, so I called tech "support". After an hour of going through the install process, disabling my firewall, turning off my anti-virus, deconfiguring my printer, etc., etc., the guy (in the Philippines) mentioned that my printer might not be compatible with the print server at all. I had given him the model information multiple times, and asked, at that point if he could check the list, to see if we were just wasting time. He assured me there was no list, and trial and error was the only way to see if it would work. After all the changes he had me make, I could no longer use my printer, even connected directly to the computer. I asked to speak to a manager, but after several more minutes on hold, I threw in the towel. The following day, I reinstalled my printer's drivers and got it working directly from the USB port. I then tried again to install the print server. It seemed to work: the wizard found and identified the printer through the wireless router, etc. But, alas, my excitement was short-lived. SO I called tech "support" again, and went through what I had gone through thus far. I told him the model of the printer and he told me it wouldn't work. No matter what. Just wasn't compatible. WTF? Why wouldn't Linksys simply have a list for potential buyers to check? Hard to imagine this would be costlier than the idiocy I experienced. So, I would steer well-clear of this product and Linksys in general. When you call technical support, you get a message saying "Due to the overwhelming response to our products, we are experiencing long delays". So I called "Sales" and got through immediately. Seems like the "response" is on the service end, not the sales end, which is quite telling, I believe. I am not sure what I will buy, but the router is going back, as is the print server. Of course I now have to pack it all up, drive back to the store and deal with the return. This is just so stupid, it is amazing that a company like Cisco could be run this poorly.

Thanks for listening.

J

I am running a home network, with 6 PC's old and new, and every one of them prints without a problem using this Linksys PrintServer USB with 4 port switch. I'm using W2000 Pro and Win XP Pro with a Brother HL-5040 laser.
It is nice not having to leave a computer running in order to print. I'm setting up a couple of servers in the network, Win 2003 Server and SQL Server 05, and instead of using the controller as a print server, I am going to continue to use this Linksys unit as an independent mini server to handle the print chores. Why tie up your server with printing hassles?Win 2003 Server has been super reliable, but a network administrators biggest headache is the daily hassle of resolving printing bottlenecks. It's not called Networking, it's called Not Working. :-) But this little Linksys 4 port switch with USB port for printing just runs without a glitch, and it frees up your servers for more important chores.
Like another reviewer stated, you want to install the drivers for your printer in all of the computers that you intend to print from first. In this case I took the Brother disc and loaded it on all of the machines, and when it asked me whether the install was for a printer hooked up to the machine, or on the network, I chose on the network. Then when you place the CD that comes with the Linksys unit, it automatically guides you through set up. It senses the unit, and lists it, then all you have to do is click on it, and wahlah you are up and running. The included instruction sheet is a several page fold out, with pictures of the screen shots of each set up window, so it is a no brainer.
It is a great feeling when you are somewhere else in the network, and you need to print something, you just click on print then choose the printer, in this case Brother on the network, and it prints away.
I used to use a Lexmark inkjet, and the cartridges cost me a fortune, and it wasn't network friendly; now with the Brother Laser 5040, I get a couple thousand pages out of a single cartridge, and since it is powder instead of ink, it is always dry, so it can't dry out. I have a friend with an NEC laser he bought in 1985, prints very little, and it finally ran out of toner in the last two years. (I know you find that hard to believe) I know I am getting off subject here but I find the rush relevant. :-)
The Linksys switch also solves the cabling problems. Instead of having to run another cable, you simply plug the one cable that you have for the PC into the switch as an input, and then you plug your PC into another one of the 4 Ethernet ports, and your printer into the single USB printer port. Set it up with the instructions as mentioned and your good to go.
I think it is a great buy, whereas you would be spending the same money for just the switch, this one comes with a printer server built in also. Now if I can just get one in the Gigabit version, because I am looking to convert the home network over to 1/100/1000. Highly recommended unit, buy it.