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Review on πŸ–¨οΈ Enhance Network Printing Efficiency with Buffalo Network USB 2.0 Print Server - LPV3-U2 by Marcus Merritt

Revainrating 1 out of 5

Incorrect and misleading documentation fails to print a 16-page document.

The documentation says that running "setup" from the CD starts the Windows setup process. I will not. Programs only run from the CD. You could probably copy them to your hard drive manually if you'd like. The link to the PDF documentation on the CD is invalid. Users must navigate directly to the file by finding it on the CD. The installation instructions recommend that users copy the IP address initially displayed by the program and then close and reopen the program to display the "detected" IP address provided by the DHCP server. The "discovered" address is to be used in the printer driver settings. This recognized address does not exist. It doesn't respond to pings and the IP discovery software classifies it as 'dead'. This address is also displayed as the IP address of the server in the web management software; However, an attempt to access the web management software via the detected address fails and the management software can only be opened with the very first IP address shown, which is never shown again. If you do not write down this address first, you will not be able to install the software or configure the printer. Working with a static IP that you assign can give different results, but I haven't tried it and the documentation doesn't mention the process. The web management software requires a username and password. The password is set when you start the software from the CD for the first time. The documentation doesn't specify the required username, and I only found it by reading reviews (after purchase) on other sites. The username that must be entered for the web management software to work is "root". My HP P2015d printer was connected to a Buffalo server, the server was connected to a LinkSys wireless router, and my desktop computer was connected to the router with an Ethernet cable. My goal was to be able to use my laptop's wireless connection for printing without having to constantly turn my desktop on as a print server. Installing on a desktop connected directly to my wireless router with an Ethernet cable went relatively well. I was able to print test pages to the printer via the print server within five minutes. Installing on a laptop was a nightmare. After 11 hours of trying everything I could think of, including connecting directly to the router via cable, nothing worked. Then I tried setting up internet printing on the laptop. After configuring the router port to forward to the correct IP address, this webprint worked on the first try. After that, for unknown reasons, I was able to install the printer and connect through the router. I have no idea what changed and why. I suspect it has something to do with the successful installation of the Internet Printing Protocol, but that's speculation. At this point I was happy to test pages printed from my laptop and desktop. The next day I tried to print a 16 page document from my desktop to the print server. After two pages printed, there was a 3 minute pause, and then they started printing blank or garbage pages. I've tried several times with exactly the same results. When I unplugged the print server and plugged it directly into my desktop with a USB cable, the print job completed with no issues. I don't often print 16-page documents, but that's a big limitation to worry about. I even tried printing only pages 1 through 5 through the server, but again only two pages printed. I am returning this device and buying another product in the hope of better results. I wouldn't recommend this to a friend, but I'd happily give it to an enemy!

Pros
  • So far so good
Cons
  • There are disadvantages