Airport Extreme as print server

[abbeybound]

Hi, for years I had an Airport Extreme with 802.11AC playing router and print server very happily. I'm building a better and more complex network now with Unifi / EdgeRouter equipment, but I was hoping I could keep the old router in service as a print server only. I switched it over to bridge mode, but that broke the print server functionality. Wifi AP still works fine.

Is it even possible to use the Extreme print server in bridge mode?

 

[satcomer]

You don’t need printer servers anymore! Just find the printers IP and then put that IP in your favorite browser to get the networked printer to change it settings!

 

[abbeybound]

You don’t need printer servers anymore! Just find the printers IP and then put that IP in your favorite browser to get the networked printer to change it settings!

That's sort of the point of a print server.. This is a laser printer that only connects via USB.

 

[satcomer]

That's sort of the point of a print server.. This is a laser printer that only connects via USB.

that must be very old printer! Most laser printers are networked!

 

[abbeybound]

that must be very old printer! Most laser printers are networked!

I'm not really sure what the point of this is.. I'm really just looking for help with a simple problem. My printer isn't old, but the only other option is unreliable direct wifi printing. I'm found using bonjour on the AE to be much better.

 

[satcomer]

Then try the open source program Bonjour Browser and see if that sees it! Plus do you have to use a printer driver that’s built in or downloaded?

 

[DJLC]

I'm not sure if the issue I had with my AirPort Express is related or similar... but I've found my AirPort Express didn't initially play nice as a print server with my more complex network (I went secondhand Aerohive instead of Ubiquiti, but same diff functionally). I found the AirPort Express only seems to function wirelessly. If it's connected via Ethernet, the print server disappears and it actually breaks the entire unmanaged edge switch it's next to. If I leave it wireless, it works great. Bridge mode enabled in both circumstances, of course — I only want it to be a print server for my old HP LaserJet 1012.

Perhaps the Extreme similarly would function as a wireless print server vs. wired?

 

[orpheus1120]

Is it even possible to use the Extreme print server in bridge mode?

Recently I took out my 2-year old Asus AC68U. After moving to EdgeRouter 4 and Unifi AP, I had no use of it until now I figured I could use it as a print server.

I had asuswrt installed on it long ago (it isn't necessary), and then I had it configured as an access point because that's the most logical method. I static-mapped its IP, then I deactivated the 2.4/5ghz radios and connected my canon printer to the usb 3.0 port on the router. So now the AC68U is essentially a print server.

All wired devices have no problem printing with it. To facilitate wireless printing from my iPhones and iPads, I have HandyPrint Pro installed on my Mac Mini which I have powered on 24/7. Everything works just fine as it is.

I do have an AirPort Extreme as well but I just couldn't find it currently from my storeroom.

If there's a way to deactivate the radios on the Extreme, I highly recommend you do it. Your currently implementation is correct albeit having wifi signal coming off from it might create interference with your existing wireless networks.

Bridge mode will not work. At least not that I know of.

 

[satcomer]

Recently I took out my 2-year old Asus AC68U. After moving to EdgeRouter 4 and Unifi AP, I had no use of it until now I figured I could use it as a print server.

I had asuswrt installed on it long ago (it isn't necessary), and then I had it configured as an access point because that's the most logical method. I static-mapped its IP, then I deactivated the 2.4/5ghz radios and connected my canon printer to the usb 3.0 port on the router. So now the AC68U is essentially a print server.

All wired devices have no problem printing with it. To facilitate wireless printing from my iPhones and iPads, I have HandyPrint Pro installed on my Mac Mini which I have powered on 24/7. Everything works just fine as it is.

I do have an AirPort Extreme as well but I just couldn't find it currently from my storeroom.

If there's a way to deactivate the radios on the Extreme, I highly recommend you do it. Your currently implementation is correct albeit having wifi signal coming off from it might create interference with your existing wireless networks.

Bridge mode will not work. At least not that I know of.

Bridged Mode is just Apple speak of turning off NAT (Network Address Translation) because it is already behind another routers NAT in front of it!

 

[bubba*nix]

Hi, for years I had an Airport Extreme with 802.11AC playing router and print server very happily. I'm building a better and more complex network now with Unifi / EdgeRouter equipment, but I was hoping I could keep the old router in service as a print server only. I switched it over to bridge mode, but that broke the print server functionality. Wifi AP still works fine.

Is it even possible to use the Extreme print server in bridge mode?

Yes this works fine. I do this today.

 

[hobowankenobi]

Not quite a print server appliance...but if one had a dedicated computer connected (USB or network) PaperCut Mobility Print could be a nice option. Hard to argue with free.