Can a printer be connected like this?

Hi guys,

I'm looking for a new printer as my current one (HP PSC1210) is on it's way
out. I use it primarily for working from home via a VPN, printing out
documents and emails. I also have a personal PC, as does my son and wife.

The problem we have with the current printer is A) the lack of built-in
print server and B) when I am connected to work via VPN, and the printer is
connected to my PC so it can be used over the network by my son and wife, I
can not access the printer due to my LAN adapter being assigned a DHCP
address from my work's DHCP server.

Can I combat B) by connecting a new printer that has a built-in print server
to my laptop by USB, and by ethernet to my network so that I can use it as
can my son and wife?

Thanks,

Tesla

"Tesla" <eiskekgh@eiishifhbr.com> wrote in message
news:b5eGi.29231$ka7.7903@newsfe4-gui.ntli.net

[snip]

: : Can I combat B) by connecting a new printer that has a
: : built-in print server to my laptop by USB, and by
: : ethernet to my network so that I can use it as can my
: : son and wife?

Yes, it should work. I have a printer at work that is connected by USB to
my local PC but is also connected by Ethernet to the work network. It is
connected in this way because our work network uses the Citrix virtual
desktop system and due to the way it's been set up it's difficult for
applications running on the network to see a locally connected printer and
vice versa.

It works for me, anyway, YMMV.

Ivor

On Sep 13, 6:05 pm, "Tesla" <eiske...@eiishifhbr.com> wrote:
> Hi guys,
>
> I'm looking for a new printer as my current one (HP PSC1210) is on it's way
> out. I use it primarily for working from home via a VPN, printing out
> documents and emails. I also have a personal PC, as does my son and wife.
>
> The problem we have with the current printer is A) the lack of built-in
> print server and B) when I am connected to work via VPN, and the printer is
> connected to my PC so it can be used over the network by my son and wife, I
> can not access the printer due to my LAN adapter being assigned a DHCP
> address from my work's DHCP server.
>
> Can I combat B) by connecting a new printer that has a built-in print server
> to my laptop by USB, and by ethernet to my network so that I can use it as
> can my son and wife?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Tesla

In theory, yes it can be done, however most corporate VPN clients
explicitly stop any traffic flowing from your home LAN to the work LAN
for stuff like this. For example, I can VPN in to work on my laptop
from home, but the Cisco VPN network adaptor software's configured so
that I can't get at my network printer or home network share - there
are valid security reasons for this depending on the scenario.

Depending on the way your VPN is setup, you may find that the only way
to print is to physically connect the printer to your laptop via USB
when you want to use it - I'd suggest talking to your work IT
department and ask them if their VPN will allow you to use a home
network printer like this...

Ric