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[roypw]

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Just bought a DNS 323 and tried to hook up an Epson R800 printer.  Win 7 won't find the printer even though it shows in the DNS setup under Status (I believe).  Talked with tech support for many hours over the last 2 days but they just gave up, (even Level 3 or product specialist?) Tried Epson R2400 and HP 320 printers but still could not install a printer.  Even hooked the DNS up to a 2nd Win 7 computer and an XP computer and neither found the printer.  I am using a Cisco WRT610N router that networks  my other computer, my audio system and XBox 360 with no problem. Tried another router but it would not even find the DNS using the IP address.

At times the DNS shows up under Network and other times it does not.  I can't relate it to anything that I am doing or the system is doing.  It does seem to show up when I first boot up but not all the time.  When it does show if I close down windows explore it isn't there when I open it again.

I would think it is a bad unit but tech support doesn't so I must conclude they are having a lot of trouble with the print server on this unit.  Yes I did upgrade to firmware 1.08.

Any ideas or similar problems?
   

[fordem]

Yep - use the search function.

In a nutshell you can install the printer directly attached to the computer, make sure it prints, and then disconnect it and connect to the DNS-323 and modify the installation to point to \\ip of DNS-323\lp.

It's been discussed and there is step-by-step documentation.

Oh - the fact that you can see the printer in the status screen says it IS found by the DNS-323, and that the USB port is working.

[roypw]

I found that on the web somewhere and tried but will try again.  First time I used driver that was on this computer for printing through another computer on my network.  This time I will try it on the computer that the printer is connected to.

Thanks
 

[roypw]

After more than 18 hours on my own and with D-Link Tech Support I have concluded that the DNS323 print server does not work.  I have followed the procedure for adding a printer as stated in the operating manual and several other procedures like the one mentioned in the previous reply to my post and it simply will not find either of my Epson printers or my HP printer.  Tried 2 different routers, 2 Win 7 computers and an XP computer.  Tech support basically admits that the print server does not work in some cases and says my option is to return it for a refund.  If the DNS-323 print server worked and mine was a defective unit why didn't they suggest I exchange it and try another one??

Prospective buyers be aware!!!!

If anyone has got the print server to work (with the latest firmware 1.08) I would appreciate you letting me know and how you got it to work. 

[gunrunnerjohn]

I'm having a hard time imaging how this happens!  It's dirt simple hardware to create the USB port, and the software is obviously the same for all units.  FWIW, my older B1 version hardware unit has no problem with printers.

[fordem]

I can confirm that the print server DOES function in firmware 1.08 and I used the procedure outlined in my previous post.

Something that you need to be aware of, some printers will not work with a print server - any print server - it is possible that you happen to have one or more such units, and this may have had some bearing on tech support's suggestion that you return the unit for a refund - if there is a compatability issue, then another unit will have the same issues.

[roypw]

A few things,  first did you have your printer installed on the DNS before you upgraded to 1.08 or did you install it after you upgraded like I tried to do?

I had both my Epson printers hooked up to 2 different brands of print servers (not NAS boxes, one was Dlink the other Linksys I think)) a couple years ago and they both showed up under network and installed just fine.  Printers worked fine but both brands were too slow back then for printing high res large photographs so I couldn't use them and went back to hooking my printers to one computer on the network.

Does your printer have a status monitor that shows ink levels and printer progress.  If so does it work when the printer is hooked up to the DNS?

Does your printer show in windows explorer under Network?  My DNS doesn't even show under Network (most of the time) so I think that is why "Add Printer" doesn't find it.

We shouldn't NOT have to go through the procedure you use to get a printer installed on the DNS.  It should work as the manual says with the "Add Printer" in windows.  Possible my printer requires this special (and undocumented by Dlink) procedure and I wouldn't mind using it if it actually worked for my setup. (It did work on one desktop (the status monitor didn't work) but then wouldn't work on my laptop - both Win 7)

My post requesting people to respond if they have the DNS 323 print server working has been up for a day now and you are the only one that has confirmed that it works.  It must be that very few people use the print server function or no one else has got it to work.  I am still convinced that it is a defective design and even DLink tech support can't get it to work on most typical computer set ups.

[gunrunnerjohn]

I've used the print server function with a Brother HL-5140 and a Canon MF3110, worked fine with both of those.  I currently have the printer disconnected from this box, but I'm going to use it with the Brother again when I reconfigure.

[fordem]

A few things,  first did you have your printer installed on the DNS before you upgraded to 1.08 or did you install it after you upgraded like I tried to do?

I had both my Epson printers hooked up to 2 different brands of print servers (not NAS boxes, one was Dlink the other Linksys I think)) a couple years ago and they both showed up under network and installed just fine.  Printers worked fine but both brands were too slow back then for printing high res large photographs so I couldn't use them and went back to hooking my printers to one computer on the network.

Does your printer have a status monitor that shows ink levels and printer progress.  If so does it work when the printer is hooked up to the DNS?

Does your printer show in windows explorer under Network?  My DNS doesn't even show under Network (most of the time) so I think that is why "Add Printer" doesn't find it.

We shouldn't NOT have to go through the procedure you use to get a printer installed on the DNS.  It should work as the manual says with the "Add Printer" in windows.  Possible my printer requires this special (and undocumented by Dlink) procedure and I wouldn't mind using it if it actually worked for my setup. (It did work on one desktop (the status monitor didn't work) but then wouldn't work on my laptop - both Win 7)

My post requesting people to respond if they have the DNS 323 print server working has been up for a day now and you are the only one that has confirmed that it works.  It must be that very few people use the print server function or no one else has got it to work.  I am still convinced that it is a defective design and even DLink tech support can't get it to work on most typical computer set ups.

I kind of agree with tech support - take it back and get a refund - it's not going to do what you want, the way you want it or as fast as you want - but - what do you want from a low priced consumer grade NAS?

I don't use the print server on the NAS - period.  I took the time out last night to install a printer to verify that it worked so that I could answer your question, so it was installed after the upgrade was done.  I don't use that print server because it's not convenient - I don't need a printer where the NAS is.

I currently have four printers "on my network" - I put the printer where it's convenient and hook up a print server to drive it, I use the procedure outlined earlier or something very similar, both of which I developed over a period of time (I installed my first printer server in 1992 - and have long lost track of how many I have installed).

It's not that your DNS-323 does not find the printer, its that Windows does not the find the DNS-323, and when it does, it doesn't know what printer is attached to the DNS-323, which makes driver installation problematic - this is not unusual with print servers, which is why I developed a near fool proof method of getting the print server functional.

It may not be what you want, but if you want Windows to work like Microsoft designed it, then you'll have to live and function in a pure Microsoft world, you're choosing to step outnad with that choice comes the need for compromise.

No - my printer does not have an ink monitor, and I can definitively state that if it did, it would not work with the DNS-323 print server, because the print server is unidirectional.  You send the print job to the NAS, the NAS spools it to the disk, and then sends it from the disk to the printer - there is no return communication channel to transfer any status information.

By the way - do you have a disk installed in the DNS-323 - the print server won't work without one.

[roypw]

Yes, I do have 2 disks installed, in fact I like the NAS function its fast and I can even map drives from within Win 7 without the use of the Dlink utility.

You didn't say if you can see the DNS in windows explorer under Network? If so can you see your printer. I cant see either (I can see the NAS some times but it goes away if I close down Windows Explored and open it again).

I would really like to get the print server working.  Is there some place I can get this procedure you developed (with some level of detail so I can be sure of each step).  Possibly I am doing it wrong or the one I found on the internet is not the same as yours.

Are there any print servers that are bidirectional (so my status monitor would work) and are fast enough so I can print hi-res large photos without sacrificing speed?

[gunrunnerjohn]

Yes, I do have 2 disks installed, in fact I like the NAS function its fast and I can even map drives from within Win 7 without the use of the Dlink utility.

This is pretty standard, I can map drives from any version of Windows to the DNS-323, including this Windows 7 machine.

[fordem]

Yes, I do have 2 disks installed, in fact I like the NAS function its fast and I can even map drives from within Win 7 without the use of the Dlink utility.

You didn't say if you can see the DNS in windows explorer under Network? If so can you see your printer. I cant see either (I can see the NAS some times but it goes away if I close down Windows Explored and open it again).

Yes, I can see my DNS-323 under network in Windows Explorer, however, any printers attached to it will only be identified as lp rather than by make or model - this is a function of how this particular print server works.  I also wish to point out that once a drive has been mapped, or a printer created, being able to see the unit in Windows explorer is neither here nor there - assuming a properly functioning network.

I would really like to get the print server working.  Is there some place I can get this procedure you developed (with some level of detail so I can be sure of each step).  Possibly I am doing it wrong or the one I found on the internet is not the same as yours.

Like I said before, use the search function - it's on the menu bar above, third from left - a search on "print server" will bring up several hits, including the following - http://forums.dlink.com/index.php?topic=10098.0

Are there any print servers that are bidirectional (so my status monitor would work) and are fast enough so I can print hi-res large photos without sacrificing speed?

Bidirectional print servers do exist, but are not that common - you might consider upgrading to the 1.09 beta firmware and using the Shareport client/server application, which allows the USB port itself to be shared, it should allow the print monitor functionality.  I won't comment on the speed, I don't do large highres prints and have no idea what would be considered as acceptable.

[roypw]

Thanks for the reply.  Here is the basic problem I think, I cannot see the DNS323 under network in Windows Explorer.  I think that is why I can't connect to a printer.  I can't see it on the 2 computers I have hardwired or on my wireless laptop.  I suspect that if I could correct this the printers would work at least unidirectional.

I have now tried 3 routers with the same results.  Router is Linksys WRT610N.

Do you agree I need to solve this issue first?

[fordem]

That would depend on what you mean by "see the DNS-323 under the Network in Windows Explorer" - obviously there must be a functional communications path between the two devices for the printer to work, but being able to see the DNS-323 is dependent on an archaic IBM protocol, and not really required.

Windows networking can be notoriously unpredictable at the best of times and introducing "non-Microsoft" operating systems (the DNS-323 runs linux) into the mix doesn't help - but - if you can access the DNS-323's browser based setup consistently, and map a drive, then you should be able to configre a printer, as outlined, even if the DNS-323 is not seen in Windows networks.

By the way - you can quit swapping routers - the router's only function in this exercise is to provide a communication path (through it's integrated switch, and possibly an ip address (from it's DHCP server).

My suggestion - if you're willing to invest the time - is to start afresh, and take things one step at a time.

Hook up your router, which ever one you're going to use, as per normal, and make sure it's functional without the DNS-323.

When that's done, hook up the DNS-323 - if you have configured the DNS-323 for a static ip address, make sure you can find it in your browser, if it's configured for DHCP, I would suggest a static address or a DHCP reservation so that you know what ip address to use in the next steps.

When you have the DNS-323 functional as a NAS - from what you said earlier, you seemed to have no problem with this aspect of it - only then should you move on to the print server.

Connect which ever printer you choose, verify that it is shown in the DNS-323 status page, and then use the steps in the link I provided and let me know what happens.

[roypw]

Thanks.  That is what I have done more than once.  I started all over like you just outlined when I first set it up and then when I had problems adding a printer I switched routers and went through the process again then when I put my 610N router back in I went through the process again. But the DNS323 still won't add a printer from Win 7.  It  will from my main computer with your procedure but will not from either my secondary computer wired on the network or my laptop wireless. 

Plus I don't want to be stuck using your procedure.  I envision my granddaughter when when stays overnight trying to do homework on her laptop and printing it out.  She can do the "Add Printer" in windows fine but your procedure is something I would have to do, even if I could get it to work wireless.

I have done a lot more reading on this forum mainly and have come to the conclusion that D-Link just slaps some low end print server chip or firmware on the DNS323 and probably their other NAS boxes so they can advertise they have this extra feature.  It appears the DND323 print server DOES NOT WORK on many, probably most, typical Windows computers and many printers.  I think its a shame they do this and put in their manual (which I read on line before I bought the DNS323 and it is what convinced me to buy it) that you add a printer with the Windows "Add Printer" feature.

I am returning the DNS323 and, if at all possible, will never buy another D-Link product.  This has been a major hassle for me and I have invested just over 26 hours trying to get it to work and gave D-Link tech support every opportunity to help me . 

I am going to build a server out of older parts and run Windows Home Server.

I do appreciate your help in tyring to get this solved.