I decided to author this page because of the problems I've encountered trying to set up my Linksys PPSX1 (version 1) print server on my own network. After searching the internet for some time, I did find bits and pieces to the puzzle. Nothing I've found has done an adequate job explaining the process. The Linksys support pages are of little help. Hopefully, this tutorial will help others using this print server. The methods described should work with Windows 98 through XP, including Windows 2000. All my desktop computers run XP, my laptop runs Windows 2000. All screenshots are from XP, although Windows 98, Me, and 2000 all have similar setups.

Like many home networks, I use an Ethernet router with wireless capabilities. In my case, it's a Linksys WRT54GS. Most people use automatic configuration of IP addresses with their routers. I have 3 computers in total on my network with a work notebook added when working from home through my company VPN. The router will assign an IP address for the print server but that IP will change over time as leases expire and are renewed. You do not want your router to assign an IP address for your print server.

Bi-Admin Set-up

The key to using the PPSX1 in a home network with a router with DHCP is to use the Linksys BI-ADMIN software to save an IP address to the  router (device) that is OUTSIDE the range of your routers DHCP. (See Figure 1) This insures that your print server has a fixed IP address that will not be changed by DHCP. 

Any computer on your network will see and be able to print from the printer attached to the PPSX1 as the print servers IP will not change and is not affected by expiring DHCP leases and new IP assignments.

The print server will not appear as hardware on your routers DHCP clients table. If it does, then you have not assigned the print server an address outside the range of DHCP and your printer will fail to print in time.

Router Set-up Figure 2 shows the setup of the router. Please note that DHCP server has been enabled and the starting IP address is 192.168.1.10. The maximum number of DHCP users is 5 in this instance. If you have need for more addresses, put the appropriate number in. The important thing to remember here is that the IP written to the print server using the Bi-Admin software was in this case 192.168.1.228. This is well outside the range that the WRT54GS will assign through DHCP since the starting address is 192.168.1.10 and the maximum users is set to five. DHCP addresses in this case will range from 192.168.1.10 through 192.168.1.14. On larger networks, max users could be much larger, just make sure that you pick a print server fixed IP address that is beyond the range of assignable users. While it is possible to allow DHCP assign your printer server an IP and to set-up that IP to the printer on various networked computers, remember that the IP will not be static and in a day or two your printer will no longer be accessible on any of your network computers. Next, printer set-up. This must be done on all computers on your network.

Windows XP Printer Set-Up (Need to set up all Computers on your Network) First, you must add the network printer on all computers on your network. Follow the "Add a Printer" wizard to add and name name your network printer and create a standard TCP printer port. Please review Figures 3, 4, and 5.

Click "Do not share this printer"

If you do not find a Standard TCP/IP port on the ports tab, create it here with the Add Port button. Then click the Configure Port button to get you to Figure 5.

Add the FIXED Printer Name (HP 6P etc.) to the port name and your printer IP Address. In this example the Printer Name or IP Address is 192.168.1.228. All computers on your network will need to have this same IP in this box.

If you do not have the software, here are links for the Bi-Admin software and the Windows drivers.