Topic: Setting up a USB Printer

[JV]

Hello I want to set up a USB printer on my e-smith, but have no idea where to start.  I am a newbie and need a step-by-step walk through..

Thanks
J

[Michael Smith]

At the risk of being flamed by those who think handholding is a good thing, a good place to start is the manual.  Look, I'll even do the work of finding the right section for you:

http://edocs.mitel.com/6000_SME_Server/6000_MAS_rls5.6/Admin_Guide_html_EN/admin-printers.html

You can select your USB printer in the same way you'd select any other.  Be warned, it might not work correctly; it's not a sure thing like LPT or near-sure thing like IP.

Now go forth and RTFM.

[rick]

I have found that usb printers that also feature an LPT connection work no problem but if you get one that is usb only they can be problematic, a lot of these usb only printers want software installed first and then plug the printer in, the software install expects the printer to get plugged into the machine with the software installed which is not the case and many of these don't allow the port to be reassigned. I have manged to use usb only printers with the addition of a jet direct interface and set them up as a network printer which worked no problem.

[JV]

That interface shown on the manual does not reside on my e-smith server.

I am using..Mitel Networks SME Server V5.1.2

[Michael Smith]

Then you should have told us what version of the SME Server you were using from the beginning.  I don't think 5.1.2 supports USB printing; any reason you can't upgrade to 5.6?

[JV]

I can get the printer to show up, but I don't know how to install the drivers...or upgarde my server.  Like I said I am new to the setup side of this..

I looked in the print documentation and it doesn't tell me how to install my drivers..

j

[Michael Soulier]

JV wrote:
>
> I can get the printer to show up, but I don't know how to
> install the drivers...or upgarde my server.  Like I said I am
> new to the setup side of this..
>
> I looked in the print documentation and it doesn't tell me
> how to install my drivers..

The server does a direct pass-through, without modifying any data sent to or from the printer.  Your drivers should be installed on your client workstations.

Regards,
Mike

[JV]

Mike,

Thanks for your help thus far.

The software is already set up on the client side.  I initially had the computer running from this machine....No dice. though.

I haven't upgraded the server yet so that could be the problem..

I am not sure how to do that with ease..

I don't have very many linux command line skills to perform the automatic update o...

j

[Guck Puppy]

JV wrote:
> The software is already set up on the client side.  I
> initially had the computer running from this machine....No
> dice. though.

Can you rephrase that?

> I haven't upgraded the server yet so that could be the
> problem..
> I am not sure how to do that with ease..

download a 5.6 or 6.0b3 iso image. burn it. insert it into server. reboot. follow prompts to upgrade.

> I don't have very many linux command line skills to perform
> the automatic update o...
someone made a very useful little script to download and install the updates... try contribs.org?

G

[JV]

I burned the .iso cd inserted it into my machine and rebooted.  I then tried to Putty into the interface, but it wouldn't let me in.   Do I need to have a monitor directly hooked up to it to finish the upgrade to the new edition?

I thought I could remotely patch into it and walk through the upgrade that way?

Thanks

[Guck Puppy]

JV wrote:
> wouldn't let me in.   Do I need to have a monitor directly
> hooked up to it to finish the upgrade to the new edition?
Yep, it's a console thing.

> I thought I could remotely patch into it and walk through the
> upgrade that way?
Not to my knowledge...

G

[Guck Puppy]

$24 gets you a simple KVM switch from newegg.com

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=17-107-209

G

[JV]

And did I burn the correct item to disk?  .iso?  Or is there another image I need to download from e-smith?

THanks

[Guck Puppy]

JV wrote:

> And did I burn the correct item to disk?  .iso?  Or is there
> another image I need to download from e-smith?

Providing you followed this method for 'burning an iso to disk", all should be fine.

http://www.e-smith.org/docs/howto/CD_burning_howto.php3

G

[JV]

One last question.

When I set this server up two years agao I had a monitor.

Since then I chucked it and was using my laptop to access the server manager etc.  Since I can't access the server for the upgrade via this method what can I do?

Or am I SOL until I get a monitor?

Thanks
J