Arch Linux

RichAustin

Member

From: Wakefield, Yorkshire, England

Registered: 2011-07-27

Posts: 186

Using spare router for a printer

Hi All

I've got two wireless routers, both with USB ports on the back. Both routers are connected via TP-Link plugs and I can see both of them from Linux.

Router1 is connected to the internet via fibre-optic, it is also on a TP-LINK plug, and I can see it on 192.168.1.1
Router2 is connected via TP-LINK plug on 192.168.1.2

I've given each router a different SSID and channel; I figure that if they are both connected to the general network I should be able to see them and indeed I can via the TP-LINK plugs (excellent btw if you haven't tried them). I also experienced major problems with Wi-Fi when I tried to connect them on the same SSID. I don't actually need Router2 to act as a repeater anyway, I just want it to serve a printer. Yes, I know I could do printer sharing or a server but this isn't practical as my PC(s) in the office aren't always on nor do I want them to be.

What I ultimately want to to do is access a printer hanging off the USB port on Router2. I can't locate the printer near Router1 because my wife and daughter would basically strangle me! Personally I don't see the issue but there you go eh?

I figured that a reasonable way of getting this to work was to figure out where the different things were connected. I plugged a USB stick into Router1 and can see this on:

smb://router/usb

I've tried putting a USB stick on Router2 and while I can ping Router2 okay (192.168.1.2) I can't access the USB stick. Nor can I find a printer connected to it.

[Edit]I can actually connect to Router2 via Wi-Fi, but I can't see the USB device[/Edit]

I don't especially need Router2 to connect to the internet, all I want it to do is serve a printer to the home wireless network. I don't even need it to connect via wi-fi (Router1 and Router2 are both connected via NetLink plugs).

I'm no Network expert but it seems to me that if a device can see Router2 then surely it should, in some way, be abe to connect to the printer that hangs off Router2 USB port. Has anyone got any ideas or some pointers having done a similar thing before? Surely there are a number of people who have the same scenario?

Any help would be fantastic.

Thanks
Richard

Last edited by RichAustin (2014-11-16 15:53:33)

cyberpsych0sis

Member

Registered: 2014-11-02

Posts: 47

Re: Using spare router for a printer

Can you post a link to the TP-LINK plug and Router model you're using?

Last edited by cyberpsych0sis (2014-11-16 16:19:00)

nomorewindows

Member

Registered: 2010-04-03

Posts: 3,416

Re: Using spare router for a printer

You probably need a wifi interface to access each router, or employ dd-wrt or other alternate firmware to access the first router and it acts as part of router1 network using the same SSID.

---

I may have to CONSOLE you about your usage of ridiculously easy graphical interfaces...
Look ma, no mouse.