3 companies 1 printer

[lanierboy]

hello,
i have to install 1 colour mfp to a business center with 3 companies all on different networks with different ip ranges, hows the best way to achieve this????? router/software solution???

[schooltech]

There are probably better network guys to answer this but I think that setting them up on one managed switch with VLAN's and then have the printer connected to that switch. Setting up the VLAN would be as per the manufacturer's switch. I used to set up some with older Cisco switches, but it is too long ago and probably would not apply.

Then, you'll have all computers physically connected, yet 'separated' from each other with the VLAN's. This would be the most secure for their respective networks.

I guess you could also use a routable (public) IP address in the printer, so their routers will route packets to that address. I don't set up printers in this fashion, but I've seen some copier/printers come from the wholesaler with routable IP's in them.

I think that VLAN's would be your safest bet. They really aren't too hard to set up. At our district, we have multiple VLAN's for all of our schools, yet we are on 'one' big network. I can cross VLAN's and 'see' other printers.

[Dukem]

How about using IPP (internet printing protocol)? Setup might be a pain but no new hardware is needed.

[schooltech]

Yes, I think that IPP will work. I believe that IPP needs to be installed from the additional network features from the add/remove additional components. I don't think it's there by default.

When he goes to set it up, for the intranet, he will have to set it up by http//xxx.xxx.xxx.xxxort#( usually 631) /ipp. I think it should reside on a computer that will be seen by all on the 'network.'

What we don't know is how they are already configured-hardware, etc, so I guess that I jumped the gun a bit. I also normally don't set up IPP printing. The network environments I've worked in generally didn't have a need for it.

I was just trying to visualize what might be already there, and I thought that there may be a decent switch that can be managed. Hmmm....