Advertisment

EtherFast Print Server

author-image
PCQ Bureau
New Update

Linksys’ EtherFast 



Print Server PPSX1

Hardware print server. Rs 9,500



Features: Support for 10/100 Mbps full and half duplex networks; Windows and NetWare support.


Pros: Easy to use.


Cons: Expensive; no Web-based administration.


Source: Linksys


1C & 2C, Alsa 


Glenridge, 32


Langford Road


Bangalore 560025. 


Tel: 80-2273130-32 


Fax: 2273129 


E-mail: linksys@vsnl.com 


Website: www.linksys.com










Advertisment

This is a modem-sized device that lets you connect any parallel port printer

to a network. It works using the TCP/IP or IPX/SPX protocols and automatically

assigns itself an IP address from a DHCP server on the network. Drivers for both

Windows and NetWare are shipped with the device. Its network interface can

automatically sense half or full duplex 10/100 Mbps configurations and adjust

itself.

Setting up the EtherFast Print Server is simple. It has a parallel port for

connecting a printer, and an RJ45 jack for the Ethernet connection. Its power

supply plug has thin pins, so you’ll need to buy an adapter to connect it to

an electrical wall outlet. Special drivers also have to be installed on all

workstations that will print to it. These work in tandem with the printer’s

original drivers. The print server’s software can perform basic functions like

check printer status, etc. However, one feature that we missed was Web-based

administration.

The EtherFast also has 128 kB RAM and 256 kB flash memory built in. The RAM

helps in buffering data, which can speed up the print process, whereas flash

memory allows for future firmware upgrades. The print server also has drivers

for Unix and Mac. However, they’re not officially endorsed, meaning the

manufacturer doesn’t guarantee that they’ll work. Another unsupported

feature is the capability of the EtherFast to accept telnet sessions to check

the status of the device and printer. The feature works, but it hasn’t been

documented in the manual.

Overall, the EtherFast PPSX1 is a very basic device meant to provide an

Ethernet interface to a printer that has just a parallel port. At Rs 9,500, it’s

quite expensive, considering that you could share a printer using a PC. However,

if you don’t have a spare PC for this, it might be a good choice. The next

higher model, EPSX3, supports three printers.

Anuj Jain at PCQ Labs

Advertisment