Chapter 1: Introduction; Welcome - Linksys WPSM54G User Manual

Wireless-G PrintServer with Multifunction Printer Support

Chapter 1: Introduction

Welcome

Thank you for choosing the Linksys Wireless-G PrintServer with Multifunction Printer Support. The PrintServer
lets you connect a multifunction USB printer directly to your network, eliminating the need to dedicate a PC to
print sharing chores. Using a PrintServer frees up your "print share PC" so you don't have to leave it on all the
time. It also removes the printing bottleneck, and sets your PC free to do more useful work.
The PrintServer is compatible with most USB multifunction printers, and allows full access to printing, faxing,
scanning, and copying functions. Like any print server, users on the network can print anytime. The other
functions are treated a little differently—any user can request access to one of the other functions, and get
exclusive use of that function until the task is complete.
How does the PrintServer do all of this? A print server is a device that allows multiple computers to share a
printer over a network. You can connect the PrintServer directly to your network using an Ethernet network cable,
or you can connect the PrintServer over Wireless-G (802.11g) at up to 54Mbps. The wireless option lets you put
your printer wherever you want to, without having to run a cable. Whichever way the PrintServer is attached to
your network, both your wireless and wired PCs will have access to it and its USB printer.
But what does all of this mean?
Networks are useful tools for sharing Internet access and computer resources. Multiple computers can share
Internet access, so you don't need more than one high-speed Internet connection. Plus, you can access data
located on another computer's hard drive and play multi-player video games. Using the PrintServer, you can
access one printer from different computers.
PCs on a wired network create a LAN, or Local Area Network. They are connected with Ethernet cables, which is
why the network is called "wired".
PCs equipped with wireless adapters can communicate without cables. By sharing the same wireless settings,
within their transmission radius, they form a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). Your network router bridges
wireless networks and wired networks, allowing them to communicate with each other.
To guide you through the process of installing the PrintServer, run the Setup Wizard on the Setup CD-ROM (you
can use the instructions in the Quick Installation or User Guide to help you). After you have installed the
PrintServer, you can change its settings using its browser-based utility, which is described in this User Guide.
These instructions should be all you need to get the most out of the Wireless-G PrintServer with Multifunction
Printer Support.
Chapter 1: Introduction
Welcome
mbps: one million bits per second; a unit of
measurement for data transmission
lan (local area network): the computers and
networking products that make up the network
in your home or office
ethernet: an IEEE standard network protocol that
specifies how data is placed on and retrieved from
a common transmission medium
802.11b: an IEEE wireless networking standard
that specifies a maximum data transfer rate of
11Mbps and an operating frequency of 2.4GHz
802.11g: an IEEE wireless networking standard
that specifies a maximum data transfer rate of
54Mbps, an operating frequency of 2.4GHz, and
backward compatibility with 802.11b devices
browser: an application program that
provides a way to look at and interact with all
the information on the World Wide Web
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