Can you network share a scanner?

Joe42 · 3 Oct 2006 at 20:39

I want to plug my printer into my fileserver so the printer is shared and available to other pcs on the network, currently its shared via a different pc which isn't always on.

However, its a multifunction printer so its also a scanner. Is there a way to also share the scanner over the network, or is there a way to somehow split the usb cable so the printer/scanner can be plugged into the fileserver for sharing the printer and into another pc for using the scanner?

paradigm · 3 Oct 2006 at 21:00

You can get USB scanner sharing server and client software yes. Have to pay for it though. I use it at work for this exact reason.

Joe42 · 3 Oct 2006 at 21:06

Can't get it free or open source or something?

I remember at one time usb networks were popular, so i'm pretty sure with some gender adaptors and a hub (basically making up a y cable) i could onnect it to two pcs, but would this work?
Can you connect a printer to two pcs at the same time via usb?

paradigm · 3 Oct 2006 at 21:19

Joe42 said:
Can you connect a printer to two pcs at the same time via usb?

You can connect it to one PC via USB and use windows printer sharing to use it on both machines, but thats about it.

Windows will NOT let you share scanners in the same way though, not without 3rd party software.

Joe42 · 3 Oct 2006 at 21:23

What a pain.
How do linux users solve this problem... does it allow scanner sharing?
This is the sort of thing i want to see implimented in vista, rather than all this jazzy 3d rubbish they waste their time with.

paradigm said:
You can connect it to one PC via USB and use windows printer sharing to use it on both machines, but thats about it.

I meant to use one machine to share the printer and the other for scanning, both connected to the same multifunction printer/scanner.

kitten · 3 Oct 2006 at 21:54

USB switch will suffice. Note: switch not hub.

Allows selection of which PC acesses which USB device.

If it's an HP mulitfunction some models have slot for HP CAT5 network adapter/print server. These are not cheap though, but do allow all networked PC's to use all the device's functions.

Joe42 · 3 Oct 2006 at 23:10

Thanks, i think i'll have to try the usb route.

It is an hp multifunction. How does their network adaptor work?
It can't be more than a normal print server, so they must just supply some special software to get the other functions.

M0KUJ1N · 3 Oct 2006 at 23:32

not to call Devil's Advocate here, but surely the fact that you generally have to put the media to be scanned into a scanner would make it impractical as a shareable device in the way a networked printer is? Which is probably why it isn't implemented as a standard feature in the way printer sharing is. You could scan the image with the machine physically connected to it and then transfer the file over the network to your machine though.

kitten · 3 Oct 2006 at 23:57

Joe42 said:
Thanks, i think i'll have to try the usb route.

It is an hp multifunction. How does their network adaptor work?
It can't be more than a normal print server, so they must just supply some special software to get the other functions.

If your device is network capable the software will be on the driver CD. And the install wizard would have asked if your device is connected to the network or the PC itself.

This is the device:

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/e...0m Print Server - Fast Ethernet&lang=en&cc=us

Discontinued now. I only bought one 12 months ago

I would search an auction site for it, if it is supported by your device.

Joe42 · 4 Oct 2006 at 13:15

M0KUJ1N said:
not to call Devil's Advocate here, but surely the fact that you generally have to put the media to be scanned into a scanner would make it impractical as a shareable device in the way a networked printer is? Which is probably why it isn't implemented as a standard feature in the way printer sharing is. You could scan the image with the machine physically connected to it and then transfer the file over the network to your machine though.

Its no different to having to go into a different room to collect your printout. Anyway i don't want to share the scanner to all the networked pc,s just the one closest to it, however i do want to share the printer between all networked machines and to do this it has to be connected to my fileserver ,and as the printer and scanner are part of the same device this means i can't access the scanner on anything but the fileserver which does not have a monitor, keyboard or mouse, and it isn't a pc.

Edit: What does this mean: 'Supported printers - Any LIO-based printer'

squiffy · 4 Oct 2006 at 13:18

For the cost of scanners now I would just buy another.
Wheras a few years ago a good SCSI scanner would have cost £300+

Joe42 · 4 Oct 2006 at 13:21

squiffy said:
For the cost of scanners now I would just buy another.
Wheras a few years ago a good SCSI scanner would have cost £300+

Hmm i could. Having said i only want to use the scanenr on one pc, i think it would actually be pretty useful to be able to use it on any pc. When someone is logged onto the pc with the scanner attached it would be a pain to have them log off if you wanted to use it.

Avalon · 4 Oct 2006 at 19:01

While I see your point about printing the difference is with a printer you don't have to physically get up and collect each page before you can print the next one. Perhaps you are looking at this from the wrong POV, if you are scanning images would a digital camera not make more sense ?