Wireless Home Networking - Index of

Figure 4-3:
A wireless
home
network
with a
wireless
Internet
gateway
and a
bundled
print server.
router into a single unit. In this case, the wireless Internet gateway also has a
connection for a printer and acts as a print server. Read through Chapters 1
and 5 for more information about these devices, what they do, and how to
choose between them.
Connecting your printer to the wireless Internet gateway device is advantageous
because a print server permits the printer to stand alone on the network,
untethered from any specific computer. When you want to print to a
printer that’s connected directly to a computer on the network, that computer
must be present and turned on; and, in many cases, you must have a
user account and appropriate permission to access the shared printer. A
print server makes its printers always available to any computer on the
network — even from poolside.
Most folks don’t mind having their printer connected to a computer or to a
gateway device in their home — meaning that the computer is connected via
peripheral cables to one of these devices. You may, however, want to make
your printer itself wireless — so you can stick it anywhere in your house, even
if that means that it’s far away from any PCs or gateway devices. In this case,
consider buying a wireless print server that can either be an internal part of
your printer (in some cases this is an optional module from the printer manufacturer)
or sit next to your printer. In this case, your printer is completely
decoupled from your wired network — the server is a wireless network
client — as well as the hardware and software to run the printer itself.
Why would you spring for the extra money (about $80 to $100)? Here’s an
example. Pat had a spot (a closet) right in the middle of his house (literally!)
where he wanted to hide a printer — but no wires and no PCs nearby. A wireless
print server solved the problem and got his printer out of the way (and
still in a convenient location).
Wireless
PCs
Chapter 4: Planning a Wireless Home Network
Wireless
Internet
gateway
& print
server
Printer
Printer
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