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[SalsaNChips]

I have been shopping for a NAS for my home network and am presently leaning toward the DNS-323 pretty strongly.

If (when) I pull the trigger, one of the first things I want to do with it is enable the print server and FTP functions. Those have to work uber reliably or I am going to experience a lot of frustration and bad feelings about DLINK (something I would like to avoid, if at all possible).

I presently own a DLINK DIR-655 router which has worked GREAT for me with the EXCEPTION of the Shareport feature for print sharing. Shareport becomes totally non-functional every two weeks or so until I reboot my router then everything is fine until next week when I have to repeat the process, etc.

So, I am hoping the print server feature on the DNS-323 will prove to be more reliable as a way of sharing my printer on a home network.

Printer is an Epson Workforce 500 multi-function (print/scan/fax).

Wanted to get input from present owners of the DNS-323 as to the reliability of the print server function and/or if any "gotchas" exist I should be aware before buying.

Thanks

[gunrunnerjohn]

Dumb question, but did you ever update the firmware on that router to the latest and then reset to factory defaults and manually reconfigure it?  That will cure many ills.

[fordem]

The DNS-323 print server is unidirectional - so no scanning - BUT - there is a shareport application that you can load, which probably works in a very similar fashion to the one on the router, so you'll already have some experience with that.

[gunrunnerjohn]

I wonder if anyone has used the Shareport feature to support multiple computers connecting to a single printer? 

[dosborne]

With the multifunction printers, it is worth spending a few extra $$ and pick up the wireless or hard wired network versions rather than attach to a router or NAS and use that as a print server. They are cheap. I paid about $100 for my Brother unit.

[gunrunnerjohn]

Clearly if you're buying a new printer, I can agree with buying the networked versions!   Of course, if you already have the printer and just want to get it on the network, that's not the most cost-effective solution.

[fordem]

Some of us are loath to replace functional equipment - my main printer is a nine year old Samsung laser, and when it dies it will be replaced by a networked Samsung, but right now it does everything I need it to and 12ppm is quite adequate - sitting next to that is an $1800 heavy duty dot matrix that gets used once, maybe twice a week - so you know I'm not replacing that just to get a networked version.

[SalsaNChips]

The Epson Workforce seems to work okay over Shareport with the DIR-655 router (even the scanner), but it is very flakey and intermittent. Re-booting the router seems to always fix the problem. Also, The drivers from Epson DO NOT work over shareport in Windows 7 64-bit, but the default Microsoft driver will (go figure).

So, regarding the DNS-323 -- what I am hearing is if I want to use it as a print server with my existing printer, it'll work, but I have to use Sharepoint and it will probably be no better (or, hopefully, worse) than what I have come to expect from the DIR-655 router. Disappointing they haven't improved upon that but it is what it is and not really a reason to put me off not buying the DNS-323 (still thinking about it).

Also, good suggestion about resetting the router to DEFAULT settings, saving, rebooting and resetting all settings manually. I haven't tried that but I will (and I am running firmware v1.34 on the router).