Sharing the Printer on a Network

When multiple computers are being used in the network environment, you can share the printer connected to one computer with the other computers.

Before carrying out the setup for printer sharing, select Network from System Preferences, and check whether the network settings have been set.

Settings on Print Server

The procedure for setting up a computer directly connected to a printer with a USB cable is as follows:

Settings on Client PC

The procedure for setting up those computers that will use this printer through the network is as follows:

When you execute print, the data is sent to the printer through the print server system.

Related Topic

Restrictions on Printer Sharing

Settings on Print Server

When you use the printer on a network, set up the printer driver for sharing on the server system.

The procedure for setting up the print server system is as follows:

If you are using Mac OS X v.10.6.x or Mac OS X v.10.5.x

1. Install the printer driver on the print server system.
   
   
2. Check that the printer to be used has been added.
   
   Open System Preferences, and select Print & Fax.
   The Printers list displays the printers that are connected to the computer.
   
   
3. Set sharing.
   Check the Share this printer on the network (Share this printer) check box.

If you are using Mac OS X v.10.4.11

1. Install the printer driver on the print server system.
   
   
2. Check that the printer to be used has been added
   Select Applications from the Go menu of Finder.
   When you double-click the Utilities folder and then double-click the Printer Setup Utility icon, the Printer Setup Utility is launched and the printer list appears.
   
   
3. Set sharing.
   
   Open System Preferences, and select Sharing.
   
   Check that the Services tab is selected, and check the Printer Sharing check box in the list.

Note: Depending on the environment you are using, a message prompting you to restart the computer may be displayed. To complete the installation properly, restart the computer.

The setup on the print server system is complete. Next, set up the client systems.

Settings on Client PC

After setting up the print server system, set up the client system.

The procedure for setting up the client systems is as follows:

If you are using Mac OS X v.10.6.x or Mac OS X v.10.5.x

1. Install the printer driver on the client systems.
   
   
2. Display the printer list.
   
   Open System Preferences, and select Print & Fax.
   Click + to display the printer list.
   
   
3. Add a printer to be shared.
   
   Select a shared printer displayed in the printer list, and then click Add.

If you are using Mac OS X v.10.4.11

1. Install the printer driver on the client systems.
   
   
2. Check Printer Setup Utility.
   
   Click the Add button on the Printer List dialog, and select a shared printer displayed on the Printer Browser dialog to add the printer.

The setup on the client systems is now completed.

Note: The print procedures are the same as when the computer is connected directly to the printer with a USB cable.

At the Page Setup dialog, select the printer of the print server to be used.

Restrictions on Printer Sharing

These are restrictions that apply when you are using a printer in a network environment. Check the restrictions for the environment you are using.

• Install the same version of the printer driver in the print server system and the client systems. You can download the latest printer driver from our web site.
  
• Use printer sharing with users who have the administrator privilege.
  
• You cannot use the Canon IJ Printer Utility of a client system to have a maintenance of shared printer. Perform it from the print server.
  
• Printer error messages cannot be displayed on client machines. If printing cannot be started from a client machine, check the printer status from the print server.
  
• If the client system uses an application that supports a simple printing function, you must connect the client system directly to this product with a USB cable and create a print queue.

When using the CUPS driver with Mac OS X v.10.6.x, Mac OS X v.10.5.x, note the precautions below.

• If the machine is to be shared between Mac OS X v.10.6.x, Mac OS X v.10.5.x and Mac OS X v.10.4.11, the CUPS driver must be switched to the same printer driver installed in Mac OS X v.10.4.11.