Sharing the Printer on a Network
13-Jul-2010
8200821600
Solution
When multiple computers are being used in the network environment, you can share the printer connected to one computer with the other computers.
The Windows versions of the computers connected to the network do not necessarily have to be the same.
- Settings on Print Server
The procedure for setting up a computer directly connected to a printer with a USB cable is as follows:
- Settings on Client PC
The procedure for setting up those computers that will use this printer through the network is as follows:
When you execute print, the data is sent to the printer through the print server system.
IMPORTANT
In case an error occurred when a document is printed by the client system to a shared printer, the error message of Canon IJ Status Monitor will be displayed both on the client system and the print server system. For regular printing, Canon IJ Status Monitor will be displayed only on the client system.
NOTE
Install the printer driver from the Setup CD-ROM that accompanies the printer on the print server system and each of the client systems according to the OS of each system.
When you use the printer on a network, set up the printer driver for sharing on the server system.
The procedure for setting up the print server systems is as follows:
1. Install the printer driver on the print server system
For details on installation instructions, refer to the "Install the Software".
2. Select items from the Start menu as shown below:
- If you are using Windows 7, select the Start menu -> Devices and Printers.
- If you are using Windows Vista, select the Start menu -> Control Panel -> Hardware and Sound -> Printers.
- If you are using Windows XP, select the start menu -> Control Panel -> Printers and Other Hardware -> Printers and Faxes.
The Devices and Printers window (Windows 7) or Printers window (Windows Vista) or Printers and Faxes window (Windows XP) is displayed.
3. Click the icon for the model name of printer to be shared
- If you are using Windows 7, press the Alt key on your keyboard and then select Printer properties -> Sharing tab from the displayed File menu.
- If you are using Windows Vista, press the Alt key on your keyboard and then select Run as administrator -> Sharing... from the displayed File menu.
- If you are using Windows XP, select Sharing... from the File menu.
IMPORTANT
In Windows 7 or Windows Vista, a confirmation/warning dialog box may appear when starting, installing or uninstalling software.
This dialog box appears when administrative rights are required to perform a task.
When you are logged on to an administrator account, click Yes (or Continue, Allow) to continue.
Some applications require an administrator account to continue. When you are logged on to a standard account, switch to an administrator account, and restart the operation from the beginning.
NOTE
Windows XP may display a message recommending the user to use the Network Setup Wizard to set up sharing.
When this message appears, choose not to use the wizard and then set up sharing.
4. Set sharing
Select Share this printer on the Sharing tab to set a shared name if necessary, and click OK.
The setup on the print server system is complete. Next, set up the client systems.
If you are using Mac OS X v.10.6.x or Mac OS X v.10.5.x
1. Install the printer driver on the print server system
For installation instructions, see Install the Software.
2. Check that the printer to be used has been added
Open System Preferences, and select Print & Fax.
The Printers list displays the printers that are connected to the computer.
3. Set sharing
Check the Share this printer on the network (Share this printer) check box.
If you are using Mac OS X v.10.4.11
1. Install the printer driver on the print server system
For installation instructions, see Install the Software.
2. Check that the printer to be used has been added
Select Applications from the Go menu of Finder.
When you double-click the Utilities folder and then double-click the Printer Setup Utility icon, the Printer Setup Utility is launched and the printer list appears.
3. Set sharing
Open System Preferences, and select Sharing.
Check that the Services tab is selected, and check the Printer Sharing check box in the list.
NOTE
Depending on the environment you are using, a message prompting you to restart the computer may be displayed. To complete the installation properly, restart the computer.
The setup on the print server system is complete. Next, set up the client systems.
After setting up the print server system, set up the client system.
The procedure for setting up the client systems is as follows:
If you are using Windows 7 or Windows Vista
1. Install the printer driver on the client systems
For installation instructions, see "Install the Software".
NOTE
During the installation, a screen prompting you to turn the printer on appears. Click Manual Selection and then select an appropriate port to complete your installation.
2. Start the wizard
- If you are using Windows 7, select the Start menu -> Devices and Printers -> Add a printer.
- If you are using Windows Vista, select the Start menu -> Network -> Add Printer.
The Add Printer window appears.
3. Add a printer
Select Add a network, wireless or Bluetooth printer, and click the icon for the printer that you have configured on the print server system to be shared, and then click Next.
NOTE
- If the icon for the printer is not displayed, check that the printer is actually connected to the print server.
- It may take some time for the icon for the printer to appear.
4. Complete the setup
Take the appropriate action as described on the screen and then click Finish.
- If you are using Windows 7, the icon for the shared printer will be created in the Devices and Printers window.
- If you are using Windows Vista, the icon for the shared printer will be created in the Printers window.
The setup on the client systems is complete. You can now share the printer in the network.
If you are using Windows XP
1. Install the printer driver on the client systems
For installation instructions, see "Install the Software".
NOTE
During the installation, a screen prompting you to turn the printer on appears. Click Manual Selection and then select an appropriate port to complete your installation.
2. Start the wizard
Select the start menu -> Control Panel -> Printers and Other Hardware -> Printers and Faxes -> Add a printer.
When Welcome to the Add Printer Wizard screen appears, click Next.
3. Add a printer
Select A network printer, or a printer attached to another computer, then click Next.
On the Specify a Printer window, click Next and then search for the print server system.
Click the icon for the printer that you have configured on the print server system to be shared, and then click Next.
NOTE
If the icon for the printer is not displayed, check that the printer is actually connected to the print server.
4. Complete the setup
Take the appropriate action as described on the screen and then click Finish.
The icon for the shared printer will be created in the Printers and Faxes window.
The setup on the client systems is complete. You can now share the printer in the network.
If you are using Mac OS X v.10.6.x or Mac OS X v.10.5.x
1. Install the printer driver on the client systems
For installation instructions, see "Install the Software".
2. Display the printer list
Open System Preferences, and select Print & Fax.
Click + to display the printer list.
3. Add a printer to be shared
Select a shared printer displayed in the printer list, and then click Add.
If you are using Mac OS X v.10.4.11
1. Install the printer driver on the client systems
For installation instructions, see "Install the Software".
2. Check Printer Setup Utility
Click the Add button on the Printer List dialog, and select a shared printer displayed on the Printer Browser dialog to add the printer.
The setup on the client systems is now completed.
NOTE
The print procedures are the same as when the computer is connected directly to the printer with a USB cable.
At the Page Setup dialog, select the printer of the print server to be used.
If you are using the XPS printer driver, replace "Canon IJ Status Monitor" with "Canon IJ XPS Status Monitor" when reading this information.
These are restrictions that apply when you are using a printer in a network environment. Check the restrictions for the environment you are using.
When You Are Sharing a Printer in a Network :
- A print completion message may be displayed. To disable the message to display, follow the procedure below.
- If you are using Windows 7:
In the Devices and Printers window of the client, select the printer from Printers and Faxes, and open the displayed Print server properties.
Uncheck Show information notifications for network printers on the Advanced tab, and then restart the computer.
- If you are using Windows Vista:
Press the Alt key from the Printers window on the client system. Open Run as administrator -> Server Properties... from the displayed File menu.
Uncheck Show informational notifications for network printers on the Advanced tab, and then restart the computer.
- If you are using Windows XP:
Open Server Properties from the File menu of the Printer and Faxes window on the print server system.
Uncheck Notify when remote documents are printed on the Advanced tab, and then restart the computer.
- The bi-directional communication function is disabled and the correct printer status may not be recognized.
If a client user opens the printer driver properties (to display the properties when using Windows 7, press the Alt key, and select Printer properties from the displayed File menu) and then clicks OK with the Enable bidirectional support check box cleared on the Ports tab, the bidirectional communication function of the printer server may also be disabled.
In this case, check Enable bidirectional support check box on both the print server system and the client system.
- When you print from a client system, you cannot use Canon IJ Preview.
- When the functions on the Maintenance tab cannot be set properly from a client system, they may be grayed out. In this case, change the settings from the print server.
When you change the settings of the print server, you should delete the icon of the shared printer from the client system, and then specify the shared settings again in the client system.
When the Same Printer Driver is Installed in the Print Server System and the Client System as the Local Printer :
- The net crawl function may automatically create a network printer icon on the client system.
- Install the same version of the printer driver in the print server system and the client systems. You can download the latest printer driver from our web site.
- Use printer sharing with users who have the administrator privilege.
- You cannot use the Canon IJ Printer Utility of a client system to have a maintenance of shared printer. Perform it from the print server.
- Printer error messages cannot be displayed on client machines. If printing cannot be started from a client machine, check the printer status from the print server.
- If the client system uses an application that supports a simple printing function, you must connect the client system directly to this product with a USB cable and create a print queue.
When using the CUPS driver with Mac OS X v.10.6.x, Mac OS X v.10.5.x, note the precautions below.
- If the printer is to be shared between Mac OS X v.10.6.x, Mac OS X v.10.5.x and Mac OS X v.10.4.11, the CUPS driver must be switched to the same printer driver installed in Mac OS X v.10.4.11.