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Linksys EFSP42 EtherFast 10/100 2-Port Switched PrintServer

Linksys EFSP42 EtherFast 10/100 2-Port Switched PrintServer

List Price: $218.99
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Allen
Review: I've had this print server for almost 2 years. I have a reasonably-sized home network with other Linksys products that have worked flawlessly. I guess the bottom line comment I would make about this product is that, when it works it is fantastic, but when it doesn't it drives me crazy!

In my case it will work fine for a while, and then require either soft or hard resets (with the button on the back). The DHCP never worked consistently for me. I was advised by Linksys not to use it at all. I have already had to replace my original unit because it failed, and my second unit just went on the fritz as well. I was on the line with Linksys support for an hour and we couldn't get it to work, so they're sending me yet another one. I just replaced my old HP 4ML that was on the server, and decided NOT to rely on the print server anymore - I paid extra for a built-in 10/100 card. However, I still have a Canon inkjet on the print server. I still don't understand in this day why built-in ethernet is so expensive to add to a printer - it should now be standard on all but the lowest price printers IMHO.

I gave this 3 stars, but it's really probably more like 2.5 (only redeemed by the built-in 4 port switch). I agree with another poster who said Linksys needs to update the firmware for this product - it is not up their usual standards.

Allen

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Very good, great value
Review: Installed and configured this in a few minutes with no problems. It is a two port print server and 4 port 10/100 switch built into one unit for a great price. The extra switch ports are great - these are convienient for hooking up additional machines to the network at my printer's location. The performance is good and the price can't be beat - what else can I say?

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Total Disappointment
Review: Like other reviewers I also have a home network with other Linksys products (Cable router, 8-port hub, wireless AP) which are excellent. This print server is a total disappointment for me.

The built-in 4 port hub works fine, but the print server just would not function with my set-up. Originally connected to the parallel port of my win98 machine is an HP Deskjet 932C. After hooking it up to the print server and installing the Linksys software, the printer no longer prints correctly. I changed many times the settings, uninstall and reinstall drivers (both Linksys and the HP printer drivers) and after much trial and error I gave up.

I also have a Xerox Docuprint P8 laser printer, and the result is the same after hooking up to the print server. I ended up going back to sharing the printers from my PCs.

It is possible that this printer is only compatible with a certain type of printers. The manual and website does not offer much help. I could not even get the print server administration software to print a test page.

I like most of the Linksys products except this one.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: A downgraded rating and suggestions for Linksys
Review: Originally, I rated this product with 4 stars. I have downgraded it for the following two reasons:

First, some background. My in-home network has about 5 Linksys products. Their 4 port cable/dsl router which does a good job. In two years, I've upgraded the firmware twice which involves a reboot of the box. Other than those two times, I've only had to recycle power to the box once to clear a problem. I have the Wireless access point and associated PC Card for my laptop. There's also a 5 port hub and the two port print server. So overall, I like Linksys. However, here are the reasons for the downgrades.

1) with the Printserver active, I occasionally get IP address conflict warnings from Windows TCP/IP drivers. I have to cycle power to the PrintServer to clear the problem. This did not happen until the PrintServer was added to the network. My cable modem router is the DHCP server on the network and that functionality is disabled in the printserver and the WAP11, so either Linksys has a problem in their DHCP server in the router or the problem lies with the Printserver. This is not a show stopping issue, it just causes inconveniences until it's cleared.

2) The printserver (two printer model), only has 128kb of RAM. That's not enough. With RAM prices as low as they are, the box should have 32MB or more. I have an Epson 900 color stylus printer and an NEC 1200 laser printer controlled by the print server. The laser printer has no problem printing, but when I send a color job to the Epson, it takes FOREVER. The Epson printed faster when I had it on our server and shared the device. That just slowed the server down when someone else on the network printed to it. Our server is also a work-station (yes, I'm peer-to-peer). Each printer should have 16MB of buffer ram to speed print jobs, especially to an ink-type printer.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Print server and PC need configuration
Review: People cannot blame a Print Server if they cannot configure theire own PC.
Get professional help and do not blame the product. These are not plug and play item. Both Your PC and the print server require configuration.
If your previous Pc was configured as a local printer after attching this Print server you need to set each PC to print to a network printer.

We have used these Servers and no if"
's,and's, or but's, they work.

Imran ...

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Not quite ready for Prime Time
Review: The combination of a switch with a print server would have been great. The switch worked prefectly, 3 ports and an uplink, or 4 ports. The print server is not smart enough to handle bi-directional printers. Mine is an Epson 870, the printserver driver was a problem to install both on NT and W2K (3 tries to get some funtionality) and then it would generate errors indicating the connection from the printer to the PC didn't work. Still looking ...

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Doesn't work with older printers
Review: The print server works flawlessly with my Mac running OS X 10.1, however the Win98 Machines refuse to print. Printing to a Laserwriter Personal NTR (Apple printer, standard Cannon engine) the Windows machines get a "printer not ready" error. This may be to the fact the the printer only works if the PC's port is configured as "ECP", and (I believe) the port drivers use EPP. Any ideas? Drop me a note. mrattan@home.com

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Update on previous review
Review: The trick with W2K is to NOT use the bi-direction utility. Get the W2k driver from the mfr website and install that. Ignore the manual's statements obut IPX/SPX, it works fine on only TCP/IP. After setting the devices IP address with the TCPIP utility, add your 'local' printer and select the port that that you set up. The documentation was terrible, but the unit functions very well.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Works with HP OfficeJet 5xx Printers
Review: This is an excellent product. It actually works with an HP OfficJet 570 printer that I bought years ago. I had initially bought an HP JetDirect External for use with this printer, but HP doesn't support this brand of printer with the JetDirect. This makes no sense. You would think that HP would have support for their own printers. Well anyway, sorry HP, you lost my money, and LinkSys got it!! This product is highly recommended for the home office environment.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Works well with Windows 9X/NT and Linux
Review: This product is an excellent value. The print sever works well with my RedHat Linux, and Windows 9X/NT systems. Get Windows 2000 drivers from Linksys. I had just wanted a 10/100 switch, but why not get the printer server and switch for one low price. I would recommend using the print server in lpd mode for Windows NT/2000. On Linux/UNIX just treat is like a server running lpd. Note that you will need Windows to initially configure the product and to set an IP address for the print server. The two parallel ports are logically mapped to lpd printer queues called lp1 and lp2. There is a special driver that must be loaded for printing from Windows 9X clients. I do not have an Apple system, but it can also emulate an Apple print server and there is unsupported Apple configuration software is included on the CD-ROM.


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