Transcript ppt - Tax-Aide for CA2

Guide to Printer Sharing
AARP Tax-Aide
Sonoma/Napa District
Bill Dornbush, TC
This session
 Copy of presentation is on the web site:
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http://www.aarpca2.org/tcreferences
Interactive – please
Share your problems and solutions
You may know 90% of this, but you may learn the 10%
that makes this season easier
Revised based on comments during the discussion
All methods
 PLUS
 Once configured, good for season as long as
configuration doesn’t change
 MINUS
 Printer driver must be loaded on laptop for each printer
type
 Right version for OS, bits (32/64)
 Those with personal laptops may have difficulty
switching between default printers – and networks
Types of sharing
 Printer switch or network
 Laptop server or printer server
 Wired or wireless
 There is as much that is the SAME between these
methods as there is DIFFERENT
Parallel Port Switch
Parallel
Switch
Parallel Port Switch
 Obsolete: many laptops and printers don’t have
parallel ports
 PLUS
 No software or hardware changes needed
 No network is required
 MINUS
 You must have parallel ports
 You may need to operate switch to change laptops
 Cables are required – setup, safety issue
 Limited to 4 laptops per printer
USB Port Switch
USB
Switch
USB Port Switch
 Obsolescent: There are better ways
 PLUS
 Simple: No software or hardware changes are needed
 MINUS
 You must operate switch to change laptops
 You must use the same USB port each time to avoid
duplicate printers in Windows
 Cables required – setup, safety issue
 Use BLUE or GREEN MASKING tape to secure cables to floor
 Limited to 4 laptops per printer
Wired Network
Network
Switch
??
Switch vs. Router
 Switch: Connects network devices together.
 Routes packet from one device to another based on the
data packet destination.
 Cannot connect its LAN to another network
 Router: Switch and more:
 Has a gateway to the Internet or another LAN
 May provide DHCP server, firewall
 May provide wireless access point
Wired Network
 Laptop hosts printer, or
 Printer Server hosts printer
 Great choice for Client/Server TaxWise
 PLUS
 No network configuration needed
 Secure and stable
 Network manages print queue
(all network configurations)
 MINUS
 Requires (router or switch) and cables
 Potential safety hazard
Wireless Network
??
Wireless Network
 Laptop hosts printer, or
 Printer Server hosts printer
 PLUS
 No cables
 Easier setup of site each session
 MINUS
 Requires router (dedicated or Quetec type)
 Must configure each network device
 Network may not be stable or may experience interference
 Try using other WiFi channels than the default 6 (set on router)
 Security issues
 Best practice: Use best encryption available
 WPA2 -> WPA -> WEP
WEP/WPA Security
 WEP security has been cracked:
 For 50% of cases, in one minute
 For 95% of cases, in two minutes
 WPA security has been cracked, but it takes a lot
longer
 WPA2 security has not yet been cracked
 To improve security:
 Turn off SSID broadcasting
 Use MAC security as well
Laptop Server (wired/wireless)
Two-laptop network
Network
Crossover
Cable
USB
Cable
Laptop server
 Applies for both wired and wireless
 Laptop serving printer may be different from laptop
serving TaxWise or network
 PLUS
 No additional hardware needed
 MINUS
 Laptop must be present at each session
 Setup may be tricky due to laptop:
 printer sharing security issues: Windows, firewall
 Load right OS/bit version of driver from server laptop to client
laptop
Printer Server
Server
Printer server
 Printer server can be wired or wireless
 Network can be wireless and printer server can be wired
 Some routers include printer server via USB port
 Both USB and parallel port models are available
 Printer server can be built-in to printer
 Network can be wired or wireless
 PLUS
 Not dependent on laptop, so setup is easier:
no security issues because of laptop
 MINUS
 Extra device (printer server) needed
 Configuration is a little different, uses “Standard TCP/IP Port”
 Built-in may not be usable with future versions of Windows
Daily startup for wireless printing
 Insert and/or enable wireless adaptor
 Connect to the wireless network
 Check default printer for Windows is set to the site
printer
 Check default printer for TaxAide is set to the site
printer
 Print a test page
If you only use your laptop for TaxAide, your
settings should not change from session to
session. Otherwise, CHECK EVERY TIME.
What if it doesn’t print?
 Is everything plugged in?
 Did you change any software on your laptop? A new
version of your firewall or security software, for
example.
 Try disabling your firewall and try again
 Try printing from another application to Windows
 If you can print from another application, check the
TaxWise setup
Network Router
 Check the site router (box or laptop)
 Make sure that Status and WLAN lights are blinking (if
this site has a router based network).
 If this site uses one laptop as the router, check its
status (Quetec > Manager > Tools > Status)
Network Security
 Check that your wireless security is set properly (how
to do this varies by type of laptop and network
adaptor, usually right-click on Wireless Network Icon
in System Tray and select Status > Properties.)
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SSID: carol (NOT Tax…)
Network authentication: Open
Data encryption: WEP/WPA/WPA2
Network key: taxaidetaxaid (or similar 13 characters)
What else?
 Laptop hosting shared printer – Make sure it is on the
network. When you position the mouse pointer over the
Wireless Network Connection icon in the system tray
(lower right of the computer screen), you will see a
message like “Wireless Network Connection (carol), status
connected.”
If the laptop hosting the shared printer has Firewall
software, confirm that the firewall allows access to the
shared printer. To see the firewall settings, use:
Start > Settings > Control Panel > Security Center
Shared printer
 Shared printer – in the
Printers window, it must
have the “shared hand”
symbol at the bottom of
the printer icon
If all else fails…
 Turn off all devices
 Power up in sequence:
 Router
 Laptop/Server hosting printer
 Printer
 Your laptop
Recommendations
 Set up and configure printer sharing arrangement
BEFORE the first day of counseling
 Install printer drivers before distributing laptops
 If wireless network, install wireless adaptors before
distributing laptops
 Prepare your sites for wireless problems – they will
probably experience at least one during the season
 Train them on how to troubleshoot
 Use one person at each site as contact so that they will
acquire experience troubleshooting with you
Discussion