7.3.6 Practice Questions Network Printing

If a printer is connected directly to a Windows workstation, what can be done to allow other workstations on the same network to send print jobs to this printer?

Configure the printer to be a shared printer. Explanation You can configure a printer attached to a Windows workstation as a network printer by configuring it to be a shared printer. This done by accessing the Devices and Printers panel on the workstation; then opening the printer's Properties window and configuring the settings on the Sharing tab.

If a printer is not Wi-Fi capable, how can it be set up to provide the most reliable wireless printing?

If the printer is Ethernet capable, it can be connected to the network through a wireless router. Explanation If the printer is not Wi-Fi capable but has an Ethernet port it can be connected to the network through a wireless router. Just use an Ethernet cable to connect the printer to a port on the wireless router. Users on the same network as the wireless router will be able to send jobs to the printer the same as if the printer has a wired connection. (All users will have to install the driver for that printer on their workstations.) The wireless router option is more reliable than connecting the printer to a workstation that has a wireless connection to the network and then sharing the printer from that workstation. The workstation performs the same role as the wireless router but the workstation will be shutdown a lot more often than the wireless router would be. A USB wireless adapter will not provide a wireless connection for a printer because the adapter needs to be connected to a device with an operating system and the capacity to install drivers. Bonjour can only be used for wireless printing if the printer is already using a Wi-Fi connection to the network.

Which of the following is an advantage of connecting a printer to a network?

Multiple users can print to the same printer. Explanation Connecting a printer to a network lets multiple users print to the same printer. Network printers are often more expensive than non-networked printers. In many cases, you can purchase networked or non-networked versions of the same printer. While it is common to purchase a larger and a faster printer to be used on the network, network printers by themselves are not faster than equivalent non-networked printers.

Which of the following methods can be used to connect a printer to a network?

Plug an Ethernet cable into the network port in the printer. Connect your printer to an external print server device that is connected to the network. Explanation There are two common ways to make a printer a network printer. Most printers come with an integrated network card or have a slot for adding a network card. Otherwise it is possible to connect it to the network using an external printer server. The external print server functions as a gateway between the printer's parallel interface and the network topology. While a USB-to-Ethernet adapter can be used to connect a workstation to a wired network, it won't work with a printer as software drivers must be loaded on the host for the adapter to work.

Which connector is most commonly used to connect printers to desktop PC systems?

USB Explanation Most printers use a USB connector to connect directly to a desktop PC system. In the past, IEEE 1284 connectors were the most commonly used connectors, but that is no longer the case. A limited number of Firewire printers are available, but they are not as common as USB. 802.11 wireless and Ethernet cards are used to connect printers to computer networks.