Laserwriter IIf, Ethernet, Printing from Windows

Archived from groups: comp.periphs.printers (More info?)

Ways to print to an Appletalk printer that doesn't have Ethernet

Laserwriters are very reliable and can be found used for free or under
$50.
This covers the case of older laserwriters that have no Ethernet
connection.
(Even some of those with Ethernet I believe still use EtherTalk...
Thats the IIg).

1. If you have a spare Mac, install Print66, which provides LPR
printing. The old Mac with an Ethernet card then looks like a Unix LPD
printer. If you are running Windows 2000 or XP you'll have to install
Print Services for UNIX, so make sure you have your original CD,
windows will ask for it.

http://www.geocities.com/barijaona/print66/

2. AsanteTalk. Get an AsanteTalk card, this acts as a bridge between
LocalTalk and Ethernet. Its 10MBS, so it won't work with 100MB only
hubs. Plug the Appletalk cable to one end of the device, plug the
ethernet cable into the hub.
Then on Windows 2000 Server, make sure AppleTalk protocol is installed
in your network connection. In printers, add printer, deselect the
"automatically find" radio button, and create a new appletalk printing
device.

3. Probably you can get Linux or FreeBSD to see the printer once you
have the AsanteTalk card. I've successfully tried methods 1 and 2.

Windows XP: Microsoft removed Appletalk support, thats why I use
Windows 2000 Server, I'm not sure if Windows 2000 will do it.

The AsanteTalk should also work to talk to Mac via Ethernet, but I
haven't tried it on either OSX or older Macs.

This isn't a complete listing of solutions, just what I know. The
information doesn't seem readily available on Usenet.

Hope this helps.

Regards, John