Linux System Administration

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Chapter 8: Local Network Services

• Network-enabled printers with built-in Ethernet cards

• Printer server devices connecting printers directly to a LAN

In most medium-sized office buildings, you’ll probably see several of these solutions

in use every time you turn a corner. The flexibility provided by modern desktop sys-

tems often causes problems.

Let’s say that one of your users, Sally Jean, buys an inkjet printer, goes down to the

petty cash window and gets reimbursed for it, then connects it directly to her PC.

Billy Bob, who’s seated at the desk next to her, then asks if he can use her printer. So,

she right clicks the printer on her desktop and selects “Share.” Billy Bob tries to con-

nect to Sally’s printer, but it doesn’t work. Why? He doesn’t have the driver

installed.

So, these two users call the system administrator (that’s you) to come fix the prob-

lem. You install the driver on Billy Bob’s PC, and suddenly, just like magic, it works.

Later, Sally Jean calls and complains that her PC needs more memory and a faster

processor. Why? Ten people are now using her printer because she has an open

share, and it’s slowing her down.

When you check out the situation, you see that just around the corner a large-volume

laser printer with a print direct card is sitting idle. Why aren’t all those users printing

to that printer? As it turns out, it doesn’t show up on the network because no one’s ...